Analysis of maternal serum and urinary lipocalin-2 levels

Objective: Lipocalin-2 is a glicoprotein secreted by leukocytes. It is known that lipocalin-2 levels are affected in maternal blood and urine depending on the endothelial damage induced by preeclampsia, and hyperglycemia created by gestational diabetes. However, there are not sufficient studies investigating the levels in healthy pregnants. In our study, we aimed to determine the changes in lipocalin-2 levels of healthy pregnant women. Methods: This study was carried out as cross-sectional and casecontrolled. Lipocalin-2 levels were determined in blood and urine at first and third trimesters in the same patient group and they were compared. Also, full blood parameters, biochemical and urinary data of the cases were also evaluated. Results: Lipocalin-2 levels decrease at a statistically significant level in both maternal blood and urine at the third trimester (p<0.05). However, no significant change was found in other hematologic, biochemical and urinary parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: Lipocalin-2 is a new marker used in the early diagnosis of gestational complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. It is seen that lipocalin-2 levels in healthy pregnant women decrease to lower levels in third trimester compared to first trimester. However, further studies are required with more populations where maternal serum and urine levels are determined longitudinally.