Diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy tends to occur at lower blood glucose levels: Case–control study and a case report of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy

Background and Objective:  The occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during pregnancy is considered a medical emergency. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the incidence of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women with diabetes; to compare the blood glucose levels at the diagnosis of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women; and to show a case of euglycemic DKA in pregnancy.
Methods:  The subjects consisted of 90 cases of DKA in pregnant women with diabetes and 286 cases of non-pregnant female inpatients receiving treatment for diabetes during 2001 to 2005 in our hospital. The incidence of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women with diabetes and the blood glucose levels at the diagnosis of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared.
Results:  DKA had a higher incidence in pregnant women with diabetes (8/90, 8.9%) than in non-pregnant women with diabetes (9/286, 3.1%) ( P  < 0.05). The blood glucose levels (mmol/L) in pregnant women with DKA were significantly lower than those in non-pregnant women with DKA (16.3 ± 4.6 vs 27.5 ± 4.8, P  < 0.001). A case of euglycemic DKA in pregnancy was described whose serum glucose level was only 6.9 mmol/L.
Conclusions:  DKA in pregnant women with diabetes may occur more frequently, and at lower blood glucose levels than DKA in non-pregnant women with diabetes.     

Diabetic ketoacidosis and insulin resistance with subcutaneous terbutaline infusion: a case report

Diabetic ketoacidosis may occur in women treated with intravenous beta-sympathomimetic agents for tocolysis. We describe diabetic ketoacidosis and transient severe insulin resistance in a woman with diabetes who was treated with subcutaneous terbutaline infusion. Subcutaneous terbutaline infusion may precipitate transient insulin resistance and diabetic ketoacidosis in women with diabetes.     

Maternal blood pressure in pregnancy and stillbirth: a case-control study of third-trimester stillbirth

An immense body of literature on the effects of hypertension on perinatal morbidity and mortality exists, but only a handful of studies have reported adverse outcomes associated with low maternal blood pressure during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate if there is an increased risk of fetal loss associated with hypotension during pregnancy. A matched case-control study of stillbirth and maternal blood pressure was conducted in which maternal blood pressures for a total of 124 pregnancies culminating in stillbirth were compared with maternal blood pressures in 243 (matched) pregnancies resulting in a liveborn infant. Women whose diastolic blood pressures fell in a borderline range (60 to 70 mm Hg) were consistently at greater risk of stillbirth relative to normotensive pregnancies. Women who had three or more mean arterial pressure values < or = 83 mm Hg during the course of their pregnancy were at nearly twice the risk of stillbirth (odds ratio 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 2.99; P = 0.03). Systolic hypotension was not significantly associated with stillbirth, but proportionately more control women were noted to have systolic hypertension (SBP > or = 130 mmHg) than cases, and the adjusted odds of stillbirth in women who were hypertensive at either their first or last antenatal visit or whose antenatal average SBP was > or = 130 mm Hg were all very close to 0.4 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.43; P = 0.02 to 0.03) relative to normotensives. We concluded that maternal hypotension, particularly borderline hypotension, may be a contributory risk factor for stillbirth. Women with hypertension in pregnancy may now be at a decreased risk of stillbirth as a result of the close care and treatment they receive.     

Listeriosis in pregnancy: a case report.

Listeria monocytogenes is an alimentary infection which can be extremely dangerous for pregnant women. A 34-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized with fetal cardiac rate alterations and influenza-like symptoms. A caesarean section due to fetal distress was performed. A maternal-fetal listeriosis diagnosis was possible only after the birth through bacteriological and histological examination on both the placenta and the newborn.     

Extramembranous pregnancy: a case report.

A rare case of extramembranous pregnancy is reported. It was associated with intermittent loss of liquor and bloody discharge beginning at about the 25th week of gestation. An anencephalic infant was delivered alive from a breech presentation during the 31st week of gestation. The placenta was markedly circumvallate, with short, thick membranes which did not cover more than 10% of the infant. The course of the pregnancy and the examination of the infant and placenta are discussed, and the pertinent literature is reviewed.     

