Insulin sensitivity in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether pre-eclampsia is associated with an exaggeration of the insulin resistance seen in normotensive pregnancy.


METHODS
Minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test to assess insulin sensitivity.


METHODS
Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.


METHODS
Eleven women with pre-eclampsia and 11 matched normotensive pregnant women.


RESULTS
Insulin sensitivity (S(I)) was increased in the group with pre-eclampsia compared with the normotensive women (mean [+/-SEM]: 2.6 [0.4] vs 1.6 [0.2] 10(-4) min(-1) per mU/L; P = 0.028). This was accompanied by a decrease in glucose effectiveness (SG) (1.1+/-0.1 vs 1.7+/-0.1 10(-2)min(-1), P = 0.006) in the pre-eclamptic women. In the normotensive group there was a significant inverse correlation between S(I)and mean arterial blood pressure (r = -0.65; P = 0.03), but no such relation existed in the group with pre-eclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
As with other forms of secondary hypertension, and unlike essential hypertension, the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is not associated with insulin resistance.
Roberts
R N
RN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Queen's University of Belfast, UK.
Henriksen
J E
JE
Hadden
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin