Is carbohydrate metabolism altered among women who have undergone a preeclamptic pregnancy?
OBJECTIVE
To compare women after a preeclamptic pregnancy with women after a normal pregnancy with respect to androgenic-anabolic status and carbohydrate and lipid profiles.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients and 22 controls were followed up to 26-119 weeks after delivery. Blood was sampled for analyses of insulin, glucose, insulin growth factor-1, lipids, androgens, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and uric acid. Anthropometric data and blood pressure were recorded. Data are presented as median and ranges (within parentheses) or mean +/- SEM where appropriate. Comparisons were made by unpaired t test or Mann-Whitney U test, respectively.


RESULTS
Significantly higher values were found in the preeclampsia than in the control group for fasting insulin, fasting glucose, fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI, fasting glucose x fasting insulin/25), serum triglycerides, uric acid and blood pressure. There were no differences in androgen status and IGF-1 levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a recent history of preeclampsia demonstrate signs of relative insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperuricemia as well as increased blood pressure as compared with women who had a normal pregnancy. However, in contrast to other women with insulin resistance, they have a normal androgen status.
Nisell
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Clinical Research Center Huddinge, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden. henry.nisell@obgyn.hs.sll.se
Erikssen
C
C
Persson
B
B
Carlström
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I