C-reactive protein as an early predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether C-reactive protein at the beginning of the midtrimester is significantly increased in patients who subsequently develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).


METHODS
A total of 72 subjects who underwent a Down screening program between the 14th and 16th weeks of gestation were studied: 32 developed GDM, and 40 were controls. The C-reactive protein serum levels were evaluated in all patients.


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in body mass index (BMI) mean values between the GDM group (30.8 +/- 8.5) and control group (24.7 +/- 2.8), but in spite of this, no significant difference in C-reactive protein was found in the 2 groups. The median serum C-reactive protein values were 9.0 mg/dL (2.4-17, 5-95% CI) in the GDM group and 8.7 mg/dL (3.8-11.2, 5-95% CI) in the control group (p = 0.3). There was no correlation between C-reactive protein serum levels and BMI, birth weight or fasting insulin.


CONCLUSIONS
C-reactive protein has no predictive value in GDM, and no positive correlation is found between BMI and this inflammation marker.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Rosario
R
D'Anna
Giovanni
G
Baviera
Antonio
A
De Vivo
Grazia
G
Facciolà
Antonino
A
Di Benedetto
Francesco
F
Corrado
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002097:C-Reactive Protein