Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Gestational diabetes(GDM) is a kind of diabetes that can happen during pregnancy. Many women who have GDM, get type 2 diabetes later in life. GDM is more likely for women who are overweight, women with family members who have type 2 diabetes and women who are American Indian. During pregnancy of healthy women, it is usual for blood lipids to increase significantly. Total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol increase 25-50%, triglycerides increase twice to four times and there is also an increase of apolipoproteins B. High triglycerides prior to pregnancy may develop severe hypertriglyceridemia (third trimester).

Aim: The aim of the study is to estimate the predictive value of lipid levels at the beginning of pregnancy to the development of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Materials and methods: The study includes 114 pregnant women, without lipid disorders before pregnancy. In study, in first trimester of pregnancy(10-11 week of gestation), we measured: fasting lipid profile(cholesterol, tryglicerides, low density proteins, high density proteins), hsCRP, total weight, total height and body mass index. All pregnant women finished OGT test in 24-28 week of gestation (performed 75-g OGTT with plasma glucose measurement before, 1h and 2h after). Patients were divided into two groups: patients with developed gestational diabetes(GDM) and patients without gestational diabetes(nonGDM). The measured parameters(in first trimester), between GDM and nonGDM group were compared. We used Student’s T test.

Results: In our study 12 patients develop GDM(10.25%), 102 patients(89.75%) were with normal OGTT. Patients with developed GDM were older(28.75±2.01 vs25.22±1.78 years), with higher BMI (28.57±4.02VS26.46±1.26 kg/m2), with higher levels of triglycerides (2.26±0.87vs1.87±1.12mmol/l), higher levels of hsCRP(2.32±0.99vs1.76±0.76) and lower levels of HDL (1.20±0.16 vs1.41±0.32 mmol/l) (P<0.05). The levels of cholesterole (4.24±1.24v4.27±0.85mmol/l) and LDLc (2.87±0.56 vs2.91±0.71 mmol/l) were similar (p>0.05). Seven(58.33%) of GDM patients have DM in family. Fifteen(14.7%) of nonGTT patients have DM in family.

Conclusion: Pregnant women who have higher values of triglycerides and lower HDL values, in first trimester of pregnancy, are more likely to develop GDM. Also, older pregnant women, those with higher BMI(in the first trimester) and those with DM history in family are at a greater risk of GDM.