The relationship between urotensin II and insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIM: Urotensin II (UII), a pluripotent vasoactive peptide, plays a crucial role in development of insulin resistance. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance. The aims of the current study were to compare UII levels in women with or without GDM and to investigate the relationship between UII and insulin resistance in women with GDM.

METHODS: A total of 84 women were recruited in this case-control study (42 women with GDM and 42 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched pregnant women without GDM as controls). GDM was diagnosed by a 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test over a period of 24-28 gestational weeks. Circulating UII levels were assessed via the ELISA method. The metabolic parameters of the recruited women were also determined.

RESULTS: The circulating levels of UII in women with GDM were higher than in controls (11.56 ± 4.13 vs. 7.62 ± 3.45 ng/ml, P < 0.001). UII showed a positive correlation with insulin resistance marker (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose, and BMI. Moreover, according to the results of multiple linear regression analyses, UII was independently related to HOMA-IR. Additionally, the binary logistic analysis revealed that the women with the highest tertile of UII levels showed increased risk for GDM by comparison with those women with the lowest tertile of UII levels.

CONCLUSION: Elevated UII levels are associated with insulin resistance in women with GDM.