Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the first trimester and subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Although there is substantial evidence that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with impaired glucose homeostasis, the clinical significance of NAFLD in pregnant women has not been well determined. This study investigates the relationship between NAFLD in the first trimester and the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A multicentre, prospective cohort study was conducted in which singleton pregnant Korean women were assessed for NAFLD at 10-14 weeks using liver ultrasound, fatty liver index (FLI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). Maternal plasma adiponectin and selenoprotein P concentrations were measured. Participants were screened for GDM using the two-step approach at 24-28 weeks. RESULTS: Six hundred and eight women were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of NAFLD was 18.4% (112/608) and 5.9% (36/608) developed GDM. Participants who developed GDM had a higher prevalence of radiological steatosis (55.6% vs 16.1%; p < 0.001) and higher FLI (40.0 vs 10.7; p < 0.001) and HSI (35.5 vs 29.0; p < 0.001). The risk of developing GDM was significantly increased in participants with NAFLD and was positively correlated with the severity of steatosis. This relationship between NAFLD and GDM remained significant after adjustment for metabolic risk factors, including measures of insulin resistance. Maternal plasma adiponectin and selenoprotein P levels were also correlated with both NAFLD severity and the risk of developing GDM. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: NAFLD in early pregnancy is an independent risk factor for GDM. Adiponectin may be a useful biomarker for predicting GDM in pregnant women.

Risk of intra-amniotic infection/inflammation and respiratory distress syndrome according to the birth order in twin preterm neonates.

Objective: Prior studies have suggested that nonpresenting twins are more likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than presenting twins. While the underlying mechanism is not known, exposure to intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) has been associated with a reduced risk of RDS in singleton gestations. In the current study, we compared the risk of RDS in preterm twin neonates according to birth order with adjustment for the presence or absence of IAI.Methods: The study population consisted of consecutive twin neonates who delivered ≤35 weeks and underwent amniocentesis within 7 days of delivery. The frequency of RDS and IAI was compared between presenting and nonpresenting twin pairs. Amniotic fluid (AF) was cultured for aerobic/anaerobic bacteria and genital mycoplasma. IAI was defined as a positive AF culture or an AF white cell count ≥19/mm3.Results: A total of 120 twin pairs were enrolled. Compared with presenting twins, nonpresenting twins had a lower risk of IAI (36 vs. 26%, respectively, p < .05), but a higher risk of RDS (18 vs. 25%, respectively, p < .05). In multivariate analysis, only IAI remained significantly associated with RDS (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.65), whereas birth order was not.Conclusions: In preterm twin neonates, the increased risk of RDS in nonpresenting twins is likely due to lower exposure to IAI and not birth order.

Correction: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a risk factor for large-for-gestational-age birthweight.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221400.].