ABSTRACT
Preeclampsia [PE] which is characterized by pregnancy-induced hypertension and proteinuria complicates 3-4% of pregnancies and this is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The present study was designed to investigate the circulating levels of adiponectin, sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG], total and free testosterone in preeclamptic women in comparison with normotensive pregnant controls. The aim of this work was extended to study the correlations between these biochemical indices, and the insulin resistance parameters and clinical data. The study included 20 preeclamptic women and 20 normotensive pregnant women as controls. The levels of adiponectin and SHBG were significantly lower while that of total and free testosterone were significantly higher in PE as compared with the levels in normotensive pregnant women. Also the fasting levels of glucose and insulin were significantly higher in PE than normotensive pregnant women. There was a significant negative correlation [p < 0.05] between adiponectin and each of F. insulin, glucose, Homeostatic model assessment [HOMA] index, Body mass index [BMI], systolic and diastolic blood pressure in PE. Also, there was a significant negative correlation [P < 0.05] between SHBG and each of F. insulin, F. glucose, HOMA, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in PE. A significant positive correlation [P < 0.05] was found between adiponectin and SHBG in PE