Hyperinsulinemia and its potential role in preeclampsia

ABSTRACT

Pre-eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive researches, our knowledge of the etiology and pathphysiology of preeclampsia is still limited. Recently, insulin resistance is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. We conducted a nested case-control study to test the hypothesis that insulin resistance is associated with preeclampsia. Blood glucose and insulin serum concentrations, both fasting and postprandial, were evaluated in sixty preeclamptic patients [thirty with mild preeclampsia and thirty with severe preeclampsia] and thirty normotensive control during the third trimester of gestation. Compared with control group, women who have preeclampsia had significantly higher serum insulin levels both fasting and postprandial, also it was found that the preeclamptic group patients with severe preeclampsia had significantly higher insulin serum levels compared to women with mild preeclampsia, No significant difference was observed between the three groups as regard to both fasting and postprandial blood glucose level