Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: TCF7L2 is a commonly investigated gene in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). TCF7L2 different SNP‘s are associated with GDM risk in women of different races and ethnicities, however, the relationship between the genetic variants of TCF7L2 and GDM has not been completely evaluated.

Objective: To determine the association of genetic variants rs7901695, rs7903146, rs7895340, rs11196205, rs12255372 of transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) gene in Lithuanian women population with previously diagnosed GDM compared to general population.

Methods: Women with previously diagnosed GDM (GDM group) participated in the study. Carbohydrate metabolism was evaluated. TCF7L2 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) common variants (rs7901695, rs7903146, rs7895340, rs11196205, rs12255372) were set. The prevalence of TCF7L2 the same SNP alleles were also evaluated for women of the general population. This group comprised of 300 women who were selected from the random sample of the Kaunas city (Lithuania) population. Statistical analysis was made with the statistical package IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Qualitative variables presented as absolute numbers and percentage. ANOVA test was used, for the comparison between three or more groups. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were presented. The results were considered statistically significant at P<0.05.

Results: 158 women with previously (15–47 years ago) diagnosed GDM participated in the study. Carbohydrate dysmetabolism in GDM group was set for 57.6%. 11 (7.0%) were diagnosed with IFG, 14 (8.9%) with IGT, type 2 DM was diagnosed for 58 (36.7%), type 1 DM for 7 (4.4%), MODY2 – 1 (0.6%) patients. Following the analysis of the prevalence of TCF7L2 SNP alleles in GDM group separate carbohydrate metabolism groups, differences were not detected (P>0.05). An analysis of the prevalence of TCF7L2 SNP alleles in GDM group women compared to Kaunas city (Lithuania) general population women showed statistically significant difference in three TCF7L2 SNPs: higher prevalence of rs7901695 CC/CT, rs7903146 CT/TT, rs12255372 GT/TT alleles were found in GDM group women. The OR of being in GDM group with TCF7L2 rs7901695 CC/CT was 1.703 (95% CI 1.153–2.515); having rs7903146 CT/TT – 1.708 (95% CI 1.149–2.538) and rs12255372 GT/TT – 1.575 (95% CI 1.058–2.343).

Conclusions: TCF7L2 SNPs did not differed in separate carbohydrate metabolism groups in women with previously diagnosed GDM, though a significantly higher incidence of TCF7L2 rs7901695 SNP CC/CT, rs7903146 SNP CT/TT, rs12255372 GT/TT alleles in GDM group compared to general population women were observed.