Hypertensive disorders in Japanese women with gestational glucose intolerance

We investigated the relationship between gestational glucose intolerance and the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia. Consecutive Japanese women with singleton pregnancies underwent a standard 1 h, 50 g oral glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24-27 weeks of gestation, followed by a 75 g, 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if the GCT result exceeded 130 mg/dl. Using criteria of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was defined by two or more abnormal OGTT values and mild glucose intolerance by one abnormal value. The normal glucose tolerance group included women with GCT results below 130 mg/dl or normal OGTT values. GH was defined as blood pressure of at least 140/90 mmHg occurring for the first time after mid-pregnancy, without proteinuria. Preeclampsia was determined as GH with proteinuria. Of 2651 consecutive patients, 49 women were found to have GDM, and 139 showed mild glucose intolerance. Sixty patients showed GH, and 58 developed preeclampsia. The frequency of GH in mild glucose intolerance or GDM was 5.8% or 8.2%, respectively, significantly greater than in normal glucose tolerance (P<0.01). Incidence of preeclampsia was not significantly increased in women with mild glucose intolerance or GDM (2.2% or 4.1%, respectively, compared to those with normal glucose tolerance). Japanese women with gestational glucose intolerance therefore have an increased risk of developing GH.