Prothrombotic risk factors in infants of diabetic mothers.

BACKGROUND: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) are at an increased risk for thromboembolic disease. The mechanism(s) to explain this association is unclear. We hypothesized that the pathophysiology of thrombosis in IDMs is multifactorial and likely involves interactions among genetic and acquired factors affecting the procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of common prothrombotic risk factors in a cohort of IDMs to a matched control group. PATIENTS/METHODS: Full-term infants born to mothers with diet controlled (A1-IDM) (N=17), insulin requiring diabetes (ID-IDM) (N=20) and healthy term infants (controls) (N=20) matched for mode of delivery had cord blood collected at delivery. Samples were analyzed for the following: factor V Leiden (FVL), prothrombin 20210A (P20210A), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677 T (MTHFR), Factor VIII (FVIII), Protein C (PC), Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). RESULTS: None of the infants had a clinically apparent thrombotic event. IDM mothers and their infants were clinically similar to controls except for a higher prevalence of hypoglycemia (30 vs 0%; p=0.005). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the common genetic risk factors (FVL, P20210A, MTHFR) FVIII, or PAI-1 levels. Elevated Lp(a) levels were seen more frequently in IDMs than Controls (40 vs 20%) but this difference was not statistically significant. The PC activity (%) was significantly decreased in the IDM group compared to controls, 35+/-12 vs 44+/-9 (p<0.005). A1-IDM had lower PC activity compared to ID-IDM (p=0.05) and controls (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PC deficiency is likely one mechanism to explain thrombosis in IDMs.     

母亲妊娠期糖尿病对胎儿和婴儿心功能的影响

目的 探讨妊娠期糖尿病(gestational diabetes mellitus,GDM)母亲的子代婴儿期心脏解剖和功能的变化.方法 选择2007年1月至8月在复旦大学附属妇产科医院行产前检查并分娩的GDM孕妇18例为GDM组,选择同期24例孕周匹配的正常妊娠孕妇作为对照组,均在妊娠晚期接受胎儿超声心动图检查,测量胎儿心脏大小和功能各项指标,组间比较采用两独立样本t检验.GDM组 孕妇的子代于2～3月龄时接受小儿超声心动图随访,选择同期24例月龄匹配的正常妊娠的健康婴儿为对照组,再次评价和比较婴儿心脏大小和功能各项指标,组间差异比较采用方差分析及两两检验.结果 GDM组18例胎儿中出生6例大于胎龄儿(1arge for gestational age,LGA),占33.3%,12例(66.7%)适于胎龄儿(appropriate for gestational age,AGA);对照组24例胎儿中出生2例LGA(8.3%)和22例(91.7%)AGA(x2=3.840,P=0.05).GDM组胎儿的左室壁和室间隔收缩末期厚度大于对照组(P均＜0.05);至婴儿期室壁厚度未再增加,而LGA婴儿的左室壁收缩末期厚度[(4.55±0.37)mm]和左心室舒张末期长径[(37.3±2.3)mm]仍大于对照组[分别为(4.13±0.39)mm和(34.6±2.6)mm](P均＜0.05).GDM组胎儿的主、肺动脉峰速和左心输出量均大于对照组胎儿(P均＜0.01),右心/左心输出量值小于对照组(分别为1.198±0.206和1.430±0.321,t=-2.668,P=0.011);至婴儿期,GDM组仅AGA婴儿的右心/左心输出量值大于对照组(P＜0.05).GDM组胎儿左房缩短分数,三尖瓣E峰、A峰速度和E/A比值小于对照组(P均＜0.05);至婴儿期,GDM组仅左房缩短分数(0.356±0.040)仍小于对照组(0.386±0.041)(t=-2.332,P=0.025).GDM组胎儿的左、右心室Tei指数分别为0.482±0.129和0.414±0.094,均大于对照组(分别为0.309±0.074和0.283±0.072)(t分别=5.075和5.129,P均=0.000);至婴儿期,GDM组LGA和AGA婴儿的左、右心室 Tei指数均较胎儿期明显降低,并与对照组婴儿差异无统计学意义.结论 血糖控制良好的GDM母亲分娩的婴儿在2～3月龄时,心脏的解剖和功能指标均较胎儿期更接近健康婴儿.     

Decreased bone mineral content in infants of diabetic mothers

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) have decreased bone mineral content at birth, and whether or not decreased infant bone mineral content in IDMs correlates with poor control of diabetes during pregnancy, maternal bone mineral content, and the development of neonatal hypocalcemia. Forty-five pregnant diabetic women and their infants were enrolled in a prospective trial. In addition, 55 normal newborn infants of nondiabetic mothers were used as controls. Bone mineral content was measured before delivery in all diabetic pregnant patients and at birth in all infants by photon absorptiometry. Bone mineral content was significantly decreased in infants of diabetic mothers compared with control infants and correlated inversely with mean first trimester maternal capillary blood glucose; it did not correlate with cord serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, in infants of diabetic mothers, bone mineral content correlated inversely with mean first trimester capillary blood glucose and maternal bone mineral content, but did not correlate with maternal blood glycosylated hemoglobin, infant gestational age, infant birthweight or weight percentile, or development of neonatal hypocalcemia.     

Elevated acetoacetate and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels in cord blood of infants of diabetic mothers

Background: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) are at increased risk for metabolic complications. Type 1 and some type 2 diabetic patients have elevated levels of the ketone bodies acetoacetate (AA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how hyperketonemia in diabetic mothers affects markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in their offspring. Methods: Blood was obtained from 23 diabetic mothers and 13 healthy mothers and their infants' umbilical cords at delivery. Interleukin-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and protein carbonyl (protein oxidation) levels were determined by ELISA. U937 human monocyte cell culture was used to examine the effect of AA and BHB on secretion of MCP-1. Results: There was a significant increase in the levels of AA in cord blood of IDMs compared with cord blood of infants of healthy mothers. A significant increase in the levels of protein oxidation (p < 0.05) and MCP-1 levels (p < 0.05) was observed in the cord blood of IDMs. The level of MCP-1 correlated significantly (r = 0.51, p = 0.01) with the concentration of AA in the IDMs. In further experiments with cultured monocytes treated with exogenous AA (0-4 mM), a significant increase in MCP-1 secretion was observed in AA- but not BHB-treated monocytes. Conclusion: Blood levels of AA and MCP-1 are elevated in IDMs, which may contribute to the development of the metabolic complications seen in IDMs.     

Anthropometric differences in macrosomic infants of diabetic and nondiabetic mothers

The objective was to investigate the hypothesis that anthropometric and body composition differences exist between macrosomic infants of diabetic and nondiabetic mothers. Sixteen infants of mothers with diabetes, along with 58 control infants, were studied within 24 hours of delivery. The following measurements were obtained: birthweight, birth length and extremity length; circumferences of the head, chest, shoulders, and extremities; and triceps, subscapular, flank, and thigh skinfolds. Estimation of fat mass and calculation of percent body fat was performed according to the Dauncey method. Macrosomic infants of diabetic mothers were characterized by larger shoulder and extremity circumferences, a decreased head-to-shoulder ratio, significantly higher body fat, and thicker upper extremity skinfolds compared with nondiabetic control infants of similar birthweight and birth length. Differences in body composition and weight distribution may explain the propensity for shoulder dystocia in the diabetic population.     

Neonatal echocardiograms of macrosomic neonates

OBJECTIVE: To compare echocardiograms of macrosomic and healthy full term neonates whose weight was appropriate for gestational age (AGA). METHODS: Echocardiography was performed on 9 healthy full term AGA neonates and 15 macrosomic neonates. A data base was generated from valid echocardiographic measurements on each infant. RESULTS: Macrosomic infants were heavier than control infants and had a greater body surface area, but their mean cardiac dimensions were similar. The mean LVES volume was smaller than that of the control group when expressed as a fraction of individual LVED values (0.61 +/- 0.04 vs 0.64 +/- 0.02; p = 0.02). When comparing IVS/PW, it was observed that the ratio was up to and including 1.33 in the control group, while the upper limit of the ratio of the nondiabetic macrosomic infants was 1.6. The shortening fraction (SF%) was increased in comparison to infants of normal weight (40.67% +/- 3.34 vs 36.00% +/- 1.89; p = 0.0009). The thickened IVS did not elevate SF% by decreasing LVES; the macrosomic infants had a smaller LVES mean volume. CONCLUSION: IVS/PW ratio of macrosomic infants fell outside of the normal range. Macrosomic neonates were found to have an increased SF% secondary to a proportionally smaller LVES volume, regardless of IVS thickness.     

Neonatal polycythemia in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers

The rate of neonatal polycythemia was determined prospectively in 34 infants of diabetic mothers pair-matched to 34 infants of nondiabetic mothers (control group) for site of sampling, time of sampling, time of cord clamping, gestational age, mode of delivery, and one- and five-minute Apgar scores. Polycythemia (venous hematocrit greater than or equal to 65%) was present in 29.4% of infants of diabetic mothers and 5.9% of control subjects (P less than .03). Mean nucleated red blood cell counts were significantly higher in infants of diabetic mothers than in controls. Polycythemia did not correlate with higher maternal hemoglobin A1 concentration or with increased infant weight percentile, but did correlate with neonatal hypoglycemia. The authors speculate that increased erythropoiesis exists in infants of diabetic mothers and might be subsequent to fetal hypoxemia due to fetal hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinism, and hyperketonemia.     

Early neonatal predictors of neonatal hypocalcemia in infants of diabetic mothers: an epidemiologic study

Prematurity, neonatal asphyxia, hypomagnesemia, and advanced maternal diabetes are traditional risk factors for hypocalcemia in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs). The aim of this study was to determine the relative contribution of these factors separately and combined in a cohort of diabetic pregnancies managed prospectively in the recent 9 years and to find accurate predictors of neonatal hypocalcemia in infants of diabetic mothers. We hypothesized that these factors plus low cord blood calcium (Ca) concentration allow prediction of IDMs who develop neonatal hypocalcemia. We studied 186 IDMs (White class B-RT); gestational age (GA, weeks) was by last menstrual period, confirmed +/- 2 weeks by Ballard score. The goals of glycemic control were: preprandial blood glucose less than 100 mg/dl and 90-minute postprandial blood glucose less than 140 mg/dl. Apgar scores, and cord, 24-, 48- and 72-hour serum calcium (Ca) (mg/dl) and magnesium (Mg; mg/dl) were determined. In univariate analysis, lowest serum Ca correlated with cord blood Ca (r = 0.48, p less than 0.001), GA (r = 0.37, p less than 0.001), and 1-minute Apgar score (r = 0.18, p = 0.09), but did not correlate with cord Mg or with advanced White class. In multiple regression, cord Ca and GA were dominant effects and other variables became insignificant. Lowest Ca (mg/dl) was predicted as follows: lowest Ca = 34.05 - 3.22 (Ca cord) - 0.84 (GA) + 0.10 (GA) (Ca cord). This equation predicts neonatal hypocalcemia (lowest Ca less than 8 mg/dl) with a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 75%. Thus, GA and cord Ca allow determination of IDMs at risk for neonatal hypocalcemia.     

Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy in newborn infants of diabetic mothers

The objective of this paper is to determine the frequency and outcome of asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH) in large-for-gestational-age infants (LGA) born to diabetic (DM) and nondiabetic mothers (NDM), and to establish the relationship between ASH and maternal diabetes control. A comparative study was design to assess ASH in infants born to DM and NDM. The study was conducted in the Departments of Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology of the "Hospital de Gineco-Pediatria 48", Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social from January to December 1997. Eighty-five full-term infants of DM (group A) and 85 LGA infants of NDM (group B) were included. As a control group (group C), we studied 85 healthy, full-term infants. In all cases a Doppler echocardiogram was obtained in the first 48 h after birth, and for the ASH infants, at 2 and 4 months. Chest X ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests were performed as complementary studies. ASH was present in 38.8% of LGA infants of DM and in 7.1% of NDM. The difference was significant (p < 0.01). Interventricular septum (IVS) and IVS/ posterior wall of left ventricle ratio were significantly different between groups A and B with C. There was no correlation between Hb A1 level and the presence of ASH in group A. ASH is a common finding in infants of DM. We could not find a relationship between the degree of metabolic control during pregnancy and the incidence and severity of ASH.     

Postpartum maternal levels of hemoglobin A1c and cord C-peptide in macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers

Objective: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that macrosomia in infants born to non-diabetic mothers is associated with an increased incidence of hyperinsulinemia and normal maternal glucose regulation in late pregnancy. Methods: Twenty mothers and their macrosomic infants were chosen as the study group, and 20 mothers with their appropriate-for-gestational-age infants were chosen as the control group. Results: No difference in postpartum mean hemoglobin A_lc levels was observed between the mothers of macrosomic infants and those of control infants. Cord plasma C-peptide levels were significantly higher in macrosomic than in control infants. Conclusions: This study revealed that macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers were significantly more likely to have hyperinsulinemia than were normal-sized infants, and this hyperinsulinemia was not caused by dysregulation in glucose metabolism.     

Nucleated red blood cells in infants of smoking mothers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the absolute nucleated red blood cell (RBC) count is elevated in term, appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants born to smoking women. METHODS: We compared absolute nucleated RBC counts taken during the first 12 hours of life in two groups of term, vaginally delivered, AGA infants, one group born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy (n = 30) and the other born to mothers who did not smoke (n = 30). We excluded infants of women with diabetes, hypertension, or alcohol or drug abuse, and infants with heart rate abnormalities, hemolysis, blood loss, or chromosomal anomalies. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in birth weight, gestational age, maternal age, gravidity, parity, maternal analgesia during labor, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, corrected white blood cell counts, lymphocyte counts, or hematocrits. The median absolute nucleated RBC count in infants of smoking mothers was 0.5 x 10(9)/L (range 0 to 5.0) versus 0.0005 x 10(9)/L (range 0 to 0.6) in nonsmoking controls (P < .002). Regression analysis that included Apgar scores, gestational age, and number of cigarettes smoked per day showed a significant correlation of absolute nucleated RBC count only with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P < .001). CONCLUSION: At birth, term AGA infants born to smoking mothers have increased circulating absolute nucleated RBC counts compared with controls. The absolute nucleated RBC count in newborns correlates with the number of cigarettes smoked during pregnancy.     

Umbilical artery intima-media and wall thickness in infants of diabetic mothers

Background: Large for gestational age (LAG) neonates who had been exposed to an intrauterine environment of either diabetes or maternal obesity are at increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. This can be explained by exposure to high glucose and insulin levels in utero which alter fetal adaptation and programming. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the onset of preclinical atherosclerosis in utero. Methods: We measured umbilical artery wall thickness (ruWT) in the third trimester by obstetric ultrasound and umbilical artery intima-media thickness (uIMT) in pathologic specimens of umbilical cords obtained shortly after delivery and investigated the relation between these measurements and serum insulin level and C-peptide level in cord blood and assessed insulin resistance with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs), i.e. the study group, which was divided into a large for gestational age group (LGA)-IDM group and an appropriate for gestational age group (AGA)-IDM group and compared with a control group. Results: The LGA-IDM group had significantly higher insulin (p < 0.001), C-peptide (p = 0.018) and HOMA-IR levels (p < 0.001) compared with the AGA-IDM and control groups. The LGA-IDM group had significantly larger ruWT (p = 0.013) and uIMT (p < 0.001) compared with the AGA-IDM and the control groups. The LGA-IDM group had increased uIMT and ruWT that correlated with the severity of maternal hyperglycemia. Conclusions: Measurement of ruWT in the third trimester is feasible, reproducible and strongly correlated with pathological serum insulin, C-peptide in cord blood and HOMA-IR levels.     

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in infants of diabetic mothers: an update

Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) are at known risk for developing a hypertrophic type of cardiomyopathy. The severity of IDM cardiomyopathy can vary from an incidental finding on echocardiography to an infant with severe symptoms of congestive heart failure. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the development of cardiomyopathy in IDMs and to discuss the diagnostic tests utilized in making the diagnosis (especially echocardiography) and the potential mechanisms that may result in congestive heart failure. This report will conclude with a review of a 2 1/2 year prospective study of diabetic women who had carefully maintained diabetic control during pregnancy. Although the IDMs in this study continued to have mild evidence of generalized hypertrophy when compared with control newborn infants, none developed symptoms of congestive heart failure. These data support the contention that careful diabetic management in pregnancy reduces the severity of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in IDMs.     

Ultrasonographic prediction of fetal macrosomia. Association with cesarean delivery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the incorrect ultrasonographic prediction of macrosomia affects the cesarean delivery rate among nonmacrosomic neonates. STUDY DESIGN: For this retrospective, cohort study, comprehensive ultrasonographic records were reviewed at two centers. Patients with singleton, nonanomalous gestations whose ultrasonography predicted an estimated fetal weight > or = 4,000 g composed one cohort (n = 135), while the other cohort (n = 129) consisted of patients whose ultrasonography predicted an estimated fetal weight between 3,000 and 3,999 g. We compared the cesarean delivery rate in neonates falsely diagnosed with macrosomia (false positives) with the rate in those correctly diagnosed as nonmacrosomic (true negatives). RESULTS: The rate of cesarean delivery was significantly higher among those falsely diagnosed by ultrasonography with a macrosomic fetus as compared to those with a fetus truly diagnosed as nonmacrosomic (42.3% vs. 24.3%, relative risk = 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.09-2.78). Subgroup analyses excluding diabetic mothers and multiparous women and comparing false positives with true negatives with neonatal birth weights between 3,500 and 4,000 g (birth weights similar to false positives) demonstrated significantly increased cesarean delivery rates among false positives. CONCLUSION: Even in nonmacrosomic neonates, the antenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of suspected macrosomia is associated with a significant increase in cesarean delivery rates.     

Decreased bone ultrasound velocity in large-for-gestational-age infants.

BACKGROUND: Bone speed of sound is a measure of bone breakability. There are few reports on bone mineral content in large for gestational age infants; most of them in infants of diabetic mothers. There are no data on bone speed of sound in large for gestational age infants of nondiabetic mothers. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that large for gestational age infants of nondiabetic mothers have lower bone speed of sound than appropriate for gestational age infants. DESIGN/METHODS: Bone speed of sound was measured within the first 96 hours of life at the right tibial midshaft in 25 singleton large for gestational age infants of non diabetic mothers and compared to appropriate for gestational age controls. RESULTS: Bone speed of sound measured in large for gestational age infants of nondiabetic mothers was lower than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Large for gestational age infants of nondiabetic mothers have lower bone speed of sound than controls.     

Nucleated red blood cells in healthy infants of women with gestational diabetes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether absolute nucleated red blood cell (RBC) counts are elevated in large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants of women with gestational diabetes compared with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants of women with or without gestational diabetes. METHODS: We compared absolute nucleated RBC counts during the first 12 hours of life in three groups of term, vaginally delivered infants, LGA infants of women with gestational diabetes (n = 20), AGA infants of women with gestational diabetes (n = 20), and AGA infants of nondiabetic women (n = 30). We excluded infants of women with hypertension, smoking, alcohol or drug abuse, and those with fetal heart rate abnormalities in labor, low Apgar scores, hemolysis, blood loss, or chromosomal anomalies. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among groups in gestational age, gravidity, parity, maternal analgesia, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and lymphocyte counts. Corrected white blood cell counts and hematocrit were significantly higher in LGA infants of women with gestational diabetes than in the other groups. The median nucleated RBC count was significantly higher in LGA infants of women with gestational diabetes (0.56 x 10(9)/L, range 0-1.8 x 10(9)/L) than AGA infants of women with gestational diabetes (0.13 x 10(9)/L, range 0-0.65 x 10(9)/L) and controls (0.0005 x 10(9)/L, range 0-0.6 x 10(9)/L) (P < .001). Multiple regression analysis showed that absolute nucleated RBC count was significantly correlated with birth weight (or macrosomia) and maternal diabetic status (r2 = .25, P < .001 for the multiple regression, contribution of birth weight r2 = .19, and diabetes r2 = .06). CONCLUSION: At birth, term LGA infants born to women with gestational diabetes had higher absolute nucleated RBC counts compared with AGA infants born to women with gestational diabetes and controls.     

Fetal abdominal circumference measurements of 35 and 38 cm as predictors of macrosomia. A risk factor for shoulder dystocia

OBJECTIVE: To determine if ultrasound measurements of fetal abdominal circumference (AC) can be used to predict macrosomic infants. STUDY DESIGN: Using a computer database, 1,996 women at > or = 36 weeks' gestation, delivering a singleton infant and having an ultrasound examination within one week of delivery were studied. Fetal AC was evaluated to determine if it was useful in predicting the birth of a macrosomic infant, > 4,000 or > 4,500 g. RESULTS: AC predicted infants > 4,500 g better than those > 4,000 g. Almost all macrosomic infants > 4,500 g had an AC of > or = 35 cm (68/69, or 99%), but many nonmacrosomic infants were also in this group (683). AC of > or = 38 cm occurred in 99 infants, and 37 of the 69 (53.6%) weighing > 4,500 g were identified. Most infants (78%) with AC > or = 38 cm weighed > 4,000 g. CONCLUSION: Fetal AC was very helpful in identifying potential macrosomic infants. If AC was < 35 cm, the risk of infant birth weights > 4,500 g was < 1%. If AC was > or = 38 cm, the risk was 37% (37/99), and > 50% of these infants were identified (37/69, or 53.6%).     

Rate and risk factors of hypoglycemia in large-for-gestational-age newborn infants of nondiabetic mothers

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of hypoglycemia in large-for-gestational-age infants of nondiabetic mothers in relation to maternal or neonatal risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Hospital charts of all term large-for-gestational-age infants born between 1994 and 1998 (n = 1136) were analyzed for the rate of neonatal hypoglycemia (capillary glucose level, < or =30 mg/dL) during the first 24 hours of life. Infants of women with preexisting or gestational diabetes mellitus were excluded (n = 180). Neonatal glucose testing was performed at 1 or 2 hours of life, with subsequent measurements every 4 to 6 hours. Maternal and neonatal parameters were compared between neonates with and without hypoglycemia, including recent oral glucose tolerance test values in those women who were tested (n = 358). RESULTS: Of 956 infants, 69 infants (7.2%) were not tested for hypoglycemia. In the remaining 887 infants, hypoglycemia occurred in 142 infants (16%) within the first 24 hours of life. The incidence of hypoglycemia decreased sharply during the first few hours of life, from 9.2% within the first hour of life, to 3.5% between 2 to 5 hours (cumulative) of life, and 2.4% between 6 and 24 hours of life. Gestational age at delivery was the only neonatal parameter that differed significantly between infants with and without hypoglycemia (39.5 vs 39.3 weeks, P =.01). The antenatal 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test value was the only predictive maternal parameter (141.5 vs 163.0 mg/dL, P <.006). There was an incremental risk of hypoglycemia with increasing 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test values, with hypoglycemia rates of 2.5%, 9.3%, 22.0%, and 50.0% that were associated with maternal 1-hour glucose values of <120, 120-179, 180-239, and > or =240 mg/dL, respectively (P <.05, for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Routine glucose testing is indicated in large-for-gestational-age newborn infants of nondiabetic mothers. The 1-hour glucose value of the maternal oral glucose tolerance test is a fairly good predictor of subsequent neonatal hypoglycemia. A single elevated 1-hour value of > or =180 mg/dL markedly increases the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia.     

Decreased fetal cord prolactin concentration in diabetic pregnancies

Infants of diabetic mothers are known to have a greater incidence of respiratory distress syndrome than normal control infants. Fetal lung maturation is modulated by a large number of hormones. To further investigate a possible role of hormonal modulators of lung maturation in infants of diabetic mothers, fetal cord prolactin, estrone, estradiol, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and triiodothyronine-resin uptake index levels were measured in infants of diabetic mothers (n = 40) and nondiabetic mothers (n = 40) at term. Infants of diabetic mothers had significantly lower mixed-cord serum prolactin levels (p less than 0.0005) than control infants. There was no significant difference in cord serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine-resin uptake index, triiodothyronine, estrone, or estradiol levels between the infants of diabetic mothers and the infants of control mothers. These findings raise the possibility that decreased fetal prolactin levels may be associated with, or contribute to, the delayed lung maturation reported with diabetic pregnancies.     

Significant decrease in congenital malformations in newborn infants of an unselected population of diabetic women

In an unselected and consecutive series of 1858 newborn infants of diabetic mothers, born in the Rigshospital, Copenhagen, in the period 1967 to 1986, congenital malformations were studied. The malformation rate in White Classes B to F was remarkably constant from 1967 to 1981, but a significant decrease in major congenital malformations was found in the period 1982 to 1986 versus 1977 to 1981 (2.7% vs. 7.4%, p less than 0.05). This decrease was mainly due to a fourfold decline in major congenital malformations in White Classes D and F (p less than 0.01), and consequently a correlation between the severity of maternal diabetes and the frequency of congenital malformations was no longer present. In the offspring of a control group of 1715 nondiabetic women, major congenital malformations were found in 1.7% (p greater than 0.05). Seventy-five percent of the diabetic pregnancies were planned, and in these pregnancies only 1% of the infants had major congenital malformations. The frequency of fatal malformations in White Classes B to F was still significantly higher than in the control group (p less than 0.001).