Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and diabetes type 1.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function and antithyroid antibodies during pregnancy in women with diabetes type 1 and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: The study group included 83 pregnant women who attended the Outpatient Department of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Clinic in the period from 05.2009 to 11.2009. The one hundred-g. oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was conducted on the pregnant women except for women with diabetes type 1. Thyroid functions were evaluated in all the pregnant women. After routine screening for GDM, thirty of the pregnant women were healthy and GDM was diagnosed in forty of them. The rest, thirteen women, had diabetes type 1. RESULTS: The women who developed GDM showed a mean free thyroxin concentration (fT4) significantly lower than that observed in the healthy pregnant women and women with diabetes type 1. Among the pregnant women with GDM, 10 women or 25% had fT4 concentrations below the lower cut-off with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations (TSH). A statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies (anti-TPO) between the (30%) women with diabetes type 1 and (10%) healthy pregnant women (p<0.05). In the women positive for anti-TPO, TSH was significantly higher (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The significantly higher prevalence of hypothyroxinemia in GDM pregnancies and anti-TPO titres in pregnancies with diabetes type 1, than in healthy pregnant women warrants routine screening for thyroid abnormalities in these groups of pregnant women.

Dyslipidaemia and hypertension in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with dyslipidaemia and arterial hypertension. METHODS: At the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Skopje, R. Macedonia, we examined 24 consecutive patients with SCH and 13 healthy controls in a period of 6 months. SCH was defined as an elevated thyrotropin (TSH) (> 4.2 mU/l) and normal free thyroxine (fT4) level (10.3-24.45 pmol/l). None of the patients had been previously treated with thyroxine. In all participants we determined blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), TSH, fT4, antibodies to thyroid peroxidise (TPOabs), total lipids (TL), total cholesterol (TH), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides. RESULTS: Mean diastolic blood pressure increased in SCH patients vis-a-vis controls (85 vs. 74 mmHg; p < 0.05). Mean values of TL, TH, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C were no different in patients with SCH compared with controls. Individual analysis revealed that the percentages of patients with SCH having arterial hypertension (29%), hypertriglyceridaemia (34.78%), elevated LDL-C (41.66%), elevated TC/HDL-C (21.7%), and LDL-C/HDL-C (21.74%) ratios were higher than the percentages in controls. No significant correlation between TSH and biochemical parameters was detected. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that SCH patients have a greater prevalence of dyslipidaemia and arterial hypertension, and, as well, a greater value of mean diastolic pressure vs. control patients.

Association between foetal growth and different maternal metabolic characteristics in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between foetal growth and different maternal metabolic characteristics in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: The study group included 200 consecutive pregnant women who attended the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Outpatient Department in the period from 02.2006 to 02.2009 with singleton pregnancy and GDM diagnosed following ADA criteria. The following parameters were studied: pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI), 3-hours 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total lipids (TL), total cholesterol (TH), triglycerides (TG), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol levels at admission. Neonatal birth weight and the prevalence of being large for gestational age (LGA) was an end-point. RESULTS: We found a significant association between birth weight and pre-pregnancy BMI, HDL-C and birth weight of a large child born previously. Birth weight of a large child born previously was the strongest independent predictor for LGA. The prevalence of LGA (from 27% to 80%) was related to a number of altered maternal characteristics. CONCLUSION: Pre-pregnancy BMI, HDL-C and birth weight of a large child born previously are the independent predictors for LGA, but results of glucose levels during OGTT are not useful in the prediction of LGA in GDM pregnancies. Probably more factors and other maternal metabolic parameters than glucose levels during OGTT are responsible for the risk of LGA.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - the impact of maternal body mass index and glycaemic control on baby's birth weight.

OBJECTIVES: To asses the influence of the maternal BMI and glycaemic control in women with GDM on the baby's birth weight (BW). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed 180 women with GDM. Macrosomia has been defined as BW > 4000 gm, small for gestational age < 2700 gm and appropriate for gestational age between both. According to the baby s BW the pregnant women were divided into three groups: group 1 (G1) with BW < 2700 gm (n = 26); group 2 (G2) with BW between 2700 to 4000 gm (n = 117), and group 3 (G3) with BW > 4000 gm (n = 37). We also analysed BMI (kg/m2), HbA1c (%), PPG (mmol/L) and time of delivery (WG). RESULTS: Comparisons between G1 and G2 showed: BMI (30.7 +/- 5 & 31 +/- 5.2; p < 0.7), HbA1c (6.4 +/- 0.8 & 5.1 +/- 0.8, p < 0.002), PPG (8.2 +/- 1.7 & 6.9 +/- 1.5, p < 0.02), time of delivery (35.2 +/- 3.8 & 38.6 +/- 1.5, p < 0.0001) and BW (2289 +/- 504 & 3474 +/- 334, p < 0.0001). Comparisons between G2 and G3 showed: BMI (31 +/- 5. 2 & 33.4 +/- 6.1; p < 0.02), HbA1c (5.2 +/- 1.1 & 6.4 +/- 2.3, p < 0.02), PPG (6.9 +/- 1.5 & 8.2 +/- 1.9, p < 0.02), time of delivery (38.6 +/- 1.5 & 39.3 +/- 1.4, p < 0.01) and BW (3474 +/- 334 & 4431 +/- 302, p < 0.0001). Comparisons between G1 and G3 showed the difference at delivery time and the baby's BW (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal obesity and PPG contribute to macrosomia and also PPG to SGE.

The frequency of insulin resistance calculated upon the basis of a fasting glucose to insulin ratio and characteristics of insulin resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder of women of reproductive age, characterized by hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. Peripheral insulin resistance (IR) has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. A fasting glucose to insulin (G/I) ratio is a simple, reliable, sensitive and specific measurement of insulin sensitivity and is a useful test for the identification of IR in women with PCOS, who have to be treated with insulin sensitizers. OBJECTIVE: To calculate the frequency of IR among patients with PCOS, using the fasting G/I ratio, and to compare the clinical and biochemical parameters between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 62 patients of reproductive age (18-40) with PCOS. The diagnosis PCOS was determined according to the diagnostic criteria from Rotterdam 2003, i.e. the presence of two of the following three criteria: oligo-ovulation and/or anovulation; clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism; and polycystic ovaries. All other states associated with hyperandrogenism had been previously excluded. An inclusion criterion for the study was the body mass index (BMI) >or=25 (kg/m2). After calculating the fasting glucose(mg/dl) / insulin(microU/ml) ratio, the patients were separated in two groups, i.e. an insulin-resistant group with a fasting G/I ratio of < 4.5(mg/10(-4) U) and an insulin-sensitive group with a fasting G/I ratio of >/=4.5(mg/10(-4) U). RESULTS: In our study, 58.06% of women with PCOS and BMI >or=25 (kg/m2) were insulin-resistant. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age or BMI. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were significantly lower in the insulin-resistant group (17.83 +/- 8.38 vs. 42.66 +/- 27.65 (nmol/l); p=0.0036) and they had a higher free testosterone index (19.38 +/- 8.91 vs. 9.55 +/-3.51(%); p=0.001) in comparison with the insulin-sensitive group. Progesterone levels were significantly lower in the IR group (2.41 +/- 2.50 vs. 7.05 +/- 8.04 (ng/ml); p=0.034). CONCLUSION: A fasting glucose to insulin ratio is a simple and useful test for identifying insulin-resistant obese women with PCOS. SHBG and progesterone (oligo-ovulation/anovulation) can be useful markers for long-term health risks in women with PCOS (diabetes mellitus type 2 and cardiovascular diseases). In this way we could identify the group of PCOS subjects and its subgroups, which would benefit from therapy with insulin sensitizers, with respect to the reduction of risks of chronic complications.

Metformin improves menstrual patterns, endocrine and metabolic profile in obese hyperinsulinemic women with a polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of metformin on the clinical features, hormonal and metabolic profile in obese women with a hyperinsulinemic polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 25 women with PCOS, mean age 27.28+/-7.85 years, BMI 34.42+/-6.61 kg/m2, FerrimanGallwey (F/G) score 17.43+/-5.45 and duration of menstrual cycle 79.2 +/- 54.5 days. Basal hormone measurements included: FSH, LH, total testosterone, DHEAS, 17 alpha OHP and E2. All patients underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), during which fasting and stimulated levels of glucose and insulin were measured at 0', 60' and 120'. The lipid profile was also performed. Both basal and stimulated parameters were analyzed before and after treatment with metformin (500 mg orally, three times daily for 9 months). RESULTS: After metformin treatment the mean frequency of menses became significantly more regular (79.2+/-54.5 days vs. 31.61 +/-7.7 days, P<0.01) and mean testosterone level had significantly decreased (2.78+/-1.23 vs. 1.72+/-0.95 ng/ml, (P<0.01). We also observed a statistically significant decrease in the metabolic parameters, both basal insulinemia (22.18 +/- 5.76 vs. 17.19+/-6.67 microU/ml, P<0.01), stimulated insulinemia after 60' (179.18+/-88.96 vs. 136.38+/-75.43 microU/ml, P=0.04), stimulated insulinemia after 120' (163.23 +/-89.2 vs. 88.46 +/- 61.5 U/ml, P<0.01) and glucose response to OGTT on 120' (7.07 +/- 1.82 vs. 6.15 +/-1.52 mmol/L, P=0.04). The levels of HDL cholesterol had increased (0.94+/-0.16 vs. 1.13+/-0.19 mmol/L, P=0.04). No changes were noted on the hirsutism score and other steroid levels. CONCLUSION: In women with PCOS treatment with metformin is effective in the lowering of hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenemia. In most women metformin improves the menstrual pattern, but has no effect on hirsutism.