Pheiffer, CarmenDias, StephanieJack, BabalwaMalaza, NompumeleloAdam, Sumaiya2022-04-082022-04-082021-02Pheiffer, C.; Dias, S.; Jack, B.; Malaza, N.; Adam, S. Adiponectin as a Potential Biomarker for Pregnancy Disorders. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 1326. https://DOI.org/ 10.3390/ijms22031326.1422-0067 (online)10.3390/ijms22031326http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84847Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, mainly attributed to its insulin-sensitizing properties. Accumulating studies have reported that adiponectin concentrations are decreased during metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, with an emerging body of evidence providing support for its use as a biomarker for pregnancy complications. The identification of maternal factors that could predict the outcome of compromised pregnancies could act as valuable tools that allow the early recognition of high-risk pregnancies, facilitating close follow-up and prevention of pregnancy complications in mother and child. In this review we consider the role of adiponectin as a potential biomarker of disorders associated with pregnancy. We discuss common disorders associated with pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, preterm birth and abnormal intrauterine growth) and highlight studies that have investigated the potential of adiponectin to serve as biomarkers for these disorders. We conclude the review by recommending strategies to consider for future research.en© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.AdiponectinBiomarkerPregnancyGestational diabetesPreeclampsiaPreterm birthFoetal growthArticle