Role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in insulin resistance during normal pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Role of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was studied in insulin resistance during pregnancy.


METHODS
Serum TNF-alpha (ELISA) and fasting C-peptide (Cp) (RIA) concentrations were measured in 40 healthy pregnant women (15, 12 and 13 of them in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, respectively) and in 25 healthy non-pregnant women in a case-control study.


RESULTS
TNF-alpha (X+/-S.D.: 5.33+/-0.46 pg/ml) and Cp levels (3.37+/-1.30 ng/ml) were significantly higher in the 3rd trimester as compared with matched healthy controls (TNF: 4.07+/-0.26, Cp: 1.05+/-0.36) and to the pregnant women in 1st (TNF: 4.04+/-0.26, Cp: 1.34+/-0.59) and 2nd (TNF: 4.35+/-0.32, Cp: 1.11+/-0.35) trimesters. Significant positive linear correlation was calculated among TNF-alpha, Cp, Cp/blood glucose ratio (indirect parameters of insulin resistance) and body mass indexes (BMIs) of pregnant women (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
TNF-alpha may contribute to the insulin resistance during the course of normal pregnancy.
Melczer
Zs
Z
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Semmelweis University Faculty of Medicine, Ulloi út 78/a, H-1082, Budapest, Hungary. melczer@noi2.sote.hu
Bánhidy
F
F
Csömör
S
S
Kovács
M
M
Siklós
P
P
Winkler
G
G
Cseh
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
D002096:C-Peptide; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha