Circulating levels of MCP‐1 are increased in women with gestational diabetes

AbstractObjectiveWe investigated whether gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with monocyte‐chemoattractant‐protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), the functional relevant proteins in the inflammatory process.MethodsIn all 32 women with gestational diabetes mellitus, 18 women without gestational diabetes mellitus and 40 nonpregnant women were included. MCP‐1 and sCD40L were measured at the time of the oral glucose tolerance test (second trimester), in the third trimester and postpartum.ResultsMCP‐1 was higher in pregnant women (women with gestational diabetes mellitus and without) than in nonpregnant women (p < 0.001) in the third trimester, and also in the second trimester and postpartum. MCP‐1 was elevated in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus in the third trimester compared to healthy pregnant women (p = 0.007). In gestational diabetes mellitus, MCP‐1 increased from the second to the third trimester (p = 0.003). We found no association of sCD40L and gestational diabetes mellitus.ConclusionThe elevation of MCP‐1 in the third trimester in gestational diabetes mellitus suggests an association between inflammation and GDM. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.