Abstract
Background. We have previously shown that women with proteinuric hypertension of pregnancy (preeclampsia) have increased circulating levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids. Preeclampsia has, therefore, several features in common with the insulin resistance syndrome. The objective of the present study was to investigate the glucose tolerance and insulin response of women with preeclampsia compared to women with normal pregnancy.
Methods. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed in ten women with preeclampsia and eight healthy women with normal pregnancy. The glucose, insulin, C-peptide and free fatty acid responses were calculated.
Results. The mean fasting glucose concentration was significantly lower in preeclamptic women (3.3 vs 3.7 mmol/l; p=0.02). Fasting serum triglycerides were increased in women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy (3.3 vs 1.9 mmol/l; p=0.003). Women with preeclampsia had also increased serum free fatty acids, 0.52 vs 0.36 mmol/l for normal pregnancy; p=0.056). Log s-insulin and cholesterol were not different. The incremental area under the curve for the glucose (p=0.001) and insulin (p=0.02) responses to oral glucose tolerance test showed higher values for preeclampsia as compared to women with normal pregnancy. For free fatty acids the total area under the suppression curve was higher in women with preeclampsia (p=0.03).
Conclusions. These results support the concept that preeclampsia is associated with metabolic aberrations found in insulin resistance syndrome.