Frequency of HLA genes and islet cell antibodies (ICA) and result of postpartum oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) in Saudi Arabian women with abnormal OGTT during pregnancy.

A consecutive series of 55 Saudi women with abnormal 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during pregnancy was reinvestigated 2-4 months after delivery. A 75 g OGTT was done and samples were also drawn for analysis of C-peptide concentration, islet cells antibodies (ICA) and HLA antigens. The results of these laboratory investigations and a number of patient characteristics were analyzed to identify risk factors for patients likely to have impaired OGTT after delivery. Twenty-five (45.5%) of the patients had an abnormal OGTT after delivery. The distribution of HLA antigen frequencies did not differ from a reference group of healthy Saudis. ICA were found in only one patient. Logistic regression analysis identified insulin treatment during pregnancy (p = 0.001) as the only factor to predict an abnormal OGTT after delivery.