Background: A high percentage of preterm neonates are born small for gestational age (SGA). These children show a high morbidity and mortality after birth and often develop insulin resistance with ensuing impaired glucose metabolism in adulthood. Since insulin is important for intrauterine growth, fetal insulin resistance might also influence birth weight of preterm neonates. Objectives: A common polymorphism in the promoter region of the human hepatic glucokinase (–258) is associated with a decreased promoter activity, an enhanced insulin secretion, and hypertension and hepatic insulin resistance in adults. In this pilot study we wanted to investigate whether the G/A polymorphism at –258 of the hepatic glucokinase promoter has an effect on birth weight of preterm neonates and therefore might constitute a genotype leading to low birth weight and metabolic defects. Methods: We enrolled 106 preterm neonates in our study. 44 of them were SGA and 62 AGA neonates. We extracted DNA from a buccal swab and identified the polymorphism by PCR-ARMS. Results: We found no difference in the prevalence of the polymorphism in either groups. Conclusion: The polymorphism at –258 of the fetal hepatic glucokinase promoter is most probably not of a major relevance in the pathophysiology of low birth weight in preterm neonates.

Keywords:
Decreased birth weight in preterm neonates, Fetal insulin secretion, G/A polymorphism, Hepatic glucokinase promoter, Insulin like growth factor, Intrauterine growth, Relative body length
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© 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
2008
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