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Follistatin-Like 3 Across Gestation in Preeclampsia and Uncomplicated Pregnancies Among Lean and Obese Women

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine circulating maternal follistatin-like 3 (FSTL-3) by gestational age and obesity in pregnancy and preeclampsia. FSTL-3 was quantified in maternal plasma collected in each trimester from prepregnancy body mass index-determined groups: 15 lean and 24 obese controls and 20 obese women who developed preeclampsia. Repeated measures mixed models and logistic regression were conducted (P ≤ .05). FSTL-3 was not related to maternal adiposity. FSTL-3 changed across pregnancy in lean controls and obese preeclampsia but not in obese controls. FSTL-3 was higher in preeclampsia in the second trimester compared to lean controls and in the third trimester compared to both control groups. Elevated FSTL-3 at mid-gestation was associated with an increased odds of preeclampsia (odds ratio 3.15; 95% confidence interval 1.19-8.36; P = .02). Elevated FSTL-3 concentrations were attributable to preeclampsia and were associated with increased likelihood of later developing preeclampsia, suggesting further study as a biomarker prior to clinically evident disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Sandra A. Founds CNM, FNP, PhD & Dianxu Ren PhD

  2. Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Sandra A. Founds CNM, FNP, PhD, James M. Roberts MD, Arun Jeyabalan MD & Robert W. Powers PhD

  3. Center for Research and Evaluation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Dianxu Ren PhD

  4. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    James M. Roberts MD, Arun Jeyabalan MD & Robert W. Powers PhD

  5. Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    James M. Roberts MD

  6. Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    James M. Roberts MD

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  1. Sandra A. Founds CNM, FNP, PhD
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  2. Dianxu Ren PhD
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  3. James M. Roberts MD
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  4. Arun Jeyabalan MD
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Correspondence to Sandra A. Founds CNM, FNP, PhD.

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Founds, S.A., Ren, D., Roberts, J.M. et al. Follistatin-Like 3 Across Gestation in Preeclampsia and Uncomplicated Pregnancies Among Lean and Obese Women. Reprod. Sci. 22, 402–409 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719114529372

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