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The following is a summary of “Relationship between relaxin-2 levels in serum and mode of conception in twin gestations: A prospective cohort study,” published in the December 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Silvano et al.
Relaxin-2, a peptide hormone associated with pregnancy, supports maternal and fetal adaptations, which are heightened in individuals carrying twins compared to singleton pregnancies.
Researchers conducted a prospective study to examine serum relaxin-2 levels throughout twin pregnancies and their association with the mode of conception.
They collected blood samples from 26 individuals pregnant with twins conceived through spontaneous conception (SC, n = 18) or assisted reproductive technologies (ART), specifically intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI, n = 8). Serum relaxin-2 levels were measured using a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during each trimester of pregnancy.
The results showed that serum relaxin-2 levels peaked in the first trimester (491.05 ± 207.41 pg/mL), decreased in the second trimester (446.27 ± 180.4 pg/mL; P<0.057), and further declined in the third trimester (422.19 ± 194.30 pg/mL; P<0.025). Serum relaxin-2 levels were significantly higher in individuals who conceived spontaneously compared to those who used ART (P<0.001) across all trimesters. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that ART significantly impacted serum relaxin-2 levels (P<0.001), while other clinical and demographic factors showed no significant associations.
They concluded that serum relaxin-2 levels change throughout twin pregnancies and were significantly influenced by the mode of conception, with lower levels observed in pregnancies conceived through ART.
Source: obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jog.16190
