Disorders of glucose tolerance among women with pregnancy induced hypertension

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes is observed to coexist with pregnancy induced hypertension. Insulin resistance might be associated with both of these diseases. DESIGN: To assess the association between glucose intolerance and subsequent development of hypertension in pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Glucose levels at the time of routine screening for gestational diabetes among 79 women with pregnancy induced hypertension and 79 normotensive women have been compared. RESULTS: Hypertensive women were statistically more often obese, their pregravid BMIs were greater and their pregnancy weight gain was higher. Among hypertensive women gestational diabetes has been more often diagnosed. As compared with normotensive, women developing PIH had significantly higher glucose levels after 50 g and 75 g of glucose load. CONCLUSIONS: Women with pregnancy induced hypertension are at increased risk of gestational diabetes. Even within the normal range, levels of plasma glucose levels were higher among hypertensive women.