Hyperinsulinemia increases the risk of gestational hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether hyperinsulinemia is related to gestational hypertension.


METHODS
We measured the arterial blood pressure and the level of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test in a total of 84 pregnant women. Hyperinsulinemia was defined as a fasting IRI level > or = 9 IU/l, while gestational hypertension was defined as arterial blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg.


RESULTS
The incidence of gestational hypertension was higher in the hyperinsulinemic group (n = 29) than in the control group (n = 55) (24.1% vs. 7.3%, respectively P < 0.05). After controlling for maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index and the gestational age at the time of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), using a multiple regression model, the relative risk of developing gestational hypertension for a fasting insulin level was 1.19 (95% C.I., 1.03-1.38).


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women with hyperinsulinemia are at increased risk of developing gestational hypertension.
Hamasaki
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Yasuhi
I
I
Hirai
M
M
Masuzaki
H
H
Ishimaru
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies