title: Adipocytokines and insulin resistance across various degrees of glucose tolerance in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gestational diabetes mellitus is characterized by progressive insulin resistance. Adipocytokines are thought to be associated with insulin resistance. This cross-sectional study evaluated the associations between serum concentrations of several adipocytokines and insulin resistance at different stages of glucose tolerance in pregnancy, using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to oral glucose tolerance test results, 74 pregnant women were divided into three groups: normal glucose tolerance (n = 25); intermediate glucose tolerance (n = 19); gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 30). Adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups were comparable regarding age, week of gestation and body mass index before gestation. There were statistically significant between-group differences in HOMA-IR, but no significant differences regarding serum adipocytokine concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adipo nectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin and RBP4 were not associated with the degree of glucose tolerance in pregnancy. Concentrations of these adipocytokines are not sufficiently sensitive to replace HOMA- IR in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ales.skvarca@kclj.si
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skvarca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomazic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krhin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blagus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janez
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D005947:Glucose