The effect of metabolic control on fetal nuchal translucency in women with insulin-dependent diabetes: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
Diabetes could potentially alter fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurements mainly by increasing microvascular permeability. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis.


METHODS
Sixty-five women with pre-pregnancy insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus undergoing NT screening were evaluated. The main outcome measure was the NT measurement, expressed as both absolute measurements and delta values (number of standard deviations by which the observed value differed from the normal mean for the same gestation). The relationships between NT and years of diabetes, insulin dose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and glycemic capillary profiles ('tight' glycemic control) were studied.


RESULTS
There was no significant correlation between NT and any of the studied parameters. There were no differences in NT according to the result of either glycosylated hemoglobin or 'tight' control.


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic control does not affect the result of ultrasound-determined fetal NT measurement which, when available, seems to be the best option for screening for Down syndrome in women with diabetes mellitus.
Bartha
J L
JL
Fetal Medicine Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. J.Bartha@bristol.ac.uk
Wood
J
J
Kyle
P M
PM
Soothill
P W
PW
D000328:Adult; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008833:Microcirculation; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin