Maternal hypoglycemia: is it associated with adverse perinatal outcome?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if maternal hypoglycemia is associated with adverse perinatal outcome, particularly low birth weight.


METHODS
In this prospective study, all patients after 24 weeks' gestation were screened for gestational diabetes using 50 gm of glucola (oral) followed by a 1-hour plasma glucose measurement and hypoglycemia was defined as < or = 88 mg/dl.


RESULTS
In these 426 women the mean (+/- SD) 1-hour plasma glucose value was 99.8 +/- 22.7 mg/dl. Of these, 16 were diagnosed with gestational diabetes and 46 were lost to follow-up leaving 364 patients; 116 with hypoglycemia and 248 with euglycemia. Women with hypoglycemia weighed less at the beginning of pregnancy and at delivery, but total weight gain during pregnancy was similar between both groups. There was no difference between groups in maternal symptomatology, birth weight, or the rate of fetal growth restriction.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoglycemia on the 1-hour glucola screen is not predictive of fetal growth restriction or other adverse perinatal consequence.
Calfee
E F
EF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA.
Rust
O A
OA
Bofill
J A
JA
Ross
E L
EL
Morrison
J C
JC
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015430:Weight Gain