OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible role of inflammation factors in the pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) with concurrent obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in pregnant women.

METHODSTwenty-five pregnant women with IGT and concurrent OSAHS and 35 pregnant women with IGT but not OSAHS were monitored for all night polysomnography (PSG), and the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest pulse oxygen saturation (LSpO2) were recorded. The body mass index, glycated serum protein (GSP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in these women.

RESULTSIL-6 and TNF-α levels increased significantly in women with IGT and OSAHS as compared with those in women without OSAHS. AHI showed significant positive correlations to GSP, IL-6 and TNF-α, whereas LSpO2 was inversely correlated to GSP, IL-6 and TNF-α. IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly correlated to GSP, with correlation coefficients of 0.510 and 0.476, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe inflammatory factors may play important roles in IGT complicated by OSAHS in pregnant women, and as a potential risk factor, OSAHS may contribute to the occurrence of progression of IGT.