title: Arterial stiffness, inflammatory and pro-atherogenic markers in gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to determine whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with increased arterial stiffness, inflammatory and pro-atherogenic markers compared to age matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study involving 53 pregnant women in the early third trimester of pregnancy consisting of 31 women with normal pregnancy and 22 women with GDM. Subjects were grouped into GDM and control groups based on modified oral glucose tolerance test results; they were considered GDM if fasting blood glucose (FBG) was ≥ 6.1 mmol/L and/or the two hours post-glucose intake was ≥ 7.8 mmol/L. Arterial stiffness was assessed non-invasively using the parameters augmentation index (AIx) obtained via pulse wave analysis and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), high sensitivity C- reactive protein (hsCRP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured using enzyme linked immunoassay technique (ELISA). Aortic and brachial blood pressure (BP) indices were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ages and gestational ages (GA) for the control and GDM groups showed no significant differences (31.1 ± 5.68 vs. 32.9 ± 8.46 years; 29.0 ± 2.43 vs. 29.6 ± 1.54 weeks respectively). FBG and 2 hour post-glucose levels were significantly higher in GDM; (5.27 ± 1.19 vs. 3.94 ± 0.44 mmol/L, p < 0.001; 9.66 ± 1.76 vs. 5.68 ± 1.10 mmol/L, p < 0.001). TNF-alpha, PAI-1 and hsCRP levels were significantly higher in GDM compared to controls (0.81 ± 0.15 vs. 0.72 ± 0.13 pg/ml, 54.48 ± 13.07 vs. 36.16 ± 15.58 cm/ml, 7.91 ± 1.16 vs. 6.70 ± 1.45 mg/l respectively). PWV (8.28 ± 1.48 vs. 7.97 ± 1.12) and AIx (16.73 ± 10.98 vs. 16.13 ± 9.64 %) were not significantly different between the two groups. No significant differences were seen for aortic and brachial BP, mean arterial pressure and body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inflammatory markers TNF-alpha and hsCRP, and the pro-atherogenic marker PAI-1 were elevated in GDM compared to age matched controls. No significant difference was seen between the two groups in their arterial stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Vascular Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ab A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.forename: Nik M N
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Abd G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Nor Aliza
authors.forename: Aida H G
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rasool
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003187:Compliance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008296:Malaysia; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein