Role of tumour necrosis factor-α in insulin resistance during normal pregnancy

Objective: Role of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was studied in insulin resistance during pregnancy. Study design: Serum TNF-α (ELISA) and fasting C-peptide (Cp) (RIA) concentrations were measured in 40 healthy pregnant women (15, 12 and 13 of them in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, respectively) and in 25 healthy non-pregnant women in a case-control study. Results: TNF-α ( X±S.D.: 5.33±0.46 pg/ml) and Cp levels (3.37±1.30 ng/ml) were significantly higher in the 3rd trimester as compared with matched healthy controls (TNF: 4.07±0.26, Cp: 1.05±0.36) and to the pregnant women in 1st (TNF: 4.04±0.26, Cp: 1.34±0.59) and 2nd (TNF: 4.35±0.32, Cp: 1.11±0.35) trimesters. Significant positive linear correlation was calculated among TNF-α, Cp, Cp/blood glucose ratio (indirect parameters of insulin resistance) and body mass indexes (BMIs) of pregnant women ( P