Pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus by models of care: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare birth outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with background obstetric population, stratified by models of care. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre in Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: All births 1 January 2018 to 30 November 2020. Births <24 weeks, multiple gestations and women with pre-existing diabetes were excluded. METHODS: Data were obtained from electronic medical records. Women were classified according to GDM status and last clinic attended prior to delivery. Model of care included attendance at dedicated GDM obstetric clinics, and routine antenatal care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), pre-term birth (PTB), induction of labour (IOL), operative delivery, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age, postpartum haemorrhage, obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS), neonatal hypoglycaemia, neonatal hypothermia, neonatal respiratory distress, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. RESULTS: The GDM rate was 16.3%, with 34.0% of women managed in dedicated GDM clinics. Women with GDM had higher rates of several adverse outcomes. Only women with GDM attending non-dedicated clinics had increased odds of HDP (adjusted OR (adj OR) 1.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.0), PTB (adj OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0), OASIS (adj OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.0), similar odds of induction (adj OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.1) compared with non-GDM women. There were increased odds of NICU admission (adj OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8) similar to women attending high-risk GDM clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Women with GDM receiving care in lower risk clinics had similar or higher rates of adverse outcomes. Pathways of care need to be similar in all women with GDM.

The relationship between falling insulin requirements and serial ultrasound measurements in women with preexisting diabetes: a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: A large fall in insulin requirements (FIR) in women with diabetes is associated with adverse clinical outcomes but previous studies have not examined its relation with serial ultrasound parameters. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether FIR is associated with alteration in umbilical artery Doppler parameters and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in women with preexisting diabetes. METHODS: Serial obstetric Doppler ultrasounds were conducted 2 weekly from 28 weeks gestation in women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who were being treated with insulin. Estimated fetal weight (EFW), head circumference:abdominal circumference (HC:AC) ratio and umbilical artery doppler parameters (SD ratio) and pulsatility index (PI) were measured. Information on insulin dose was collected prospectively throughout pregnancy and women with FIR ≥ 15% were considered cases. Linear mixed effect models were used to assess the association between FIR and ultrasound parameters. RESULTS: One hundred and forty two women were included in the study (type 1 diabetes n = 41, type 2 diabetes n = 101). Thirty women demonstrated FIR ≥ 15%. There was no significant difference in the change of S/D ratio or PI over the third trimester in cases with FIR ≥ 15%, compared to the rest of the cohort, before or after adjusting for type of diabetes. Likewise there was no difference in EFW and HC:AC ratio with advancing gestation before or after adjusting for variables known to influence fetal growth. FGR rates (3.3 vs 8% p = 0.298) and high S/D ratio > 95% (13.3 vs 8%, p = 0.296) were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: FIR ≥ 15% was not associated with changes in placental flow or FGR however larger studies are needed to evaluate this further.

Aspirin and pre-eclampsia prevention in women with pre-existing diabetes: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin is routinely prescribed in high-risk pregnancies to prevent pre-eclampsia; however, there is a paucity of data in women with pre-existing diabetes. AIMS: To assess the efficacy and safety of aspirin in women with pre-existing diabetes in preventing pre-eclampsia. METHODS: A retrospective review of women with pre-existing diabetes who attended antenatal clinics in a tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2019 was conducted. Cases were those receiving aspirin prior to 16 weeks, with pre-eclampsia as the primary outcome. The relationship between early pregnancy glycaemic control and pre-eclampsia was also assessed. RESULTS: Of the 164 women included in the study, 45 received aspirin. There were no differences in pre-eclampsia (odds ratio (OR) 0.9 (0.3-3.0), P = 0.924) or any other measure of placental insufficiency (OR 1.7 (0.7-4.3), P = 0.243) between the aspirin and control groups after adjusting for baseline differences. Aspirin therapy was associated with an increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) (OR 3.1 (1.1-9.1), P = 0.041). The incidence of pre-eclampsia increased stepwise according to early pregnancy HbA1c subgroups of ≤6.0% (n = 47), 6.1-7.5% (n = 57) and > 7.5% (n = 39), with rates of 0, 12.3 and 20.5% (P = 0.007) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The aspirin group had a higher baseline risk of pre-eclampsia and placental insufficiency, therefore the absence of difference between the groups favoured the efficacy of aspirin. PPH was highlighted as a potential complication of therapy, and early pregnancy HbA1c as a novel risk stratification tool for pre-eclampsia in women with pre-existing diabetes.

