The value of lncRNAs as a biomarker for the pregnancy outcomes of gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are tissue-specific and highly stable and may serve as early molecular markers of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aberrant expression of lncRNAs and adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM patients.

We searched electronic databases: Embase, Medline, EBSCO, PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang databases to find relevant articles. Included studies quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 quality assessment tool. Prognostic value of lncRNAs were pooled using risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI). The heterogeneity was analyzed using the Cochran Q test and I² statistical test, and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Begg’s test funnel plots were analyzed for publication bias.

The review included nine studies. Overall, the review found that altered expression of lncRNAs was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes of GDM patients (RR: 1.616, 95%CI: 1.308–1.996), and was a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes both of Infants (RR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.30–2.17) and maternal (RR: 4.14, 95% CI: 1.90–9.03) in patients with GDM. The diagnostic procedure, diagnostic criteria, expression trend of lncRNAs, and adverse pregnancy outcomes were the sources of heterogeneity.

Aberrant expression of lncRNAs was strongly associated with the adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM.