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

Fertil Steril. 2018 Jan;109(1):137-141.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.029.

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / blood*
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / diagnosis*
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Kisspeptins / blood*
  • Limit of Detection
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Tests / methods*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First / blood
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Kisspeptins