title: Fetal Hemodynamics and Fetal Growth Indices by Ultrasound in Late Pregnancy and Birth Weight in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are prone to macrosomia. However, birth weight is difficult to be correctly estimated by ultrasound because of fetal asymmetric growth characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between fetal hemodynamics, fetal growth indices in late pregnancy, and birth weight in GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 147 women with GDM and 124 normal controls (NC) were enrolled in this study. Fetal hemodynamic indices, including the systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D), resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) of umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and renal artery (RA), were collected. Fetal growth indices, including biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length, were also measured by ultrasound. Birth weight, newborn gender, and maternal clinical data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The independent samples t-test showed that BPD, HC, and AC were larger in GDM than in NC (P < 0.05). Fetal hemodynamic indices of the UA and MCA were lower (P < 0.05), but those of the RA were higher (P < 0.001) in GDM than in NC. Birth weight was higher in GDM than in NC (P < 0.001). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that hemodynamic indices of the UA were negatively correlated with birth weight, BPD, HC, and AC in both groups (P < 0.05). MCA (S/D, PI, and RI) was negatively correlated with birth weight, HC, and AC in GDM (r = -0.164, -0.206, -0.200, -0.226, -0.189, -0.179, -0.196, -0.177, and - 0.172, respectively, P< 0.05), but there were no correlations in NC (P > 0.05). RA (S/D, PI, and RI) was positively correlated with birth weight in GDM (r = 0.168, 0.207, and 0.184, respectively, P< 0.05), but there were no correlations in NC (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal hemodynamic indices in late pregnancy might be helpful for estimating newborn birth weight in women with GDM.
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Ya-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Xiao-Ning
authors: XN
authors: Gu
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Dong-Mei
authors: DM
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000502:physiology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology