Pseudocholinesterase in gestational diabetes: positive correlation with LDL and negative correlation with triglyceride

Objective

Low pseudocholinesterase (PChE) activity accompanies pregnancy, liver disease, renal failure, and certain drug therapies. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship among PChE and plasma insulin levels, lipid profile, and inflammatory response in gestational diabetes.

Methods

This study included 165 women aged 20?C40 years. Subjects were divided into four groups as follows: Control group, 29 non-pregnant healthy women; Group NGT, 61 healthy pregnant women (normal glucose tolerance); Group GD, 62 pregnant women with gestational diabetes; and Group AGT, 13 pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance. Gestational ages were between 34 and 40 weeks. Plasma PChE, triglyceride, high-/low-density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA_1c), insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels were measured in all subjects.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in plasma PChE, insulin, and LDL levels between the groups. Plasma triglyceride, HbA_1c, WBC, and CRP levels were significantly higher in Group GD and Group AGT compared to the other groups (P?1c and a negative correlation among CRP and LDL and triglyceride in Group GD.

Conclusion

PChE activity was not significantly different between the groups. However, there was a positive correlation between PChE and LDL levels in pregnant women with GD, suggesting that LDL levels in pregnant women with GD may help to predict the risk of prolonged apnea in situations in which PChE activity cannot be measured.