Increased plasma pancreastatin-like levels in gestational diabetes: correlation with catecholamine levels.

Abstract

To investigate plasma pancreastatin (a chromogranin A-derived peptide) and catecholamine levels (counterregulatory hormones) in subjects with gestational diabetes compared with normal pregnant subjects. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 11 normal pregnant and 12 nonobese gestational diabetic subjects at late pregnancy (30+/-1 weeks). Selection criteria were those recommended by the National Diabetes Data Group (modified from O'Sullivan original criteria). Plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, pancreastatin-like, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were measured. Gestational diabetic subjects had significantly higher insulin levels than control pregnant subjects (18+/-1 vs. 15+/-1 microU/ml), whereas glucose and glucagon levels where comparable in the two groups. However, increased catecholamine levels (epinephrine and norepinephrine) were found in the gestational diabetic group. We also found increased pancreastatin-like levels in these patients compared with the pregnant control group (46+/-2 vs. 30+/-2 pmol/l). Actually, pancreastatin levels positively correlated with both epinephrine (r = 0.34) and norepinephrine (r = 0.80) levels. Catecholamine and pancreastatin-like levels were found elevated in gestational diabetic subjects. These counterregulatory hormones may play a role in the insulin resistance syndrome of gestational diabetes.