Pre-eclampsia but not pregnancy-induced hypertension is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic women

Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio was associated with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a Chinese population: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Despite previous research that focused on aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) as predictors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, there has been limited research evaluating the association between AAR and diabetic microvascular complications. This study aimed to investigate the association of AAR with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

METHODS

A total of 1562 hospitalized patients with T2DM were divided into four groups according to AAR quartiles. The relationship between AAR and DPN and related parameters was explored by the Spearman correlation coefficients, multivariable logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

Patients with higher AAR quartiles had higher levels of vibration perception threshold (VPT) and presence of DPN, and AAR was positively associated with VPT and presence of DPN independent of sex, age, body mass index, and diabetic duration (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Moreover, AAR remained significantly associated with a higher odds ratio (OR) of DPN (OR 2.413, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.081-5.386, P<0.05) after multivariate adjustment. Additionally, the risk of presence of DPN increased progressively as AAR quartiles increased (all P for trend <0.01) in both male and female subjects, and the highest quartile of AAR of male and female subjects was respectively associated with 107.3% (95% CI: 1.386-3.101; P<0.01) and 136.8% (95% CI: 1.550-3.618; P<0.01) increased odds of DPN compared with the lower quartiles. Last, the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the best cutoff values for AAR to predict the presence of DPN were 0.906 (sensitivity: 70.3%; specificity: 49.2%; and area under the curve [AUC]: 0.618) and 1.402 (sensitivity: 38%; specificity: 81.9%; and AUC: 0.600) in male and female subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the high AAR may be associated with the presence of DPN in Chinese patients with T2DM, and may be used as an additional indicator of risk of DPN.

Hypertension in pregnancy as an early sex-specific risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: evidence and awareness

Despite being a physiological condition, human pregnancy is known to cause numerous complications that can endanger the life of the mother and the fetus alike. While the majority of complications are mostly limited within the peripartum period, more and more information is available about persistently higher short- and long-term cardiovascular risk after a pregnancy complicated by a hypertensive disorder. There is evidence that women after gestational hypertension or preeclampsia are more likely to develop arterial hypertension, coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and even diabetes mellitus and venous thromboembolism years after the target pregnancy. This has urged some authors to view hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as a "stress test" for the maternal organism that unmasks latent endothelial dysfunction. An explanation is sought in the presence of common risk factors and underlying pathological pathways with cardiovascular diseases, although a certain etiological mechanism for the development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy has not been established yet. More attention is needed towards the follow-up of women after a hypertensive pregnancy as it could be an opportunity for early prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Pre-Eclampsia Biomarkers for Women With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Literature

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a serious consideration for women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) planning pregnancy. Risk stratification strategies, such as biomarkers measured in the first trimester of pregnancy, could help identify high-risk women. The literature on T1DM-specific pre-eclampsia biomarkers is expanding. We aimed to provide a narrative review of recently published evidence to identify the most promising biomarker candidates that could be targeted for clinical implementation in existing PE models. Methods: A search using MeSH terms was carried out of Medline, EMBASE, Maternity and Infant Care, Web of Science, and Scopus for relevant papers published since 2015 inclusive and in English. The time limit was applied from the publication of the preceding systematic review in this field. Included studies had pre-eclampsia as a primary outcome, measured one or more serum, plasma or urine biomarkers at any time during pregnancy, and had a distinct group of women with T1DM who developed pre-eclampsia. Studies with pre-eclampsia as a composite outcome were not considered. No restrictions on study types were applied. A narrative synthesis approach was adopted for analysis. Results: A total of 510 records were screened yielding 18 eligible studies relating to 32 different biomarkers. Higher first-trimester levels of HbA1c and urinary albumin were associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia development in women with T1DM. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and adipokines were novel biomarkers showing moderate predictive ability before 15 gestational weeks. Two T1DM-specific pre-eclampsia prediction models were proposed, measuring adipokines or urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin together with easily attainable maternal clinical characteristics. Contradicting previous literature, pre-eclampsia risk in women with T1DM was correlated with vitamin D levels and atherogenic lipid profile in the context of haptoglobin phenotype 2-2. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and soluble endoglin did not predict pre-eclampsia in women with T1DM, and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 only predicted pre-eclampsia from the third trimester. Conclusion: Maternally derived biomarkers reflecting glycemic control, insulin resistance and renal dysfunction performed better as PE predictors among women with T1DM than those derived from the placenta. These biomarkers could be trialed in current PE prediction algorithms to tailor them for women with T1DM.

Lower Visceral Fat Area in Patients with Type 2 Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

OBJECTIVE

There is preliminary evidence that visceral fat area (VFA) was associated with the presence of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in the Korean population; however, no studies have reported the association in Chinese population. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible correlation of VFA with DPN in such a population.

