title: Association between fetal abdominal circumference and birthweight in maternal hyperglycemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare fetal abdominal circumference and its relationship with birthweight at increasing gestational ages in the context of maternal hyperglycemia of varying severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two centers participated in building one database.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1538 Korean pregnant women were subjected to a two-step approach to diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women were classified into gestational diabetes mellitus, borderline gestational diabetes mellitus, and normal groups. Fetal abdominal circumferences, which were measured with ultrasound at 4-week intervals starting at 16 weeks of gestation and ending prior to delivery, were evaluated in the groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The significance of fetal abdominal circumferences as predictors or risk factors of macrosomia/large-for-gestational age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fetal abdominal circumferences measured from 16 weeks of gestation until prior to delivery predicted birthweight in all groups with some exceptions. Fetal abdominal circumferences measured from 32 weeks of gestation until prior to delivery were predictive of macrosomia in all groups. Fetal abdominal circumferences measured from 28 weeks of gestation until prior to delivery were predictive of neonates being large-for-gestational age in all groups. Fetal abdominal circumferences measured at 16 and 24 weeks of gestation were also predictive of large-for-gestational age in the borderline gestational diabetes mellitus group. Fetal abdominal circumference measured at 24 weeks of gestation was also a predictor of macrosomia/large-for-gestational age in normal women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal abdominal circumferences measured during the second and especially third trimesters were significantly associated with excessive birthweight, irrespective of the severity of maternal glucose intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bang Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Chul
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hee Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology*; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
keywords: Abdominal circumference; birthweight; borderline gestational diabetes mellitus; gestational diabetes mellitus; large-for-gestational age; macrosomia