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

OBJECTIVE: We 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. METHODS: In 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. RESULTS: MCP-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. CONCLUSION: The elevation of MCP-1 in the third trimester in gestational diabetes mellitus suggests an association between inflammation and GDM. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.