Insulin sensitivity in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether pre-eclampsia is associated with an exaggeration of the insulin resistance in normotensive pregnancy. DESIGN: Minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test to assess insulin sensitivity. SETTING: SMS Medical College, Jaipur (Raj.) PARTICIPANTS: Eleven women with pre-eclampsia and eleven matched normotensive pregnant women. RESULTS: Insulin sensitivity (S1) was increased in the group with pre-eclampsia compared with the normotensive women (Mean +/- SEM): 2.6 (0.4) vs 1.6 (0.2) 10(-4) min(-1) per mU/L; P = 0.028). This was accompanied by a decrease in glucose effectiveness (SG) (1-1 +/- 0.1 vs 1.7 +/- 0.1 10(-2) min(-1), P = 0.006) in the pre-eclamptic women. In the normotensive group there was a significant inverse correlation between S1 and mean arterial blood pressure (r = -0.65; P = 0.03), but no such relation existed in the group with pre-eclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: As with other forms of secondary hypertension, and unlike essential hypertension, the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is not associated with insulin resistance.