Abstract: Objective Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) in prenatal women with gestational diabetes(GDM) was measured. Methods Fasting plasma TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA in 33 prenatal women with GDM and 53 cases of normal prenatal women, tests repeated for each group according gestational age in four stages of 25～28 weeks, 29～32 weeks, 33～36 weeks and 37～40 weeks. Results ① Plasma TNF-α levels in GDM and normal prenatal group rose as gestational age; ② Plasma TNF-α levels in GDM of four stages were (7.92±1.68)ng/L, (9.46±2.40)ng/L, (10.87±2.38)ng/L, and (11.51±4.55)ng/L respectively, all significantly increased than those in the same stage of normal prenatal group. Conclusion Plasma TNF-α levels in normal prenatal group rise with gestational age. Plasma TNF-α increases more significantly in GDM than in normal pregnancy. Plasma TNF-α is suggested to play an important role in the development of GDM.

Key words: tumor necrosis factor-alpha, gestational diabetes mellitus