HAEMOGLOBIN AIc PREDICTS THE PERINATAL OUTCOME IN INSULIN‐DEPENDENT DIABETIC PREGNANCIES

Abstract

HbAIc was measured in 112 insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies on an average 4.7 times. HbAIc was high in early pregnancy in all 3 patients with severe fetal malformations. There were 6 pregnancies with a perinatal death. The maximum HbAIc values were significantly higher in the 2nd trimester (P < 0.001) in these pregnancies than in the other diabetic pregnancies. When neonatal hypoglycemia was present, the mean maternal HbAIc was significantly higher in the 2nd (P < 0.005) and 3rd (P < 0.02) trimesters of pregnancy than in the group without neonatal hypoglycemia. In the group with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia the mean maternal HbAIc was significantly higher in the 3rd trimester (P < 0.02) than in the group with no neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Poor metabolic control of maternal diabetes during the 2nd trimester apparently is associated with a clearly increased risk of perinatal death and during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters with metabolic derangements in the neonatal period. Apparently HbAIc could not be used to detect the pregnant diabetics at special risk.