Diabetic pregnancies (N=142) exhibited significantly higher ductus venosus pulsatility index values compared to normal reference values, which correlated with maternal HbA1c.
Observational (n=142)
Does maternal diabetes during pregnancy alter fetal ductus venosus hemodynamics compared to non-diabetic pregnancies?
Diabetic pregnancies are associated with increased ductus venosus pulsatility index, suggesting potential early fetal cardiac effects.
OBJECTIVE: Maternal diabetes during pregnancy is associated with congenital cardiac malformations and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Blood flow in the ductus venosus (DV) has been postulated to reflect cardiac function. The aim of our study was to investigate if diabetic pregnancies exhibit abnormal DV hemodynamics, hence indicating changes in fetal cardiac function. METHODS: The pulsatility index of the DV (DV-PI) was analyzed retrospectively in 142 diabetic patients and compared to previously published DV-PI reference values from a non-diabetic low-risk population. DV values were then correlated with maternal glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). RESULTS: DV-PI was significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by either pre-existing insulin-dependent (DM) or gestational diabetes when compared with normal reference values. Increased DV-PI values were still evident in both diabetic groups when neonates that were small-for-gestational age and neonates with pathological umbilical blood flow pattern were excluded from the analysis. In DM pregnancies a statistically significant correlation was found between DV-PI and maternal HbA1c. CONCLUSION: Diabetic pregnancies exhibit increased DV-PI values when compared to a normal low-risk pregnant population, possibly indicating a fetal cardiac effect.
Stuart et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Diabetic pregnancy (n=142). Maternal diabetes vs. Previously published reference values from a non-diabetic low-risk population was evaluated on Pulsatility index of the ductus venosus (DV-PI). Diabetic pregnancies (N=142) exhibited significantly higher ductus venosus pulsatility index values compared to normal reference values, which correlated with maternal HbA1c.