•  
  •  
 

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to detect the relation between fasting C-peptide level and serum insulin level in pre-eclamptic pregnant women. Background Pre-eclampsia is a systemic disease that is characterized by increased vascular resistance, endothelial dysfunction, proteinuria, coagulopathy, and hypertension. Similarities in certain biochemical variables between pre-eclampsia and the insulin resistance syndrome imply a possible link between insulin resistance and pre-eclampsia. Patients and methods A total of 60 pregnant women were included in this study after the approval of the ethical committee of the Alexandria University (where the study was conducted in); then, they were divided into two groups: 30 normal pregnant women as controls and another 30 pregnant women with the complication of pre-eclampsia served the study group. This group was subdivided into 10 patients with severe pre-eclampsia and another 20 with mild pre-eclampsia. All the patients were subjected to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), assessment of fasting serum insulin and fasting C-peptide, and urine for dipstick. Results A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in the mean arterial blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in BMI as increased BMI was associated with pre-eclampsia. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in serum C-peptide, serum insulin, and protein in urine. Conclusion Serum C-peptide and serum insulin levels were significantly lower in women with severe pre-eclampsia than in women with mild pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnant women, with weak associations to pre-eclampsia. BMI was significantly higher in women with severe and mild pre-eclampsia than in normotensive pregnant women, with strong associations to pre-eclampsia.

Download

Share

COinS