Serum levels of activin A and inhibin A are not related to the increased susceptibility to pre-eclampsia in type I diabetic pregnancies.
BACKGROUND
Activin A and inhibin A have been found to be elevated in women without diabetes subsequently developing pre-eclampsia. The aim was to investigate whether activin A and inhibin A in serum were elevated in type I diabetic women after developing pre-eclampsia and, if so, were they clinically useful as predictors of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
In a prospective study, maternal serum was analyzed for activin A and inhibin A in 115 women with type 1 diabetes at 10, 14, 22, 28, and 33 weeks of gestation.


RESULTS
Fourteen women (12%) developed pre-eclampsia (26-37 weeks of gestation) and 101 did not. The two groups were comparable regarding age, body mass index, and diabetes duration. There was no difference between serum concentrations of activin A and inhibin A in women developing pre-eclampsia and women who did not at any gestational period.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum concentrations of activin A and inhibin A could not predict preeclampsia in type I diabetes.
Ekbom
Pia
P
The Endocrine Clinic, 2The Obstetric Clinic, The National University Hospital, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ekbom@dadlnet.dk
Damm
Peter
P
Andersson
Anna-Maria
AM
Skakkebaek
Niels Erik
NE
Feldt-Rasmussen
Ulla
U
Mathiesen
Elisabeth R
ER
D028341:Activins / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000097:blood*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
C422405:activin A; C422362:inhibin A; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits