[Postpartum evaluation of amylin secretion in gestational diabetes mellitus]

Amylin (Islet Amyloid Pancreatic Polypeptide - IAPP) is a hormone cosecreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells in a pulsatile pattern. Recent reports point to its essential part in glucose homeostasis. Postpartum evaluation of IAPP release in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) patients was performed. Our data were compared to insulin and peptide-C secretion patterns. We were not able to demonstrate a dynamic increase of IAPP in response to glucagon stimuli. However, related to GDM, puerperal IAPP levels were significantly higher than in normal controls. Lack of postpartum amylin response to glucagon stimulation might be interpreted as a primary result of previously reported increases in circulatory levels of IAPP during pregnancy complicated by GDM. Post partum elevated IAPP may be a useful marker to identify patients with high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.