Plasma Free Amino Acid and Carnitine Levels in Pregnant Women with
Hydatidiform Mole: A Case-Controlled Study
Abstract
Objective: To compare plasma free amino acid (FAA) and carnitine levels
in pregnant women with and without hydatidiform mole (HM). Methods: This
prospective study was conducted in patients admitted to Harran
University Medical Faculty Hospital Obstetrics Clinic between January
and November 2018. Twenty-three pregnant women with HM, and 24 healthy
pregnant women as controls were enrolled in the study. The venous blood
samples were collected, and, FAA and carnitine concentrations were
measured in plasma using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
(LC-MS/MS). Results: The levels of alanine, arginine, and valine from
the 14 amino acids examined were significantly lower in the HM group
than in the healthy group (475.46 ± 103.55 µmol/L vs 556.99 ± 105.16
µmol/L, p = 0.019; 428.87 ± 138.91 µmol/L vs 547.11 ± 140.20 µmol/L, p =
0.009; and 290.96 ± 97.10 µmol/L vs 358.61 ± 75.40 µmol/L, p = 0.03;
respectively). In addition, several carnitines, C8DC, C16:1, and C18, of
the 27 carnitines examined were significantly higher in the HM group
than in the control group (0.07 ± 0.06 µmol/L vs 0.03 ± 0.01 µmol/L, p =
0.021; 0.18 ± 0.09 µmol/L vs 0.10 ± 0.06 µmol/L, p = 0.03; and 0.07 ±
0.02 µmol/L vs 0.03 ± 0.01 µmol/L, p = 0.021; respectively). Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that a decrease in some plasma FAAs and an
increase in some plasma carnitine levels might be effective in the
pathogenesis of HM.