Placental isoferritin in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background. Serum placental isoferritin, an immunosuppressive cytokine like protein, was found to be elevated in type I diabetes at diagnosis and low in high risk pregnant women. Further to this observation, the possible role of this placental product was assessed in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods. A comparative study. One hundred and seventy-four pregnant women were included in the study: 28 were diagnosed as gestational diabetes mellitus and 146 were normal controls. Main outcome measures. Samples for serum placental ferritin were measured in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Results. Serum placental isoferritin values were significantly lower in the second trimester of pregnancy in the gestational diabetes mellitus group (9.4 ± 2.6 U/ml) as compared with the control group (21.5 ± 2.2 U/ml, p = 0.0001), and were also significantly lower in the third trimester (3.7 ± 1.9 vs. 19 ± 2.6 U/ml, respectively, p = 0.00001). Conclusions. Low serum PLF values detected in gestational diabetes mellitus may reflect placental function and be related to insulin treatment.