الفهرس 
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Abstract
The innate or natural immune system is the body’s rapid first-line defense against environmental threats such as microbial infection and physical or chemical injury (Spranger et al., 2003). A series of reactions are induced that prevent ongoing tissue damage, isolate and destroy infective agents, and activate repair processes to restore homeostasis. The maternal immune system is modulated in several ways during pregnancy such that a normal, robust response to pathogens is maintained and at the same time allows the fetus to survive and thrive (Pradhan et al., 2001).
GDM generally has few symptoms and it is most commonly diagnosed by screening during pregnancy. It is believed that the hormones produced during pregnancy increase a woman’s resistance to insulin, resulting in impaired glucose tolerance.
Pregnancy produces transient insulin resistance, manifest as elevated postprandial glycemia, fasting hyperlipidemia in the form of increased triglycerides, LDL particles, and free fatty acids and accelerated ketosis. Non-diabetic pregnancy is also associated with increased blood levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, TNF-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP), all markers of increased inflammatory response (Crowther et al., 2005).
The aim of our study was to investigate the role of inflammatory markers of innate immunity in pregnant females with or without diabetes mellitus and its significance.
This study was carried out on 60 subjects. They were classified into three groups: group A (20 pregnant females with gestational diabetes), group B (20 healthy pregnant females without diabetes mellitus nor any other complications of pregnancy) and group C (20 healthy non pregnant females as a control group).
Our results can be summarized as follow:
- Age, gravidity and parity had no statistical significant differences between the three studied groups. Body mass index (BMI) in group A was statistically higher than group B and C.
- As regarding blood picture, Hb levels were statistically higher in group C than other groups. WBCs counts were higher in the pregnant groups (A&B) versus the control subjects (group C). Platelets did not differ significantly among groups.
- For fasting blood glucose, group A had the highest levels which were statistically important versus other groups. There were no significant variances in serum fasting insulin between the studied groups but there were a high fasting glucagon levels in group A with significant values against other groups.
- Group A had the significantly the highest levels of inflammatory markers; CRP and serum complement (C3 & C4).
Finally, a close association between elevated levels of inflammatory markers and development of gestational diabetes mellitus might be found.