Umbilical endometriosis in pregnancy: a case report.

To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of umbilical endometriosis in a pregnant woman. We report a case of umbilical endometriosis in a pregnant woman at 16 weeks of gestation. The patient revealed a reddish-brown polypoid nodule within the umbilical depression, with the typical history of monthly bleeding from the umbilicus. A nodule biopsy, testing of serum levels of CA-125 and a transabdominal ultrasound examination were performed. The diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed by pathological examination. Serum levels of CA-125 were slightly increased and the pelvic ultrasound examination did not identify ovarian cysts of a possible endometriotic nature. The patient was also examined at 24 weeks' gestation, after delivery and in the late postpartum period. No therapy was given and the lesion resolved spontaneously 2 months after the biopsy was taken.     

Listeriosis in pregnancy: case report and retrospective study

Background: Listeria monocytogenes usually causes mild maternal illness, but can be devastating to the fetus. Case: Listeriosis in a pregnant patient successfully treated with empiric antibiotic therapy is described. After induced delivery, despite severe placental infection, a healthy infant was born. Additionally, archived placental specimens with similar pathological manifestation were evaluated for evidence of L. monocytogenes. Conclusion: It is important to emphasize the value of associating maternal data and clinical and laboratory findings of the newborn with the pathologic placental findings to get better results in the etiologic diagnosis of the listeriosis.     

Treatment of severe diabetic ketoacidosis in the early third trimester in a patient with fetal distress. A case report

A patient presented with severe diabetic ketoacidosis at 30 weeks' gestation. Her case was complicated by uterine contractions and fetal distress. Treatment with rehydration and continuous infusion of insulin not only reversed the diabetic ketoacidosis but also stopped the uterine contractions and fetal distress. Ketoacidosis can stimulate uterine contractions and cause signs of fetal distress; these problems can be reversed by adequately treating the diabetic ketoacidosis.     

Porphyria cutanea tarda in pregnancy: a case report.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common disorder of porphyria metabolism in Europe and North America.The incidence in women appears to be increasing, perhaps as a result of widespread use of hormonal contraception. Treatment in pregnancy is largely supportive, but screening of the pregnant patient for antinuclear antibodies, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis should be performed, as there is an association of PCT with these conditions. The baby should also be screened postpartum for PCT. Patients with PCT cope well with normal and operative delivery; however, an anaesthetic plan of management for labour and delivery is advisable.     

Volvulus in pregnancy: a case report

There are several etiologies of abdominal pain during pregnancy, including an extremely rare: the intestinal volvulus. Have been reported about 78 cases in the literature of intestinal volvulus complicating pregnancy, we reported this case occurred in our hospital and to assess the difficult diagnosis of intestinal volvulus in pregnancy.     

Thymoma and myasthenia gravis in pregnancy: report of a case.

A 31-year-old woman who presented with a thymoma and myasthenia gravis during pregnancy is reported. The thymoma showed an increase in size during the next 1.5 months. The pregnancy was terminated and a total thymothymectomy was performed with beneficial results. Pathology revealed a lymphoepithelial type with capsule invasion. Thymoma occurring during pregnancy with myasthenia gravis is extremely rare; we therefore review the literature.     

Failed methotrexate termination of pregnancy: a case report.

We report a case of a fetus with shortened proximal long bones, ambiguous genitalia, intrauterine growth restriction and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocities observed on antenatal ultrasound exam. At 34 weeks the patient revealed methotrexate/misoprostol exposure at 6 weeks gestational age in attempted medical termination of pregnancy. On newborn exam, the baby had dysmorphic facial features, a short torso, scoliosis, a micropenis (phallus <1 cm) and shortened proximal long bones both upper and lower extremities. X-ray exam revealed a hemivertebra at T10 level, rib abnormalities, shortened proximal long bones, an absent pubic bone and bilateral knee ossification centers. With methotrexate exposure, improved counseling and surveillance could potentially avoid these significant abnormalities and prevent psychological distress.