Osteopontin levels do not increase in gestational diabetes mellitus

Aim: Osteopontin (OPN) has recently been considered as a marker of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate OPN levels and investigate their correlation with the high sensitivity-CRP (hs-CRP) levels in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), an increased state of insulin resistance. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four GDM patients and 40 healthy pregnant patients were included in this study. Biochemical tests for lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, OPN, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were done at 24 th gestational week. Serum levels of OPN were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), serum hs-CRP levels were measured by particle association turbidometric assay. Results: Gestational week, age, BMI of two groups were similar (p > 0.05). The GDM group had significantly higher fasting, and post-load (1 st and 2 nd hour) blood glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels than those of the healthy group. Except triglyceride levels, the lipid profiles of two groups were not significantly different. The GDM group had higher triglyceride levels than the control group (p<0.05). The OPN levels were 3.6±2.2 ng/mL in the GDM and 3.4±2.6 ng/mL in the control groups (p>0.05). The hs-CRP levels were 0.94±0.8 mg/dL, 0.57±0.5 mg/dL in the GDM and control groups, respectively (p<0.05). There was no correlation between the OPN and hs-CRP levels (r=0.080; p=0.442). In GDM the patients are experiencing rapid metabolic changes, so these metabolic changes may not affect the level of OPN. Conclusion: OPN levels were not significantly increased in GDM patients.