Low circulating pentraxin 3 levels in pregnancy is associated with gestational diabetes and increased apoB/apoA ratio: a 5-year follow-up study

• Published in: Cardiovascular diabetology 2016-02, Vol.15 (1), p.23-23, Article 23
• Main Authors: Lekva, Tove, Michelsen, Annika Elisabeth, Bollerslev, Jens, Norwitz, Errol R, Aukrust, Pål, Henriksen, Tore, Ueland, Thor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; Apolipoprotein B-100 - blood; Apolipoproteins A - blood; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Diabetes, Gestational - blood; Diabetes, Gestational - diagnosis; Down-Regulation; Dyslipidemias - blood; Dyslipidemias - diagnosis; Dyslipidemias - etiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Original Investigation; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Pulse Wave Analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Serum Amyloid P-Component - metabolism; Time Factors; Vascular Stiffness
• ISSN: 1475-2840; 1475-2840
• DOI: 10.1186/s12933-016-0345-1

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an essential component of innate immunity and independently associated with the risk of developing vascular events. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between GDM, cardiovascular risk, and plasma PTX3 in pregnancy and at 5 years after the index pregnancy. This population-based prospective cohort included 300 women who had an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during pregnancy. Five years later, the OGTT was repeated along with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, lipid analysis, and pulse wave velocity analysis. Fasting PTX3 levels were measured four times during pregnancy and at follow-up. PTX3 levels were lower early in pregnancy and at 5 years follow-up in women who developed GDM. PTX3 levels throughout pregnancy were associated with body mass index. Low PTX3 levels in early pregnancy were predictive of an increased apoB/apoA ratio at 5-year follow-up. PTX3 at 5-year follow-up was inversely correlated with multiple metabolic risk factors for CVD, including body composition, arterial stiffness, dyslipidemia and previous GDM. Our results show that low plasma concentration of PTX3 in early pregnancy is associated with subsequent development of GDM and with an enhanced risk for CVD as estimated by an elevated apoB/apoA ratio at 5 years postpartum.