Neonatal outcome following metformin-treated gestational diabetes mellitus: A population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common complication associated with gestational diabetes and therefore relevant to consider in evaluations of maternal treatment. We aimed to investigate the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia in offspring exposed to metformin treatment alone (MT) or combined with insulin (MIT) in comparison with nutrition therapy alone (NT), and insulin treatment alone (IT). In addition, we investigated MT in comparison with MIT. Secondary outcomes included neonatal anthropometrics, respiratory morbidity, hyperbilirubinemia, 5-min Apgar score, and preterm birth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This Swedish population-based cohort included 16 181 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and their singleton offspring born in 2019-2021. We estimated risk as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), using individual-level, linkage register-data in multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: In the main analysis, MT was associated with a lower risk of neonatal hypoglycemia vs NT (aOR 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.96), vs MIT (0.74 [0.64-0.87]), and vs IT (0.47 [0.40-0.55]), whereas MIT was associated with a similar risk of neonatal hypoglycemia vs NT (1.14 [0.99-1.30]) and with lower risk vs IT (0.63 [0.53-0.75]). However, supplemental feeding rates were lower for NT vs pharmacological treatments (p < 0.001). In post hoc subgroup analyses including only exclusively breastfed offspring, the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia was modified and similar among MT and NT, and higher in MIT vs NT. Insulin exposure, alone or combined with metformin, was associated with increased risk of being large for gestational age. Compared with NT, exposure to any pharmacological treatment was associated with significantly lower risk of 5-min Apgar score < 4. All other secondary outcomes were comparable among the treatment categories. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of neonatal hypoglycemia appears to be comparable among offspring exposed to single metformin treatment and nutrition therapy alone, and the lower risk that we observed in favor of metformin is probably explained by a difference in supplemental feeding practices rather than metformin per se. By contrast, the lower risk favoring metformin exposure over insulin exposure was not explained by supplemental feeding. However, further investigations are required to determine whether the difference is an effect of metformin per se or mediated by other external factors.

Cardiac function, myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency, and ventricular-arterial coupling in normal pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiac function, myocardial mechanoenergetic efficiency (MEE), and ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) longitudinally during normal pregnancy, and to study if there was an association between cardiac structure and function, and fetal growth. METHODS: Cardiac structure and function, MEE, and ventricular-arterial coupling was assessed longitudinally in 52 healthy nulliparous women at 14, 24, and 34 weeks' gestation and 9-month postpartum. RESULTS: Left atrial diameter increased during pregnancy (30.41 ±â€Š3.59 mm in the nonpregnant state and 31.02 ±â€Š3.91, 34.06 ±â€Š3.58, and 33.9 ±â€Š2.97 mm in the first, second, and third trimesters, P < 0.001). Left ventricular mass increased 117.12 ±â€Š45.0 g in the nonpregnant state and 116.5 ±â€Š33.0, 126.9 ±â€Š34.5, 128.4 ±â€Š36 g in the first, second, and third trimesters (P < 0.001). Cardiac output increased from 3.4 ±â€Š1.2 l/min to 4.3 ±â€Š0.7 l/min in the second and third trimesters (P < 0.001). Diastolic function decreased as both E/A and e'/a' decreased during pregnancy (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). MEE and VAC were retained during pregnancy. Heart rate was associated with birth weight centile in the first (r = 0.41, P = 0.002) and second (r = 0.46, P = 0.002) trimester. CONCLUSION: The increase in cardiac output during normal pregnancy is obtained by an increase in heart rate, followed by structural cardiac changes. The impaired systolic function is accomplished by a deteriorated diastolic function. Despite these rapid changes, the myocardium manages to work efficient with a preserved MEE. Cardiac and arterial adaption to pregnancy seems to appear parallel as evidenced by a preserved VAC.

Cardiac structure and function, and ventricular-arterial interaction 11 years following a pregnancy with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with acute left ventricular dysfunction. Whether these changes eventually resolve remains unclear. This study assessed left and right ventricular structure and function, and ventricular-arterial interaction in 15 women 11 years after a pregnancy with PE and 16 matched control subjects with a normal pregnancy. We found normal left and right ventricular dimensions, systolic function, and global left ventricular strain, with no differences between the groups. In addition, indices of diastolic function, left and right atrial size, and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide were normal and did not differ between the groups. Women with a previous PE had impaired night/day ratios for systolic and diastolic ambulatory blood pressure. However, indices of aortic stiffness or ventricular-arterial coupling did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, we could not demonstrate remaining alterations in systolic or diastolic left or right ventricular function, or in ventricular-arterial interaction in women 11 years after PE.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 in fetal serum correlates with insulin-like growth factor-I and fetal growth.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether transforming growth factor-beta1 in fetal serum obtained by umbilical cord sampling at delivery is correlated with fetal growth. We also estimated whether transforming growth factor-beta1 is correlated with insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, which have been shown to correlate with fetal growth. METHODS: The active form of transforming growth factor-beta1 was analyzed in serum from cord blood from 68 fetuses by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Of the 68 pregnant women, 12 had preeclampsia, 14 had preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, 15 had intrauterine growth restriction alone, and seven had fetuses that were large for gestational age (LGA). Twenty pregnancies with fetuses appropriate for gestational age (AGA) served as controls. RESULTS: Transforming growth factor-beta1 concentrations were significantly correlated with birth weight. The average transforming growth factor-beta1 concentration in the following groups were: intrauterine growth restriction, 22.4 +/- 2.7 microg/L; intrauterine growth restriction plus preeclampsia, 22.9 +/- 2.0 microg/L; preeclampsia without intrauterine growth restriction, 28.8 +/- 2.1 microg/L; LGA, 30.3 +/- 4.3 microg/L; and AGA, 36.8 +/- 2.0 microg/L. Transforming growth factor-beta1 levels were significantly lower in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction and showed a positive correlation with birth weight (r = 0.48, P <.001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between insulin-like growth factor-I levels and birth weight (r = 0.36, P <.01) and a negative correlation between insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 and birth weight (r = -0.32, P <.01). There was also a correlation between transforming growth factor-beta1 and insulin-like growth factor-I (r = 0.29, P <.05) and between transforming growth factor-beta1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (r = -0.25, P <.05). CONCLUSION: Transforming growth factor-beta1 might be related to fetal growth in pregnancy. The results also support previous data showing that insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 are related to fetal growth.

Pre-term cervical ripening and labor induction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively pre-term induction; with Prostaglandin (PG) E(2)-gel and i.v. oxtytocin, respectively. METHODS: Fifty pre-term women with a gestational age between 28 + 0 and 36 + 6 and medical indications for labor induction were compared with the two next induced at term and post-term. The obstetric end points were numbers of PGE(2)-gel applications, failed inductions, instrumental delivery and heavy bleeding after partus (>1000 ml). The neonatal outcome was registered as operative delivery for fetal distress (ODFD) or Apgar score <7 at 5'. RESULTS: The number of PGE(2)-gel applications did not differ. The duration of labor was shorter in the pre-term group (P = 0.043). A five-fold higher risk of heavy postpartum bleeding (>1000 ml) was noticed in the post-term group compared to the pre-term. The incidence of low Apgar scores were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Safe vaginal labor induction and delivery can be anticipated pre-term with PGE(2)-gel.

Normalized endothelial function but sustained cardiovascular risk profile 11 years following a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia.

Women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. Preeclampsia is associated with elevated blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and these findings remain 1 year after delivery. Whether these abnormalities persist long after delivery, and whether they may contribute to future cardiovascular disease, is not well studied. We studied 15 women with a history of preeclampsia and 16 matched controls with an uncomplicated pregnancy 11 years following the index pregnancy; all had also been previously examined at 1 year. We assessed arterial stiffness (pulse wave analysis), 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and endothelial function (forearm flow-mediated dilatation and pulse wave analysis following ß receptor agonist provocation), and determined markers of glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and vascular function. The preeclampsia group had higher blood pressures and reduced night/day blood pressure ratios, increased body mass index and reduced glucose tolerance, and increased levels of tissue necrosis factor receptor 1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1, suggesting inflammatory and vascular activation. However, the endothelial impairment observed in the preeclampsia group at 1 year was normalized at 11 years, whereas the control group remained unchanged during follow-up. Our findings of higher blood pressures, impaired glucose tolerance and normalization of endothelial function 11 years after preeclampsia suggest cardiovascular risk factors present already before pregnancy to be more important than permanent endothelial damage for the increased risk of future cardiovascular complications in women with a history of preeclampsia.

Endothelin-1 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor are co-localized in human amnion membrane cells and secreted into amniotic fluid.

We have examined the cellular localization and human amniotic fluid content of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The study material consisted of amniotic fluid from 20 patients referred for amniocentesis, and placental samples from normal deliveries. ET-1 and M-CSF were analysed by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. The cellular localization of ET-1 and M-CSF in the amnion membranes was analysed by double-labelling immunocytochemistry using fluorescein isothiocyanate- and Cy3-labelled secondary antibodies. Release of ET-1 and M-CSF was studied in cultured amniocytes. We found that the mean +/- SD concentrations of ET-1 and M-CSF in fetal amniotic fluid were 45.6 +/- 17.3 pmol/l (range 16.8-85.5) and 7323 +/- 3415 ng/l (range 2640-12 110) respectively. Double-labelling immunocytochemistry showed that both M-CSF and ET-1 were co-localized in the same cells to a high extent. Further analysis revealed that levels of M-CSF, but not ET-1, were significantly correlated with pregnancy length. Both M-CSF and ET-1 were released from cultured amniocytes in response to interleukin-1. These findings show that ET-1 and M-CSF are partly co-localized to specific cells in the human amniotic membrane. As both M-CSF and ET-1 were released from cultured amniocytes in vitro, this suggests that they both may be secreted into fetal amniotic fluid in vivo as well.