Kisspeptin as a new serum biomarker to discriminate miscarriage from viable intrauterine pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To validate the ability of serum kisspeptin-54 to discriminate between first-trimester viable pregnancies and miscarriages.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Academic medical centers.

Patient(s): Women with confirmed viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) at estimated gestational age 6-10 weeks (n = 20), women with confirmed miscarriage (spontaneous abortion [SAB]) at estimated gestational age 6-10 weeks (n = 20), and nonpregnant women (n = 19).

Intervention(s): Collection of serum samples from women with confirmed IUP, SAB, and nonpregnant women for the measurement of serum kisspeptin and serum hCG levels.

Main outcome measure(s): Serum kisspeptin and hCG.

Result(s): The limit of detection was 0.024 ng/mL; intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 5.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Kisspeptin levels differed between the pregnant and nonpregnant state and by viability. Kisspeptin levels were positively associated with gestational age. There was also a significant positive association with hCG in SAB, but not in IUP.

Conclusion(s): Plasma levels of kisspeptin have been suggested as a biomarker for miscarriage. This study demonstrates kisspeptin assay stability in serum and its potential clinical utility as a biomarker for early pregnancy viability.

Keywords: Kisspeptin; biomarker; intrauterine pregnancy; miscarriage.

Copyright © 2017 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Receiver Operator Curve analysis of the performance of serum kisspeptin and serum hCG.

Figure 2

Box Plot comparing serum and plasma kisspeptin values in patients with intrauterine pregnancies (IUP) and miscarriage (SAB).