Role of cortisol in the deterioration of glucose tolerance in Sudanese pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To study the state of insulin resistance which occurs in pregnancy and the possible role of cortisol in augmentation of this state.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Khartoum teaching hospital, Khartoum north hospital, Soba hospital, Ibrahim Malek hospital, maternity hospital and Fath-Elbasheer referral centre from January to August 1996.


METHODS
Thirty pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) and thirty pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT) were compared with thirty control pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance.


RESULTS
The GDM and the IGT groups were found to have significantly higher levels of serum cortisol than that of the control group [937.2 +/- 79.4 nmol/l (mean +/- S.E.) and 794.2 +/- 60.5 vs 597.3 +/- 30.9 respectively, p < 0.0006].


CONCLUSIONS
Cortisol has a great role to play in the deterioration of glucose tolerance in pregnancy.
Ahmed
S A
SA
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum.
Shalayel
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013397:Sudan
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006854:Hydrocortisone