title: Fetal thymus size in pregnant women with diabetic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to assess fetal thymus size in diabetic pregnancies compared with normal pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sonographic fetal thymus size was retrospectively assessed in 161 pregnancies with maternal diabetes and in 161 uncomplicated pregnancies matched by gestational age. The anteroposterior thymic and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter were measured and the quotient was calculated [thymic-thoracic ratio (TT-ratio)]. In addition, we defined the quotient of the anteroposterior thymic diameter and the head circumference as thymus-head ratio (TH-ratio). The maternal diabetes cases were subdivided into three groups: (1) diet-controlled gestational diabetes, (2) insulin-dependent gestational diabetes and (3) preexisting maternal diabetes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TT-ratio and TH-ratio were smaller in pregnancies with maternal diabetes (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In all three maternal diabetes subgroups, the TT-ratio and the TH-ratio were lower compared with the control group (P<0.001 for each group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced fetal thymus size seems to be associated with diabetic pregnancy. We introduce fetal thymus size as a new potential prognostic parameter for maternal diabetes.
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dörnemann
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Möllmann
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Maria Karina
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Falkenberg
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Möllers
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klockenbusch
authors.affiliation: .
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Gestastional diabetes; organ size; pregnancy outcome; prenatal diagnosis; thymus gland; ultrasonography