YKL-40 concentrations are not elevated in gestational diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is an increasing and common complication of pregnancy. The involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in GDM remains unclear. YKL-40 is a novel inflammatory marker that has been recently found to be associated with type 2 diabetes. This is the first study to investigate YKL-40 in GDM.


METHODS
A total of 58 subjects were included, 28 patients with GDM (BMI 33.2 +/- 6.1 kg m(-(2)), 33 +/- 6 years) and 30 healthy pregnant controls (BMI 28.4 +/- 5.2 kg m(-(2)), 33 +/- 4 years; mean +/- SD). Standard risk factors for GDM (weight and BMI prior to pregnancy, family history, former GDM, high birthweight offspring) were evaluated. A 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) and measurement of YKL-40 were conducted in gestational week 28 +/- 4, as well as 8 weeks after delivery.


RESULTS
YKL-40 was not different between GDM and controls, neither during (65.8 +/- 44.4 vs. 60.3 +/- 30.1 ng mL(-1)), nor after pregnancy (63.4 +/- 30.5 vs. 66.9 +/- 32.7 ng mL(-1)). YKL-40 was correlated with insulin, HOMA and BMI. GDM had higher fasting insulin (14.1 +/- 7.4 vs. 8.3 +/- 4.3 muU mL(-1)) and glucose (88 +/- 13 - 200 +/- 31 - 160 +/- 33 vs. 76 +/- 10 - 146 +/- 37 - 112 +/- 28 mg dL(-1) for fasting, 1- and 2-h-concentrations in the oGTT, respectively), higher HbA1c (5.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.5%;), HOMA (3.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.9), and BMI (33.2 +/- 6.1 vs. 28.5 +/- 5.2 kg m(-2)) (means +/- SD, all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
No difference in YKL-40 between GDM and controls suggests similar inflammatory status at the time of measurements. The short duration of metabolic changes during GDM might explain this finding, which is in contrast to results in type 2 diabetes.
Schaller
Georg
G
Department of Medicine I, Rudolfstiftung Hospital, Vienna, Austria. georg.schaller@wienkav.at
Brix
Johanna Maria
JM
Placher-Sorko
Gudrun
G
Höllerl
Florian
F
Schernthaner
Gerit-Holger
GH
Schernthaner
Guntram
G
D054392:Adipokines; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D037102:Lectins