Causes of stillbirths in diabetic and gestational diabetes pregnancies at a NSW tertiary referral hospital.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes in pregnancy may result in stillbirth or neonatal death. AIM: This audit examined stillbirths of mothers with pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) to determine maternal and diabetic characteristics implicated in these deaths. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify stillbirths occurring in diabetic pregnancies at Westmead Hospital during 2006-2017. Medical records were reviewed to obtain data relating to maternal factors, diabetes history, glycaemic control and cause of death. RESULTS: There were 37 women (seven with type 1 diabetes [T1DM], 11 with type 2 diabetes [T2DM] and 19 with GDM) who had 38 stillbirths. The leading cause of stillbirth was lethal congenital malformations in nine cases, followed by placental and umbilical abnormalities in six, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) in six, and obstetric factors in four cases. Malformations were predominantly cardiovascular (n = 7), musculoskeletal (n = 5) and gastrointestinal (n = 4). There was no difference in the proportion of stillbirths related to malformations between the DIP and GDM groups (P = 0.22). In the pre-conception period or first trimester, all T1DM subjects and all but two T2DM subjects had HbA1c >7% or there was no measurement. HbA1c was >7% in 6/7 T1DM subjects and 7/11 T2DM subjects at some stage during the pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Stillbirth remains a problem in diabetic pregnancy in the 21st century. Lethal malformations, placental abnormalities and IUGR were the leading causes of stillbirth related to diabetes. Pre-conception counselling and planning to achieve better glycaemic control in pregnancy needs to be improved.

Postpartum Seizure and Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Secondary to Moyamoya Disease.

Postpartum seizures secondary to subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) are rare. The incidence of pregnancy-related SAH is increasing and is highest during the delivery and postpartum periods. While there have been cases in the literature of SAH occurring postpartum, very few are associated with Moyamoya disease. We present a rare case of a young woman diagnosed with Moyamoya disease following immediate postpartum seizures secondary to a SAH. She was medically managed and discharged without any neurological deficits. This case highlights how seizures and SAH may develop in the immediate postpartum period in an otherwise healthy young woman.

Impact of the IADPSG criteria for gestational diabetes, and of obesity, on pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The adoption of the International Association of Diabetes Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Australia has been controversial. Obesity in pregnancy is also a growing concern. AIMS: To assess the impact of IADPSG criteria on the incidence of GDM and pregnancy outcomes, and to compare this to the effect of obesity, particularly among women who would not have GDM by the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society 1998 criteria (ADIPS1998). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study linking results of 75 g glucose tolerance tests with demographic and pregnancy data was conducted. RESULTS: In our cohort of 6175 pregnancies, GDM was present in 926 (15%) women by the ADIPS1998 criteria; it increased to 1098 (17.8%) women by the IADPSG criteria. Among the 5248 pregnancies which did not meet the ADIPS1998 criteria and were not treated for GDM, women with IADPSG GDM had increased risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, induction of labour (IOL), primary caesarean section (PCS) and large for gestational age (LGA) compared to women without GDM (all P < 0.05), whereas obese women had increased risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, IOL, PCS, small for gestational age (SGA) and shoulder dystocia compared to women of normal weight (all P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, IADPSG GDM was an independent risk factor only for IOL (P = 0.04) and LGA (<0.001). Obesity was an independent risk factor for gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, IOL, PCS, shoulder dystocia and SGA (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within our population, of women who are not currently treated for GDM, obesity is associated with greater pregnancy risk than GDM diagnosed by IADPSG criteria.

