Emerging biomarkers for gestational diabetes mellitus and related pediatric outcomes

Table 1 Summarized details of traditional biomarkers for gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis and associated pediatric outcomes

Biomarker	Description	Diagnostic criteria	Sensitivity	Specificity	Notes	Ref.
Traditional biomarkers for GDM diagnosis
1-hour glucose challenge test	Measures glucose concentrations 1-hour post-glucose administration	≥ 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)	70%-90%	70%-80%	May require additional testing for diagnosis	Hosier et al[11], Ayesha et al[12], Zhao et al[13], Moon and Jang[14]
2-hour oral glucose tolerance test	Measures glucose concentrations 2-hour post-glucose administration	≥ 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L)	80%-90%	90%-95%	Considered a gold standard for GDM diagnosis	Gautam et al[4], Jamieson et al[15], Prior et al[16], Madugalle et al[17]
Fasting plasma glucose	Measures glucose levels after an overnight fast	≥ 92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L)	70%-80%	80%-90%	May miss cases of GDM with normal fasting glucose	Ayesha et al[12], Beunen et al[18], Hasan et al[19]
Hemoglobin A1c	Evaluate mean glucose concentrations throughout the preceding 2-3 months	≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/moL)	40%-60%	80%-90%	May not be sensitive enough for GDM diagnosis	Valadan et al[20], Xiang et al[21], Tripathy et al[22]
Random plasma glucose	Monitors glucose levels at any time	≥ 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) with symptoms	Variable	Variable	Not recommended as a standalone diagnostic test	Jamieson et al[15], Huhn et al[23], Shaarbaf Eidgahi et al[24]

GDM: Gestational diabetes mellitus.