Increased prevalence of insulin resistance in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether insulin resistance is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).


METHODS
Single center, case-controlled, prospective study.


METHODS
University-associated reproductive endocrinology clinical practice.


METHODS
Seventy-four nonpregnant, nondiabetic women with RPL. Controls were 74 fertile, nonpregnant, nondiabetic women without RPL who had at least one live infant, and were matched by age, race, and body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Both groups consented to obtaining fasting insulin and glucose levels.


METHODS
Insulin resistance was defined as a fasting insulin level >20 microU/mL or a fasting glucose to insulin ratio of <4.5.


RESULTS
Among the 74 women with RPL, 20 (27.0%) demonstrated insulin resistance, whereas only 7 of 74 (9.5%) of the matched controls were insulin resistant (odds ratio 3.55; 95% confidence interval 1.40-9.01). The RPL and control groups were similar with respect to age, ethnicity, and BMI. The RPL and control groups had similar fasting glucose levels and glucose-to-insulin ratios. However, fasting insulin levels > or =20 microU/mL were statistically different between the two groups (odds ratio 3.92).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with RPL have a significantly increased prevalence of insulin resistance when compared with matched fertile controls.
Craig
LaTasha B
LB
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis 38163, USA.
Ke
Raymond W
RW
Kutteh
William H
WH
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin