Neopterin and hsCRP are not correlated in gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To determine serum neopterin and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in patients with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: Neopterin and hsCRP levels were quantified in 28 women with GDM and 20 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Postpartum neopterin and hsCRP levels were measured in a follow-up study.

Results: Neopterin levels were significantly higher in women with GDM than in women with NGT (15.89 ± 8.19 nmol/L versus 10.4 ± 3.8 nmol/L, p < 0.008, respectively), however the levels significantly decreased after delivery in GDM group (15.89 ± 8.19 nmol/L versus 11.63 ± 5.96 nmol/L, p < 0.001). hsCRP levels were not different between women with and without GDM (5.74 ± 3.91 versus 5.73 ± 3.34, p = 0.9, respectively). In contrast, hsCRP levels decreased after delivery in patients with GDM (5.74 ± 3.91 versus 3.78 ± 2.78, p < 0.01). Neopterin levels were correlated with maternal age (r = 0.3, p = 0.02) and fasting glucose (r = 0.4, p = 0.004), postprandial glucose (r = 0.3, p = 0.01), HbA1c (r = 0.3, p = 0.02), whereas hsCRP levels were correlated with pre-pregnancy (r = 0.3, p = 0.04) and pregnancy body mass index (r = 0.4, p = 0.008). No correlation between serum neopterin and hsCRP levels was found (p = 0.9).

Conclusion: Neopterin levels increased in patients with GDM; hence, it may be related to inflammation. However, the lack of correlation between neopterin and hsCRP suggests the role of different attitudes of these two parameters in the course of pregnancy and GDM.

Chinese abstract

目的: 为了测定妊娠期糖尿病 (GDM) 患者和非妊娠期糖尿病患者的血清新碟呤和高敏C-反应蛋白 (hsCRP) 水平。方法: 测定28名GDM患者和20名糖耐量正常孕妇的新碟呤和hsCRP水平。随访研究时再测定产后新碟呤和hsCRP的水平。结果: GDM患者新蝶呤水平明显高于NGT女性 (分别是15.89 ± 8.19 nmol/L和10.4 ± 3.8 nmol/L, p < 0.008), 然而分娩后就显著下降 (分别是15.89 ± 8.19 nmol/L 和11.63 ± 5.96 nmol/L, p < 0.001)。hsCRP水平在GDM患者和非GDM之间无明显差异(分别是5.74 ± 3.91和 5.73 ± 3.34, p = 0.9)。与此相反, GDM患者的 hsCRP 水平分娩后显著下降(分别是5.74 ± 3.91 和 3.78 ± 2.78, p < 0.01)。新蝶呤水平与孕妇年龄(r = 0.3, p = 0.02), 空腹血糖(r = 0.4, p = 0.04), 餐后血糖(r = 0.3, p = 0.01)以及糖化血红蛋白(r = 0.3, p = 0.02)相关。而hsCRP水平与孕前(r = 0.3, p = 0.04)和妊娠期的体重指数相关 (r = 0.4, p = 0.008)。血清新蝶呤和hsCRP水平无明显相关(p = 0.9)性。结论: GDM患者体内新蝶呤水平升高；因此, 它可能与炎症相关。然而, 新蝶呤与hsCRP之间缺乏相关性, 提示在孕期和GDM患者对待这两个参数应该有不同的态度。

Keywords:

• Gestational diabetes mellitus
• hsCRP
• inflammation
• neopterin
• pregnancy

Declaration of interest

We report no conflicts of interest.

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.