Decoding inflammation: first-trimester biomarkers as predictive tools for gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a pregnancy complication associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-thrombocyte, Aggregate Systemic Inflammation Index, Systemic Inflammatory Response Index, Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio measured in the first trimester as early predictive biomarkers for gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 588 pregnant women: 294 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 294 matched controls. Demographic, obstetric, and first-trimester hematologic data were collected.

RESULTS

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (p<0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (p<0.001), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (p<0.001) levels were significantly higher in those with gestational diabetes mellitus, while hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-thrombocyte (p=0.001) and Aggregate Systemic Inflammation Index (p=0.020) levels were significantly lower than in those without gestational diabetes mellitus. Platelet-lymphocyte ratio (area under the curve=0.679; sensitivity 62.9%, specificity 63.3%) emerged as the strongest inflammatory marker for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (area under the curve=0.645) and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (area under the curve=0.610) demonstrated moderate discriminatory ability, whereas hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-thrombocyte (area under the curve=0.422) and Aggregate Systemic Inflammation Index (area under the curve=0.444) showed weak diagnostic performance for gestational diabetes mellitus. In contrast, Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (area under the curve=0.466) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (area under the curve=0.475) were not significantly different between groups and lacked clinical relevance.

CONCLUSION

Platelet-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index are promising biomarkers for early gestational diabetes mellitus prediction in the first trimester. These findings support the role of inflammation in gestational diabetes mellitus pathophysiology and highlight the value of routine hematologic markers in risk stratification.