title: Impact of first trimester fasting glycemic levels on expression of proteoglycans in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the influence of glucose metabolism on the expression of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six women in the first trimester of pregnancy (10-13 weeks) attending the Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, University of Sassari, were enrolled and gave early morning urine samples. Groups I, II and III included women with serum glucose values of 65-89 mg/dL, 90-99 mg/dL and 100-125 mg/dL, respectively. Urine GAGs/PGs distribution was determined by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate strips. Urinary N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase was estimated kinetically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of urinary GAGs/PGs electrophoretic profiles showed a significant increase in heparan sulfate (HS) excretion (P = 0.017) as well as a reduced chondroitin sulfate (CS) excretion (P = 0.048) in the group II pregnant women compared with the group I, and higher values of the HS/CS ratio in groups II and III compared to group I. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation among fasting blood glucose levels and the relative content of HS, the HS/CS and urinary trypsin inhibitor/CS ratios, and the N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus should also take into account fasting blood glucose values of 90-99 mg/dL, as the findings of our study indicated an alteration in the metabolism of GAGs during the early stages of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Clinic, Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Pierina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Muro
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lepedda
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dessole
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cherchi
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Formato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000652:urine; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011509:Proteoglycans; C028665:urinastatin
keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus; glycosaminoglycans; proteoglycans