[Recent concepts in gestational diabetes' etiopathogenesis].
Changes in insulin action cause maternal adaptation to fetal nutrient demand. Insulin resistance generates a greater production of insulin to compensate this resistance; however, there could be failure of pancreatic beta-cells to compensate by adequate insulin secretion. Factors linked to the development of gestational diabetes are: increased concentrations of placental growth hormone; peptides produced by adipose tissue, which show predictive value for the development of insulin resistance; adverse effects of intrauterine food restriction; autoimmunity induced by the consumption of some nutrients in early neonatal life; viral infections in children, which could damage pancreatic islets and become incapable of responding to metabolic overload such as pregnancy.
Hernández Valencia
Marcelino
M
Unidad de investigación médica en enfermedades endocrinas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, DF. mhernandezvalencia@prodigy.net.mx
Zárate
Arturo
A
D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010179:Pancreas / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy