Abstract
Objective
To examine possible correlation between α1-antitrypsin (AAT) levels and activity in parturients with and without isolated obesity (after excluding complications such as diabetes mellitus) during pregnancy.
Study Design
A prospective case-control study was conducted. AAT levels were determined by standard human AAT ELISA according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Immunology Consultants Laboratories, OR, USA). Elastase inhibition was determined by kinetic assay according to manufacturer recommendations (Sigma-Aldrich, Rehovot, Israel). Assays were performed in duplicates and repeated twice for each sample in separate sessions. Patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to evaluate the statistical differences between groups in AAT concentration and activity.
Results
During the study period 43 parturients were recruited: 21 had isolated obesity and the control group consisted of 22 non-obese parturients. AAT concentration was lower in obese as compared with non-obese parturients (8.31 ± 0.28 mg/ml vs. 9.5 ± 0.37 mg/ml, p=0.0155; figure 1A). Likewise, the elastase inhibitory capacity was lower in the obese vs. the non-obese parturients (mean 27.33 ± 2.08 % vs. 43.73 ± 3.1%, p<0.001; figure 1B).
Conclusion
Isolated obesity in pregnancy is associated with lower levels and activity of AAT. These findings correlate with the reduced concentration and activity of AAT found in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, it might suggest an inflammatory cascade associating between obesity and the development of insulin resistance.
To examine possible correlation between α1-antitrypsin (AAT) levels and activity in parturients with and without isolated obesity (after excluding complications such as diabetes mellitus) during pregnancy.
Study Design
A prospective case-control study was conducted. AAT levels were determined by standard human AAT ELISA according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Immunology Consultants Laboratories, OR, USA). Elastase inhibition was determined by kinetic assay according to manufacturer recommendations (Sigma-Aldrich, Rehovot, Israel). Assays were performed in duplicates and repeated twice for each sample in separate sessions. Patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to evaluate the statistical differences between groups in AAT concentration and activity.
Results
During the study period 43 parturients were recruited: 21 had isolated obesity and the control group consisted of 22 non-obese parturients. AAT concentration was lower in obese as compared with non-obese parturients (8.31 ± 0.28 mg/ml vs. 9.5 ± 0.37 mg/ml, p=0.0155; figure 1A). Likewise, the elastase inhibitory capacity was lower in the obese vs. the non-obese parturients (mean 27.33 ± 2.08 % vs. 43.73 ± 3.1%, p<0.001; figure 1B).
Conclusion
Isolated obesity in pregnancy is associated with lower levels and activity of AAT. These findings correlate with the reduced concentration and activity of AAT found in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Accordingly, it might suggest an inflammatory cascade associating between obesity and the development of insulin resistance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | S358 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2014 |
