C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome in women with previous gestational diabetes

Background This study evaluates the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its association with C-reactive protein (CRP) and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, in a sample of women with and without previous Gestational Diabetes (pGDM). Methods One hundred and sixty-six women with pGDM and 98 women (controls) with uncomplicated pregnancy were studied 16 months after delivery. in all women, plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, serum uric acid, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and homocysteine were measured. MS was defined according to NCEP ATPIII criteria. Results MS was identified in 15 pGDM women (9%) versus 1 control (1%) 001). The more frequent metabolic traits were abdominal obesity (p = 1 mg/L (all controls showed CRP levels < 1 mg/L). After a stepwise regression analysis, CRP levels were independently correlated to HOMA-R (r(2) = 0.27, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (r(2) = 0.30, p < 0.001). Conclusions In our population, NIS occurs in a sizable proportion of pGDM women and is associated with increased levels of CRP, fibrinogen, uric acid and LDL-cholesterol. Moreover, higher levels of CRP, a marker of chronic low-grade inflammation, are present in a subset of women with pGDM, independently of MS. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd