OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of serum concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with insulin resistance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODSForty normal pregnant women (NGT group) and 23 women with GDM (GDM group) were enrolled in this study with another 25 women of child-bearing age as the control group. Radio immunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the fasting serum IL-6 levels, and immunoturbidimetry performed to evaluate serum hs-CRP levels. The homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the homeostasis model assessment-B (HOMA-B) were calculated.

RESULTSCompared with NGT group and control group, GDM group had significantly elevated serum IL-6 and hs-CRP (P<0.01), but the levels were comparable between the former two groups (P>0.05). HOMA-IR was the highest in GDM group (P<0.001), and NGT group had significantly higher HOMA-IR than the control group (P<0.05), whereas the reverse was true for HOMA-B (P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), IL-6 and hs-CRP had significant association with HOMA-IR (P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis identified FINS, FBG, IL-6, and hs-CRP as the factors significantly affecting HOMA-IR (regression coefficient of 0.563, 0.992, 0.325, and 0.231, respectively, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP are elevated in women with GDM, which are the most significant factors affecting HOMA-IR. IL-6 and CRP may aggravate insulin resistance through various mechanisms and participate in the pathogenesis of GDM.