Metabolic syndrome in preeclampsia - Analysis of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia

Preeclampsia is multi-factorial in origin, despite extensive research the etiology of preeclampsia remains unfolded. Hence it is referred as disease of the theories. Insulin resistance and dyslipidemia may contribute to the onset of preeclampsia. But available evidences were controversial. Since we belong to high risk ethnicity (south Indian) for insulin resistance, we undertook this study with a aim to analyse lipid profile and insulin resistance (markers of metabolic syndrome) in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women. Biochemical analysis was done in 50 normotensive and 50 preeclamptic patients during their third trimester. Preeclamptic women were more insulin resistant ( p value less than 0.05). They had significantly higher triglyceride (p less than 0.0001) and LDL cholesterol levels (p less than 0.012). The HDL cholesterol in preeclamptic group was significantly low. Pre pregnancy BMI more than 25 was significantly associated with insulin resistance. In preeclamptic group 46.2 percent fulfilled the criteria for metabolic syndrome as against only 15.4 percentages in normotensive group. In conclusion preeclamptic women were more insulin resistant and having dyslipidemia to suggest metabolic syndrome.