Endocrine pancreatic function in growth-retarded fetuses.
Maternal-fetal glucose gradient and fetal plasma glucose, insulin, and glucagon were measured in 63 fetuses: 34 controls and 29 with growth retardation (nine with and 20 without end-diastolic frequencies in the umbilical artery). Maternal-fetal glucose gradient and fetal glucagon levels were higher in the growth-retarded group than in controls (P less than .001), whereas fetal insulin and glucose concentrations were lower (P less than .001). Although maternal-fetal glucose gradient, fetal glucose, and insulin concentrations were similar among the growth-retarded fetuses, fetuses without end-diastolic frequencies in the umbilical artery had higher fetal glucagon levels (P = .01) than those with end-diastolic frequencies. In growth-retarded fetuses, the increase in fetal glucagon might reflect a compensatory response to hypoglycemia and appears to be a better index of fetal compromise than is glucose or insulin.
Hubinont
C
C
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Nicolini
U
U
Fisk
N M
NM
Tannirandorn
Y
Y
Rodeck
C H
CH
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon