Objective: To study the insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), and its relationship to perinatal outcome.
Methods: In 111 PIH and 155 control group, the concentration of C peptide and insulin of maternal blood samples before and after 32 gestational weeks, and fetal blood samples just after delivery was determined. Fetal outcomes were assessed by the neonatal weight at delivery, Apgar scores and the quality and quantity of amniotic fluid.
Results: The maternal concentration of C peptide and insulin in PIH was higher than that of control group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01). In PIH group, the maternal concentration of C peptide and insulin in the subgroup of adverse perinatal outcomes tended to be higher than that in the subgroup of good perinatal outcomes; but in control group, there was no significantly difference between these two subgroups.
Conclusions: Insulin resistance may be one of the factors which couse PIH, and it has significant relationship with advese perinatal outcomes.