METHODS

A total of 2498 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) undergone VFA measurement, and were divided into DPN group (n=900) and non-DPN group (n=1594). The association of VFA with the presence of DPN was evaluated by correlation and multiple logistic regression analyses, generalized additive model with a smooth curve fitting, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

The VFA was significantly lower in the DPN group than in the non-DPN group (P < 0.001). VFA was significantly and positively associated with sural nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) and amplitude potential (SNAP) and negatively associated with the presence of DPN (all P< 0.001); there was no significant difference in the curve fitting (P = 0.344). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of presence of DPN decreased progressively across the VFA quartiles (P for trend < 0.001) and was significantly lower in patients in the highest VFA quartile than in those in the lowest quartile (OR: 0.382, 95% CI 0.151-0.968, P< 0.001) after multivariate adjustment. The ROC analysis revealed that the best cut-off value of VFA for predicting the presence of DPN was 50.5cm² (sensitivity 84.40%; specificity 34.00%).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that lower VFA level may be associated with increased risk of the presence of DPN in T2DM patients.

Novel glycoproteins identify preclinical atherosclerosis among women with previous preeclampsia regardless of type 1 diabetes status

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Information regarding inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in type 1 diabetes (T1D) or preeclampsia (PE) is scarce. We assessed differences in inflammation markers according to the presence of both conditions and their association with atherosclerosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We recruited 112 women without CVD and last pregnancy ≥5 years previously (n = 28 per group): a)T1D and PE; b)T1D without PE; c)PE without T1D; and d)Controls (without T1D or PE). Groups were matched by several CVD risk factors, and diabetes duration and retinopathy in T1D. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque presence (IMT ≥1.5 mm) were assessed by ultrasonography. Inflammatory markers included classical variables (leucocytes and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]) and glycoproteins by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy (GlycA, GlycB, GlycF and the height/width [H/W] ratios of GlycA and GlycB). The age of the participants was 44.9 ± 7.8 years, and 20.5% harbored plaque. There were no differences in inflammatory markers among the four study groups. Overall, in multivariate-adjusted models, all ¹H-NMR-glycoproteins (except GlycB) were positively associated with IMT measures (IMT of bulb and maximum-IMT of any carotid segment; p < 0.05). After dividing the sample according to PE status, previous findings remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, GlycF was independently associated with carotid plaque only in PE group (OR 5.08 [1.03-25.01] per 0.1 log-increments, p = 0.046). Neither leucocytes nor hsCRP were related to atherosclerosis. Regarding T1D status, non-uniform results were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

High ¹H-NMR-glycoprotein concentrations have a negative impact on carotid atherosclerosis among women with preeclampsia, regardless of T1D status.

Nuclear magnetic resonance lipoproteins are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in type 1 diabetes and pre-eclampsia

AIMS

Persistence of lipoprotein abnormalities in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and/or pre-eclampsia could be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed differences in the advanced lipoprotein profiles according to the presence of both conditions and their differential association with atherosclerosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We recruited 112 women without CVD and last pregnancy ≥5 years previously, divided into four groups (n = 28 per group): (a) T1D and previous pre-eclampsia; (b) T1D without pre-eclampsia; (c) pre-eclampsia without T1D; and (d) controls (without T1D/pre-eclampsia). Groups were matched by several risk factors, and diabetes duration and retinopathy in T1D. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque (IMT ≥1.5 mm) were assessed by ultrasonography. The lipoprotein profile was evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

RESULTS

The participants were 44.9 ± 7.8 years old. Carotid plaque presence was 20.5%, with a higher prevalence in T1D and/or pre-eclampsia vs controls (P < .05). High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related variables differed among groups, mainly driven by an increase in T1D (P < .05), whereas triglyceride-related variables were increased in pre-eclampsia [medium very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and triglyceride enrichment in HDL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)]. Overall, in multivariate-adjusted models, LDL-related variables were the most strongly associated with atherosclerosis (P < .05). In age- and statin-adjusted models, previous pre-eclampsia showed an independent association with triglyceride-related variables (plaque: medium-VLDL-particles, OR 1.550 [1.013-2.374]; HDL-cholesterol/HDL-triglycerides ratio, OR 0.411 [0.175-0.967]). Regarding T1D, HDL-parameters were also differentially associated (maximum-IMT: HDL-cholesterol/HDL-particles ratio, β = -.258, P = .036).

CONCLUSIONS

NMR lipoproteins were differentially and independently associated with atherosclerosis in T1D/pre-eclampsia. Further studies are needed to ascertain the role of NMR parameters as CVD biomarkers in this high-risk population.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease-Related Morbidity and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Several studies have demonstrated that there is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, effect sizes varied greatly between these studies, and a complete overview of the existing data in the literature is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the association between HDP and the risk of CVD-related morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

Systematic literature searches were conducted in several electronic databases from inception to July 2019. Exposure of interest was any type of HDP. Outcomes of interest included any CVD, CVD-related mortality, and hypertension.

RESULTS

Sixty-six cohort and 7 case-control studies involving >13 million women were included. The overall combined relative risks (RRs) for women with a history of HDP compared with the reference group were 1.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-1.94) for any CVD, 1.66 (1.49-1.84) for coronary artery heart disease, 2.87 (2.14-3.85) for heart failure, 1.60 (1.29-2.00) for peripheral vascular disease, 1.72 (1.50-1.97) for stroke, 1.78 (1.58-2.00) for CVD-related mortality, and 3.16 (2.74-3.64) for hypertension. Significant heterogeneity was partially explained by all or part of the variables including type of exposure, follow-up time, geographic region, and sample source.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with a history of HDP are at an increased risk of future CVD-related morbidity and mortality. Our study highlights the importance of life-long monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors in women with a history of HDP.

Pre-eclampsia is associated with later kidney chronic disease and end-stage renal disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether there is a risk of kidney disease during the postpartum period of women who had preeclampsia (PE).

STUDY DESIGN

Observational trials were searched in the PubMed, Science Direct, Clinical trials, Cochrane, LILACS and Web of Science databases. The data extracted from the studies were systematized, and the risk of bias was evaluated for each of them. Meta-analyses were performed with studies that evaluated chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), pooling the natural logarithms of the adjusted risk measures and the confidence intervals of each study in a random effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 4149 studies evaluated, 35 articles were included in the review, of which 3 of the CKD and 6 of the ESRD presented the necessary outcomes to compose the meta-analysis. A formal registration protocol was included in the PROSPERO database (number: CRD42019111821). There was a statistically significant difference between the development of CKD (hazard ratio (HR): 1.82, confidence interval to 95% (95% CI): 1.27-2.62, P < 0.01) and ESRD (HR: 3.01, confidence interval to 95% (95% CI): 1.92-4.70, P < 0.01) in postpartum women affected by PE.

CONCLUSIONS

PE was considered a risk factor for the onset of CKD and ESRD in the postpartum period. Thus, more research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms of this association, and to assist in determining the most appropriate and effective clinical conduct to prevent and/or treat such complications.

Preeclampsia and Glomerulonephritis: A Bidirectional Association

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We focus on the current understanding of preeclampsia (PE) in order to examine how it mediates glomerular injury and affects the course of glomerulonephritis (GNs). In addition, this review discusses the role of GNs on the development of PE.

RECENT FINDINGS

In PE, the dysfunctional utero-placental perfusion causes the release into the mother's circulation of anti-angiogenic substances, leading to systemic endotheliosis. In preeclamptic patients, the imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is responsible for the kidney injury, and PE may reveal a silent pre-existent GN or may induce the development of the disease. Moreover, in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD), it could accelerate the disease progression. In any case, GNs compromise renal function, making the kidney less responsive to physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and, at the same time, cause maternal vascular inflammation, representing a risk factor for PE development. Although a bidirectional correlation between GNs and PE has been demonstrated, the data are limited, and further large studies are warranted. Close collaboration between a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians and nephrologists is essential to establish the correct diagnosis and safely manage these vulnerable women and their fetuses.

Diabetes: a metabolic and reproductive disorder in women

Reproductive dysfunction is a common but little studied complication of diabetes. The spectrum of reproductive health problems in diabetes is broad, and encompasses delayed puberty and menarche, menstrual cycle abnormalities, subfertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and potentially early menopause. Depending on the age at diagnosis of diabetes, reproductive problems can manifest early on in puberty, emerge later when fertility is desired, or occur during the climacteric period. Historically, women with type 1 diabetes have frequently had amenorrhoea and infertility, due to central hypogonadism. With the intensification of insulin therapy and improved metabolic control, these problems have declined, but do persist. Additional reproductive implications of contemporary diabetes management are now emerging, including polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperandrogenism, which are underpinned by insulin action on the ovary. The sharp rise in type 2 diabetes incidence in youth suggests that more women of reproductive age will encounter diabetes-related reproductive problems in their lifetimes. With an ever increasing number of young women living with diabetes, clinicians need to be aware of and equipped for the challenges of navigating reproductive health concerns across the lifespan.

