PLASMA-GLUCOSE AND PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: To determine whether there is a relationship between plasma glucose level in a glucose screening test and the occurrence of pre-e clampsia in non-diabetic pregnant women. Methods: All pregnant non-dia betic women attending the antenatal clinic at the Aga Khan University Medical Center were screened with a 75 g - 2 h glucose challenge test (GCT), From 1988-90, a data base of 1316 cases was compiled for use in this study. Of these, 67 had to be excluded because of one or more ab normal levels in the 75 g - 3 h oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) that required treatment to maintain euglycemia. Among the remaining patien ts (n = 1249) who had no evidence of glucose intolerance and were incl uded in the analysis, there were 42 cases of pre-eclampsia. The associ ation between pre-eclampsia and plasma glucose level in the GCT was ev aluated using logistic regression analysis that adjusted for effects o f age and gravidity. Results: The odds of having pre-eclampsia were in creased by 20% (95% confidence interval 0%-44%) per mmol/l rise in pla sma glucose level in the GCT. The same statistic for age was 9% (95% c onfidence interval 2%-17%), and for primigravidity it was 210% (95% co nfidence interval 55%-517%). There was no significant interaction betw een these variables, Conclusions: Minor degrees of glucose intolerance , age and primigravidity are associated with a higher occurrence of pr e-eclampsia in non-diabetic pregnant women.