Elevated serum uric acid levels in gestational hypertension are correlated with insulin resistance

The purpose of this study was to assess a possible correlation between insulin resistance and uric acid levels in gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia. Fourteen pregnant, nondiabetic women with either GH (n = 7) or preeclampsia (n = 7) and nine pregnant healthy controls in the third trimester were enrolled onto the study. Fasting serum was collected and insulin sensitivity was determined by Homeostasis Model Assessment based on the algorithm developed by Turner and colleagues. Serum samples were also analyzed for creatinine and uric acid levels. Insulin resistance and uric acid levels were compared between hypertensive and control pregnant women, and the association between these two variables was calculated. There were no significant differences in mean age, weight, body mass index, and glucose challenge test between all hypertensive patients and controls. Significant differences were revealed in insulin sensitivity between hypertensive and nonhypertensive pregnant women (45 +/- 31.2% vs. 79.7 +/- 33%; p = 0.018). In our study, uric acid levels were not significantly higher for hypertensive patients (5.46 +/- 0.85 vs. 4.53 +/- 1.4 mg/dL in controls; p = 0.06). The elevated serum uric acid levels were highly correlated to insulin resistance in patients with GH. In contrast, uric acid levels did not correlate with insulin sensitivity in patients with preeclampsia and controls. Insulin resistance is associated with the elevated uric acid levels found in nonproteinuric gestational hypertensive disease.