Recurrence of gestational diabetes: pregnancy outcome and birth weight diversity

Significant risk of repeat adverse outcomes in recurrent gestational diabetes pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The risk of adverse outcomes in recurrent GDM pregnancy has not been well documented, particularly in women who have already had an adverse outcome. The aim of this study was to compare the risk of recurrent adverse delivery outcome (ADO) or adverse neonatal outcome (ANO) between consecutive gestational diabetes (GDM) pregnancies.

METHODS

In this retrospective study of 424 pairs of consecutive ("index" and "subsequent") GDM pregnancies, we compared the risk of ADO (instrumental delivery, emergency Caesarean section) and ANO (large for gestational age (LGA and small for gestational age (SGA)) in women with and without a history of adverse outcome in their index pregnancy.

RESULTS

Subsequent pregnancies had higher rates of elective Caesarean (30.4% vs 17.0%, p < 0.001) and lower rates of instrumental delivery (5% vs 13.9%, p < 0.001), emergency Caesarean (7.1% vs 16.3%, p < 0.001) and vaginal delivery (62.3% vs 66.3%, p = 0.01). Index pregnancy adverse outcome was associated with a higher risk of repeat outcome: RR 3.09 (95%CI:1.30,7.34) for instrumental delivery, RR 2.20 (95%CI:1.06,4.61) for emergency Caesarean, RR 4.55 (95%CI:3.03,6.82) for LGA, and RR 5.01 (95%CI:2.73,9.22) for SGA). The greatest risk factor for subsequent LGA (RR 3.13 (95%CI:2.20,4.47)) or SGA (RR 4.71 (95%CI:2.66,8.36)) was having that outcome in the index pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

A history of an adverse outcome is a powerful predictor of the same outcome in the subsequent GDM pregnancy. These high-risk women may warrant more directed management over routine GDM care such as altered glucose targets or increased frequency of ultrasound assessment.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with recurrent gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of the study was to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with recurrent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), compared to women with GDM.

METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study was done on multiparous women with GDM attending the two tertiary care hospitals. Subjects were divided into two groups, recurrent GDM and GDM. Demographics, clinical variables, and maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded between the two groups. The postpartum glycemic status was determined at six months.

RESULTS

There were 36 (20.2%) women with recurrent GDM and 142 (79.8%) women with GDM. Women with recurrent GDM were older (32.4 ± 6.2 versus 29.8 ± 5.6 years), had higher frequency of obesity, and insulin resistance than women with GDM. Women with recurrent GDM had poor glycemia at diagnosis as compared to GDM. Although the glycemic goals achieved were comparable but women with recurrent GDM have increased frequency of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and need for cesarean section. Women with recurrent GDM significantly had higher frequency of large for gestational age (LGA) and macrosomic neonates. Postpartum diabetes at six months was significantly higher in women with recurrent GDM.

CONCLUSION

Women with recurrent GDM are at increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes despite achieving optimal glycemic goals and also at the most significant risk of postpartum diabetes.

Recurrent Shoulder Dystocia: Risk Factors and Counseling

A prior history of delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia confers a 6-fold to nearly 30-fold increased risk of shoulder dystocia recurrence in a subsequent vaginal delivery, with most reported rates between 12% and 17%. Whereas prevention of shoulder dystocia in the general population is neither feasible nor cost-effective, directing intervention efforts at the particular subgroup of women with a prior history of shoulder dystocia has merit. Potentially modifiable risk factors and individualized management strategies that may reduce shoulder dystocia recurrence and its associated significant morbidities are reviewed.

Weight loss before conception: A systematic literature review

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in women has increased during the last decades. This is a serious concern since a high BMI before conception is an independent risk factor for many adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Therefore, dietary counseling, intended to stimulate weight loss in overweight and obese women prior to conception has recently been recommended. However, dieting with the purpose to lose weight may involve health risks for mother and offspring. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify papers investigating the effects of weight loss due to dietary interventions before conception. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of weight loss prior to conception in overweight or obese women on a number of health-related outcomes in mother and offspring using studies published between January 2000 and December 2011. Our first literature search produced 486 citations and, based on predefined eligibility criteria, 58 were selected and ordered in full text. Two group members read each paper. Fifteen studies were selected for quality assessment and two of them were considered appropriate for inclusion in evidence tables. A complementary search identified 168 citations with four papers being ordered in full text. The two selected studies provided data for overweight and obese women. One showed a positive effect of weight loss before pregnancy on the risk of gestational diabetes and one demonstrated a reduced risk for large-for-gestational-age infants in women with a BMI above 25 who lost weight before pregnancy. No study investigated the effect of weight loss due to a dietary intervention before conception. There is a lack of studies on overweight and obese women investigating the effect of dietary-induced weight loss prior to conception on health-related variables in mother and offspring. Such studies are probably lacking since they are difficult to conduct. Therefore, alternative strategies to control the body weight of girls and women of reproductive age are needed.

Diabetic angiopathy and angiogenic defects

Diabetes is one of the most serious health problems in the world. A major complication of diabetes is blood vessel disease, termed angiopathy, which is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis. In this review, we focus on angiogenesis abnormalities in diabetic complications and discuss its benefits and drawbacks as a therapeutic target for diabetic vascular complications. Additionally, we discuss glucose metabolism defects that are associated with abnormal angiogenesis in atypical diabetic complications such as cancer.

Management of subsequent pregnancy after an unexplained stillbirth

PURPOSE

To review the management of pregnancy after an unexplained stillbirth.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Approximately 1 in 200 pregnancies will end in stillbirth, of which about one-third will remain unexplained. Unexplained stillbirth is the largest single contributor to perinatal mortality. Subsequent pregnancies do not appear to have an increased risk of stillbirth, but are characterized by increased rates of intervention (induction of labor, elective cesarean section) and iatrogenic adverse outcomes (low birth weight, prematurity, emergency cesarean section and post-partum hemorrhage).

CONCLUSIONS

There is no level-one evidence to guide management in this situation. Pre-pregnancy counseling is very important to detect and correct potential risk factors such as obesity, smoking and maternal disease. As timely delivery is the mainstay of management, early accurate determination of gestational age is vital. There is controversy regarding the pattern of surveillance, but evidence exists only for ultrasound and not for regular non-stress testing, nor formal fetal movement charting. There is an urgent need for more studies in this important area.

After shoulder dystocia: managing the subsequent pregnancy and delivery

Among risk factors for shoulder dystocia, a prior history of delivery complicated by shoulder dystocia is the single greatest risk factor for shoulder dystocia occurrence, with odds ratios 7 to 10 times that of the general population. Recurrence rates have been reported to be as high as 16%. Whereas prevention of shoulder dystocia in the general population is neither feasible nor cost-effective, intervention efforts directed at the particular subgroup of women with a prior history of shoulder dystocia can concentrate on potentially modifiable risk factors and individualized management strategies that can minimize recurrence and the associated significant morbidities and mortality.