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The association between a single abnormal glucose and fetal c-peptide

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Abstract

Aim

We aimed to evaluated if fetuses of subjects with one elevated value on the 3-h GTT had a measurable physiologic difference in fetal C-peptide levels as compared to those with no elevated values on the GTT.

Methods

We performed a prospective cohort study to evaluate insulin levels in singleton non-anomalous fetuses of subjects with one elevated value on the GTT as compared to subjects with no elevated values on their GTT. Fetal insulin levels were measured by fetal C-peptide in cord blood. Distribution of data was assessed and outliers representing values > the 99th and < the 1st percentiles were excluded. Data were log transformed to achieve normal distribution and univariable analyses were performed to compare fetal C-peptide levels, baseline maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes in subjects with one elevated value as compared those with no elevated values.

Results

Our analysis included 99 subjects, with 49 subjects in the one elevated value group and 50 subjects in the no elevated values group. Fetal C-peptide levels (picomoles per liters, pmol/L), were significantly higher in the elevated value group as compared to the no elevated value group (mean ± SD; 4.6 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 0.7, P = 0.046, respectively). In univariable analysis, there was no significant difference in maternal characteristics or adverse composite perinatal outcomes.

Conclusion

Fetuses of subjects who had one elevated value on their GTT had a measurable physiologic difference in C-peptide levels as compared to fetuses of subjects with no elevated values on the GTT.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Women’s Board of the University of Chicago and by the University of Chicago Institute for medicine Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies Award for Short-term Studies. This study was a poster presentation at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual meeting (January 31-Febuary 5th, 2022).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University HealthSystem/University of Chicago, 2650 Ridge Ave., Walgreen Building, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA

    Samantha de Los Reyes

  2. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, 3010 Old Clinic Building, CB 7570, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Annie Dude

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Enderis Hall 417, Milwaukee, USA

    Jennifer Doll

  4. Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NorthShore University HealthSystem, 2650 Ridge Ave, Walgreen Building, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA

    Beth A. Plunkett

Authors
  1. Samantha de Los Reyes
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  2. Annie Dude
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  3. Jennifer Doll
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  4. Beth A. Plunkett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Samantha de Los Reyes.

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The authors report no conflict of interests.

Ethical standards statement

This study was compliant with ethical standards as approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Declaration of Helsinki and amendments

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de Los Reyes, S., Dude, A., Doll, J. et al. The association between a single abnormal glucose and fetal c-peptide. Acta Diabetol 60, 1359–1363 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-023-02123-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-023-02123-x

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