Plasma calprotectin as inflammation marker in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus and superimposed preeclampsia

ObjectiveWe hypothesized that pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus with or without preeclampsia show an elevated systemic inflammatory response evaluated by the inflammation markers calprotectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).Study designThird trimester EDTA plasma and serum from 138 women with diabetes mellitus (type 1, n = 53; type 2, n = 11; gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), n = 63; diabetes mellitus with preeclampsia, n = 11) were analyzed for calprotectin and hsCRP and compared to previously published results from 37 healthy and 27 preeclamptic pregnancies.ResultsMedian plasma calprotectin concentration was intermediate in women with GDM as compared to healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies (729 vs 552 and 1081 μg/L, P = .006 and P = .001, respectively). In diabetic pregnancies with preeclampsia, median plasma calprotectin concentration was elevated as compared to controls, but not different from women with preeclampsia alone (969 vs 552 and 1081 μg/L, P = .01 and P = .1, respectively). hsCRP was only elevated in type 2 diabetic pregnancies as compared to healthy pregnancies (6.6 vs 3.8 mg/L, P =.02).ConclusionElevated plasma calprotectin concentrations in GDM may reflect an accentuated inflammatory process, possibly contributing to the augmented preeclampsia risk. Increased plasma calprotectin in diabetic pregnancies with preeclampsia may originate from the excess systemic inflammatory response associated with preeclampsia.