Computerized analysis of fetal heart rate in pregnancies complicated  by gestational diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the value of computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Purpose of study. We studied fetal heart rate (FHR) recordings from 100 pregnant women affected by GDM on diet therapy, 60 pregnant women affected by GDM on insulin therapy and 100 normal pregnant controls. The results were compared among the groups and related to neonatal umbilical artery cord blood analysis at birth.


METHODS
Baseline FHR and the duration of episodes of low variation were significantly higher in diabetic than in controls and were negatively related to umbilical artery glycemia at birth, whereas the short-term variation in diabetics was significantly lower than in controls and was positively related to.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that GDM does impact FHR. The alteration is slight but evident; it reflects fetal wellbeing and correlate with neonatal reactivity. Only cCTG may allow to detect those slight but significant differences.
Buscicchio
Giorgia
G
Institute for Maternal and Child Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy. g.buscicchio@virgilio.it
Gentilucci
Lucia
L
Giannubilo
Stefano Raffaele
SR
Tranquilli
Andrea Luigi
AL
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015148:Cardiotocography; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin