Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Live Images of GLUT4 Protein Trafficking in Mouse Primary Hypothalamic Neurons Using Deconvolution Microscopy
08:47

Live Images of GLUT4 Protein Trafficking in Mouse Primary Hypothalamic Neurons Using Deconvolution Microscopy

Published on: December 7, 2017

Pregnancy-induced hypertension and insulin resistance: evidence for a connection

K E Innes1, J H Wimsatt

  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.

Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|April 15, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is linked to insulin resistance, a condition also seen in metabolic syndrome. Research suggests insulin resistance may cause PIH, with PIH potentially being an early sign of metabolic syndrome during pregnancy.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality, with its etiology poorly understood.
  • Existing evidence suggests a strong link between PIH and insulin resistance (IRS).
  • PIH shares clinical features with IRS, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and endothelial dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between PIH and insulin resistance.
  • To investigate whether insulin resistance may play a causal role in PIH development.
  • To determine if PIH is an early manifestation of IRS during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies.
  • Prospective investigations assessing insulin sensitivity, glucose intolerance, and hyperinsulinemia.
  • Analysis of clinical features common to PIH and IRS.

Main Results:

  • Multiple studies confirm a significant positive association between PIH (both proteinuric and non-proteinuric) and various measures of insulin resistance.
  • Prospective studies indicate that hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin insensitivity predict the development of PIH.
  • PIH exhibits characteristics mirroring those of IRS, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coagulation abnormalities.

Conclusions:

  • Insulin resistance is strongly associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
  • Insulin resistance may play a causal role in the pathogenesis of PIH.
  • PIH could represent an early manifestation of insulin resistance syndrome, exacerbated by pregnancy's metabolic demands.

More Related Videos

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)08:13

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)

Published on: January 7, 2018

Evaluation of Hepatic Glucose Production in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Mouse Model09:44

Evaluation of Hepatic Glucose Production in a Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Mouse Model

Published on: March 5, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Diabetes Mellitus: Introduction01:26

Diabetes Mellitus: Introduction

Diabetes mellitus consists of chronic metabolic disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This elevated blood glucose results from defects in insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or both. Insulin, produced by pancreatic β-cells, is essential for maintaining glucose homeostasis by facilitating cellular glucose uptake for energy or storage. Disruptions in insulin production or function lead to glucose accumulation in the bloodstream, causing the clinical features and long-term...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations01:19

Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations

Type 1 diabetes mellitus typically presents with rapid-onset symptoms due to the body’s inability to utilize glucose in the absence of insulin. Since insulin is required for glucose uptake into cells, its deficiency leads to hyperglycemia and cellular energy deprivation, resulting in characteristic clinical features.Polyuria and PolydipsiaOne of the earliest, most prominent symptoms is polyuria (excessive urination). When blood glucose concentrations rise above the renal threshold, the kidneys...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.