Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations of -2548 G/A polymorphism in leptin gene promoter and pregnancy-associated diseases with abnormal fetal growth such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. The study was also focused on whether it is rather maternal or fetal variants that determines the pathological growth status. Peripheral or cord blood samples obtained from 49 preeclamptic women and their 39 newborns, 53 healthy controls and their 53 healthy newborns and 48 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus were evaluated for leptin gene (LEP) locus -2548 genotypes. The significantly higher risk for gestational diabetes mellitus was observed in the presence of an allele (AA and AG genotypes) against carriers of GGgenotype(OR=2.84, 95%CI1.14-7.07,p=0.02). Thereisa significant risk of diabetes mellitus associated to A allele (OR=1.79, 95%CI 1.02-3.14, p=0.03). Furthermore, evaluations of preeclamptic patients' data revealed a significant association of genotype distribution and delivery and spontaneous abortion rate, where the GG carriers performed the highest pregnancy rate while the AG carriers performed the lowest spontaneous abortion rate. Our results support the hypothesis for -2548 G/A leptin gene polymorphism involvement in ethiopathogenesis of pregnancy-associated diseases with abnormal fetal growth, especially gestational diabetes mellitus.