Microvascular complications are associated with low levels of maternal sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 in pregnancy complicated with pregestational diabetes mellitus

Pregestational diabetes with vasculopathy in pregnant women is still associated with increased risk for severe maternal and foetal complications and their pathomechanism remains unclear. We investigate endothelial function in diabetic pregnant women with and without vascular disease, measured as changes in concentrations of soluble E-selectin and VCAM-1 throughout pregnancy. 121 pregnant women with PGDM and singleton pregnancy (30 participants with vasculopathy, 91 without vasculopathy) were enrolled into the prospective study. Control group consisted of 20 nondiabetic pregnant women in uncomplicated gestation, sampled cross-sectionally in early pregnancy and at term. We demonstrated lower concentrations of circulating sE-selectin both in early and in late diabetic gestation, irrespective of a concomitant vasculopathy. We also found reduced concentrations of sVCAM-1 in late gestation in diabetic pregnancies both with and without vascular disease, and reduced increase in its levels with gestation. We report significantly elevated concentrations of sVCAM-1 in early pregnancy in diabetic participants with retinopathy and nephropathy comparing with patients with retinopathy only and nondiabetic pregnant controls. We noted a general pattern of pregestational diabetes associated with reduced levels of cell adhesion molecules in early pregnancy with a further reduction during gestation, except for participants with combined retino- and nephropathy.