title: Cardiovascular disease risk in the offspring of diabetic women: the impact of the intrauterine environment.
abstract: The incidence of gestational diabetes is increasing worldwide, exposing large numbers of infants to hyperglycaemia whilst in utero. This exposure may have a long-term negative impact on the cardiovascular health of the offspring. Novel methods to assess cardiovascular status in the neonatal period are now available-including measuring arterial intima-media thickness and retinal photography. These measures will allow researchers to assess the relative impact of intrauterine exposures, distinguishing these from genetic or postnatal environmental factors. Understanding the long-term impact of the intrauterine environment should allow the development of more effective health policy and interventions to decrease the future burden of cardiovascular disease. Initiating disease prevention aimed at the developing fetus during the antenatal period may optimise community health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Pregnancy Research Centre, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Vuillermin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Anne-Louise
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ponsonby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000196:embryology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012306:Risk