Serum activin A and inhibin A elevated in pre-eclampsia: no relation to insulin sensitivity

To assess the possible role of serum levels of activin A, inhibin A and pro-alpha inhibin (pro-alphaC) in insulin sensitivity in pre-eclampsia.

A prospective study.

Helsinki University Central Hospital.

Twenty-two nulliparous women with proteinuric pre-eclampsia and 16 healthy nulliparous controls in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Serum samples were collected before and after intravenous injection of glucose (0.3 g/kg) and insulin (0.03 IU/kg) (the minimal model for testing insulin sensitivity), and were assayed for activin A, inhibin A and pro-alphaC.

Comparison of the levels of activin A, inhibin A and pro-alphaC between pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women, and the association of these proteins with insulin sensitivity.

In pre-eclampsia elevated levels of activin A (139%, P = 0.0001), inhibin A (39%, P = 0.003), and pro-alphaC (92%, P = 0.0008) were observed. The amount of proteinuria (0.3-10.5 g/day) correlated positively with serum concentrations of activin A (P = 0.01) and inhibin A (P = 0.02). These glycoproteins were not associated with insulin sensitivity either in women with pre-eclampsia or controls. A 2.9-fold rise in blood glucose and a 52.5-fold rise in insulin during testing using the minimal model were not accompanied by any significant changes in activin A, inhibin A, and pro-alphaC.

Activin A, inhibin A, and pro-alphaC are elevated in pre-eclampsia but do not appear to relate to the insulin sensitivity in pre-eclamptic or normal pregnancies.