Do adiponectin, TNFα, leptin and CRP relate to insulin resistance in pregnancy? Studies in women with or without gestational diabetes, during and after pregnancy

Abstract

Background: The role of adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), leptin and C-reactive protein in the insulin resistance of pregnancy is not clear. We measured their levels in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and in controls, during and after pregnancy, and related them to insulin secretion and action. Methods: Nineteen women with GDM and 19 BMI-matched healthy pregnant women underwent intravenous glucose tolerance tests in the third trimester of pregnancy and 4 months postpartum to determine insulin sensitivity (SI) and insulin secretion. Adiponectin, TNFα, leptin and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were measured in fasted blood. Results: Of the circulating factors, only leptin (r = ..