Can sonographic imaging of the fetal pancreas predict perinatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus?
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Hakan Golbasi
, Burak Bayraktar
, Ceren Golbasi
, Ibrahim Omeroglu
, Duygu Adiyaman
, Baris Sever
and Atalay Ekin
Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate whether fetal pancreatic echogenicity and its measurements are associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and perinatal outcomes.
Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted with 150 pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy. The study included pregnant women between 30 and 41 weeks with or without GDM. Fetal pancreatic circumference was measured using the free-hand tracking function. The echogenicity of the fetal pancreas was compared with the echogenicity of the liver and bone (ribs, spine) and classified as Grades 1, 2 and 3. The relationship between maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes with fetal pancreas measurements and echogenicity was evaluated.
Results
Pregnant women with 75 GDM and 75 without GDM were included in the study. Mean fetal pancreas circumference measurements were significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM than in those without GDM (p=0.001). Hyperechogenic (Grade 3) fetal pancreas was significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM than in pregnant women without GDM, and there was a positive correlation between pancreatic echogenicity and HbA1c levels in pregnant women with GDM (r=0.631, p<0.01). There was a significant relationship between pancreatic echogenicity, measurements and adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with GDM, and pancreas measurements were significantly higher in pregnant women with cesarean delivery.
Conclusions
Fetal pancreatic echogenicity and measurements in pregnant women with GDM can give an idea about glucose regulation and adverse perinatal outcomes.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
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Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
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Ethical approval: Research involving human subjects complied with all relevant national regulations, institutional policies and is in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013), and has been approved by the authors. The Local Institutional Review Board approval number: 2020/14-9.
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© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Obstetric hemorrhage: effective methods for addressing the menace in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Mini Review
- The use of neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Opinion Paper
- The role of specialist perinatal psychiatrists in modern medicine
- Corner of Academy
- Maternal perception of fetal movements: onset and associated factors
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Cervical ripening as an outpatient procedure in the pandemic – minimizing the inpatient days and lowering the socioeconomic costs
- Can sonographic imaging of the fetal pancreas predict perinatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus?
- Comparison of transvaginal sonographic cervical length measurement and Bishop score for predicting labour induction outcomes
- Regional differences in utilization of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP)
- Effect of anesthesia selection on neonatal outcomes in cesarean hysterectomies for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS)
- Bile-acid levels and lung maturity test in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Evaluation of appropriate vancomycin prescribing for the prevention of newborn group B streptococcal infections in a community hospital obstetrics service
- Effect of supplementation with 5,000 IU of vitamin D on the glycemic profile of women with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms with vitamin B12 deficiency and adverse perinatal outcomes among pregnant women of rural South India – a cross sectional longitudinal study
- Original Article – Fetus
- Fetal autopsy for the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia and comparison with prenatal ultrasound findings over a 16-year period
- Original Articles – Neonates
- Neonatal admission rate after vaginal breech delivery
- Extremely low gestational age neonates and resuscitation: survey on perspectives of Canadian neonatologists
- The effect of 150 and 80 mg doses of aspirin on preventing preterm birth in high-risk pregnant women
- Letters to the Editor
- Aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia
- Reply to: Aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia
- Total bile acid levels for clinically suspected intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Reply: Neonatal lung injury with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Marijuana and pregnancy: just because its legal doesn’t make it safe
- Corrigenda
- Stillbirth aftercare in a tertiary obstetric center–parents’ experiences
- Prospective risk of stillbirth according to fetal size at term
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Obstetric hemorrhage: effective methods for addressing the menace in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Mini Review
- The use of neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
- Opinion Paper
- The role of specialist perinatal psychiatrists in modern medicine
- Corner of Academy
- Maternal perception of fetal movements: onset and associated factors
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- Cervical ripening as an outpatient procedure in the pandemic – minimizing the inpatient days and lowering the socioeconomic costs
- Can sonographic imaging of the fetal pancreas predict perinatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus?
- Comparison of transvaginal sonographic cervical length measurement and Bishop score for predicting labour induction outcomes
- Regional differences in utilization of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP)
- Effect of anesthesia selection on neonatal outcomes in cesarean hysterectomies for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS)
- Bile-acid levels and lung maturity test in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Evaluation of appropriate vancomycin prescribing for the prevention of newborn group B streptococcal infections in a community hospital obstetrics service
- Effect of supplementation with 5,000 IU of vitamin D on the glycemic profile of women with gestational diabetes mellitus
- Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms with vitamin B12 deficiency and adverse perinatal outcomes among pregnant women of rural South India – a cross sectional longitudinal study
- Original Article – Fetus
- Fetal autopsy for the diagnosis of skeletal dysplasia and comparison with prenatal ultrasound findings over a 16-year period
- Original Articles – Neonates
- Neonatal admission rate after vaginal breech delivery
- Extremely low gestational age neonates and resuscitation: survey on perspectives of Canadian neonatologists
- The effect of 150 and 80 mg doses of aspirin on preventing preterm birth in high-risk pregnant women
- Letters to the Editor
- Aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia
- Reply to: Aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia
- Total bile acid levels for clinically suspected intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Reply: Neonatal lung injury with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Marijuana and pregnancy: just because its legal doesn’t make it safe
- Corrigenda
- Stillbirth aftercare in a tertiary obstetric center–parents’ experiences
- Prospective risk of stillbirth according to fetal size at term