The Association of Falling Insulin Requirements With Maternal Biomarkers and Placental Dysfunction: A Prospective Study of Women With Preexisting Diabetes in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of falling insulin requirements (FIR) among women with preexisting diabetes with adverse obstetric outcomes and maternal biomarkers longitudinally in pregnancy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective cohort study of 158 women (41 with type 1 diabetes and 117 with type 2 diabetes) was conducted. Women with FIR of ≥15% from the peak total daily dose after 20 weeks' gestation were considered case subjects (n = 32). The primary outcome was a composite of clinical markers of placental dysfunction (preeclampsia, small for gestational age [≤5th centile], stillbirth, premature delivery [<30 weeks], and placental abruption). Maternal circulating angiogenic markers (placental growth factor [PlGF] and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 [sFlt-1]), placental hormones (human placental lactogen, progesterone, and tumor necrosis factor-α), HbA1c, and creatinine were studied serially during pregnancy. RESULTS: FIR ≥15% were associated with an increased risk of the composite primary outcome (odds ratio [OR] 4.38 [95% CI 1.9-10.3]; P < 0.001), preeclampsia (OR 6.76 [95% CI 2.7-16.7]; P < 0.001), and was more common among women with type 1 diabetes (36.6 vs. 14.5%; P = 0.002). Creatinine was modestly elevated among women with FIR ≥15%; however, there was no difference in HbA1c. The ratio of sFlt-1 to PlGF was significantly higher among women with FIR at 25, 30, and 36 weeks, with differences maintained in the subgroup that developed preeclampsia. There was no difference in placental hormones between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective study to associate FIR with altered expression of placental antiangiogenic factors and preeclampsia. FIR are an important clinical sign, among women with preexisting diabetes, that should alert the clinician to investigate underlying placental dysfunction.

Vein of Galen aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: AV malformation of the vein of Galen, also known as vein of Galen aneurysm, is an intracranial anomaly characterised by a midline, high flow lesion with a complex vascular architecture. It compromises less than 1% of all cerebral arteriovenous malformations seen in adults and children. Timely diagnosis of the malformation is of importance particularly during the perinatal period due to the large systemic shunting within the fetal brain potentially leading to cardiac failure, hydrops and perinatal death. METHOD: Case Report: In this report, we present a case that had an increased nuchal translucency of 6 mm at 12 weeks gestation (karyotype normal), nuchal oedema of 12 mm noted at morphology scan and subsequently diagnosed with vein of Galen malformation at 32 weeks on a follow up scan. It was evaluated further with 3D power Doppler imaging modality. 3D power Doppler imaging provided us with improved images of the malformation in utero which was helpful for characterising the vascular anatomic features of the lesion before planned delivery and neonatal treatment. RESULTS: The patient was followed up with antenatal ultrasounds. There was no evidence of hydrops. She delivered a live healthy infant weighing 2.8 kg by elective caesarean section at 39 weeks. The child is now five and half years old and has undergone embolisation twice. CONCLUSION: We present a case illustrating use of Power Doppler imaging in a vein of Galen malformation. Prenatal diagnosis and endovascular treatment in the early neonatal period is important in preventing heart failure and resultant mortality in vein of Galen aneurysm.

Vitamin D supplementation and the effects on glucose metabolism during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and neonatal vitamin D deficiency. We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of low-dose (LD) versus high-dose (HD) vitamin D supplementation to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism during pregnancy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Women with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels <32 ng/mL before 20 weeks' gestation were randomized to oral vitamin D3 at 5,000 IU daily (HD) (n = 89) or the recommended pregnancy dose of 400 IU daily (LD) (n = 90) until delivery. The primary end point was maternal glucose levels on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 26-28 weeks' gestation. Secondary end points included neonatal 25OHD, obstetric and other neonatal outcomes, and maternal homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Analysis was by intention to treat. RESULTS: There was no difference in maternal glucose levels on OGTT. Twelve LD women (13%) developed GDM versus seven (8%) HD women (P = 0.25). Neonatal cord 25OHD was higher in HD offspring (46 ± 11 vs. 29 ± 12 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and deficiency was more common in LD offspring (24 vs. 10%, P = 0.06). Post hoc analysis in LD women showed an inverse relationship between pretreatment 25OHD and both fasting and 2-h blood glucose level on OGTT (both P < 0.001). Baseline 25OHD remained an independent predictor after multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HD vitamin D supplementation commencing at a mean of 14 weeks' gestation does not improve glucose levels in pregnancy. However, in women with baseline levels <32 ng/mL, 5,000 IU per day was well tolerated and highly effective at preventing neonatal vitamin D deficiency.