Labour in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) constitutes one of the most common pregnancy complications and affects 3–5% of all pregnancies, with its incidence still growing. Due to possible maternal and fetal complications, the peripartum management of GDM patients continues to be a debatable issue. The aim of the study was to analyse the course and final way of delivery in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. The effectiveness of induction of labour (IOL) was also assessed and factors predisposing to cesarean section were identified. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 204 women with GDM who delivered in the Academic Centre for Woman’s and Neonate’s Health in Warsaw over the years 2013 and 2014. The indications and ratios of elective and intrapartum cesarean sections were analysed. Patients qualified for induction of labour were compared depending on their final way of delivery. Results: Over a half of all deliveries in the study group (53%) were cesarean sections. Elective surgeries accounted for 70% of all cesarean sections, predominantly due to a history of previous operational deliveries. Only 12% of the study group developed spontaneous uterine contractions and delivered vaginally. A comparison of the vaginal delivery group (n = 96) with cesarean section group (n = 108) pointed to high pregestational BMI value and advanced maternal age as factors increasing the patient’s risk for surgical delivery (p = 0.0000 and p = 0.048 accordingly). The comparison of women undergo­ing IOL vs. omen with spontaneous uterine contractions showed no increase in the ratio of intrapartum cesarean sections in the IOL group — in both subgroups vaginal delivery was achieved in 75% of cases. Conclusions: Patients with GDM are more likely to undergo cesarean section, but the implementation of induction of labour at term does not further aggravate this risk. Major risk factors for operational delivery in GDM population included: advanced maternal age, high pregestational BMI value and undergoing insulin therapy

First and third trimester serum concentrations of adropin and copeptin in gestational diabetes mellitus and normal pregnancy

Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disease diagnosed in 1.7% up to 11.6% pregnancies. The prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcome is significantly higher in the case of early onset of diabetes mellitus. Adropin is a hormone promoting carbohydrate oxidation over fat oxidation, and influence nitric oxide synthase. Copeptin is a cleavage product of the vasopressin precursor recently correlated with diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to determine maternal serum adropin and copeptin concentrations in women with early and late manifestation of GDM and to discuss their potential role as biochemical markers of insulin resistance. Material and methods: Case-control study on 58 pregnant Caucasian women. Serum levels of adropin and copeptin were assessed in patients with early onset (GDM1) and classical gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM2). Complications such as macrosomia and hypotrophy were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference between the study and the control group (age, BMI, parity). Fetal growth disturbance rate was 37.5% in GDM1, 11% in GDM2 and 6% in controls. Adropin concentration in GDM patients was significantly higher than in control group (p < 0.001), but there was no difference between GDM1 and GDM2 group. High serum concentration of adropin positively correlated with elevated HbA1c (p < 0.05). The groups did not differ in terms of copeptin serum concentration. Conclusions: High adropin serum concentration in GDM patients is associated with increased risk of fetal growth disturbances, possibly due to improper placentation. According to our prospective study, neither copeptin nor adropin serum concentration are useful to discriminate between early and late onset of gestational diabetes mellitus

Both Low and High PAPP-A Concentrations in the First Trimester of Pregnancy Are Associated with Increased Risk of Delivery before 32 Weeks in Twin Gestation

In twin gestation, the relationship between pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A) and perinatal outcome is unclear. The aim of the study was to determine if low and high concentrations of PAPP-A in the first trimester are related to perinatal outcome in twins. A retrospective study was conducted. Medical data of women in twin pregnancies who delivered between 2013 and 2018 were analyzed. PAPP-A concentrations were measured between 10 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks. The associations between low (<10th percentile) and high (>90th percentile) values of PAPP-A and pregnancy complications were analyzed. A total of 304 patients were included. PAPP-A <10th percentile was associated with a high risk of preterm delivery (OR 6.14; 95% CI 2.1–18), delivery <34 weeks (OR 2.39; 95% CI 1.1–5.1) or <32 weeks (OR3.06; 95% CI 1.4–6.8). Significant relations between PAPP-A >90th percentile and delivery <34 weeks (OR4.09; 95% CI 1.8–9.1) or <32 weeks (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.2–6.6) were found. PAPP-A >90th percentile was related to high risk of intrauterine fetal demise (OR 10; 95% CI 2.4–42.5). Both low and high PAPP-A concentrations seem to be related to pregnancy outcome. Further research is needed to investigate evaluation of risk of pregnancy complications according to PAPP-A concentrations as a continuous variable