Preeclampsia Is Associated With Increased Preclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Women With Type 1 Diabetes

PURPOSE

Although preeclampsia (PE) is a well-established cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF) in the general population, its role in type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been scarcely studied. We assessed the association between PE and preclinical atherosclerosis in T1D.

METHODS

We recruited 112 women without cardiovascular disease and last pregnancy ≥5 years before: (1) T1D and previous PE (T1D+/PE+; n = 28); (2) T1D without preeclampsia (T1D+/PE-; n = 28); (3) previous PE without T1D (T1D-/PE+; n = 28); and (4) controls (without T1D or PE; T1D-/PE-; n = 28). Groups were matched by age, several CVRFs, and diabetes duration and retinopathy (in T1D participants). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque (IMT ≥ 1.5 mm) were assessed by standardized ultrasonography protocol.

RESULTS

Mean age of the participants was 44.9 ± 7.8 years (14.3% hypertension and 21.4% active smokers). Groups including T1D (T1D+/PE+ and T1D+/PE-) more frequently presented hypertension and statin treatment (23.2% vs 5.4% and 37.5% vs 8.9%; respectively; P < 0.01), without differences in other CVRFs. Carotid plaques were observed in 20.5%. In multivariate models adjusted for age, CVRF, and statins, both T1D and PE showed a similar impact on the presence of plaque, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval), 5.45 (1.36-21.9) and 4.24 (1.04-17.3), respectively. Both entities showed an additive effect when combined, both in common carotid-IMT (T1D+/PE- or T1D-/PE+, β = 0.198; T1D+/PE+, β = 0.297) and in the presence of plaque (8.53 [1.07-68.2] and 28.1 [2.67-296.4], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Previous PE was independently associated with preclinical atherosclerosis in T1D. Further studies are needed to ascertain its usefulness for stratifying risk in T1D women.

Glycated haemoglobin A1c as a predictor of preeclampsia in type 1 diabetic pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the increase of glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant with type 1 diabetes mellitus; and to determine from which trimester the increase of HbA1c levels better predicts the risk of suffering preeclampsia in type 1 diabetic pregnant women.

METHODS

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Web of Science databases, from inception to May 2017, for observational studies addressing the association of HbA1c levels with preeclampsia. Fixed effects models were used to compute pooled estimates of odds ratio (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for preeclampsia in type 1 diabetic pregnant women. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed based on pregnancy trimester.

RESULTS

Five published studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. There was an increase in the risk of preeclampsia with a 1% increase of HbA1c during pregnancy (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.26-1.52, I²=0.0%). When analyses were performed based on pregnancy trimester to estimate the risk of preeclampsia with a 1% increase of HbA1c, pooled OR estimates were 1.37 (95% CI 1.24-1.51, I²=0.0%) for the first trimester and 1.67 (95% CI 1.44-1.93, I²=0.0%) for the second/third trimester.

CONCLUSION

HbA1c is a reliable predictor of preeclampsia in type 1 diabetic pregnant women. Our findings highlight the importance of including HbA1c measurements in the first antenatal visit to control the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO: CRD42017058394.

Preeclampsia and Future Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder resulting in hypertension and multiorgan dysfunction. There is growing evidence that these effects persist after pregnancy. We aimed to systematically evaluate and quantify the evidence on the relationship between preeclampsia and the future risk of cardiovascular diseases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied the future risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, composite cardiovascular disease, death because of coronary heart or cardiovascular disease, stroke, and stroke death after preeclampsia. A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed to identify relevant studies. We used random-effects meta-analysis to determine the risk. Twenty-two studies were identified with >6.4 million women including >258 000 women with preeclampsia. Meta-analysis of studies that adjusted for potential confounders demonstrated that preeclampsia was independently associated with an increased risk of future heart failure (risk ratio [RR], 4.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09-8.38), coronary heart disease (RR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.43-4.37), cardiovascular disease death (RR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.83-2.66), and stroke (RR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.29-2.55). Sensitivity analyses showed that preeclampsia continued to be associated with an increased risk of future coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke after adjusting for age (RR, 3.89; 95% CI, 1.83-8.26), body mass index (RR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.41-7.07), and diabetes mellitus (RR, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.09-8.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Preeclampsia is associated with a 4-fold increase in future incident heart failure and a 2-fold increased risk in coronary heart disease, stroke, and death because of coronary heart or cardiovascular disease. Our study highlights the importance of lifelong monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors in women with a history of preeclampsia.

Long term effects of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia on kidney function: Record linkage study

•

We examine risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) after pregnancy hypertension.

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We found increased risk of chronic kidney disease after gestational hypertension.

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Risk of chronic kidney disease was further increased after preeclampsia.

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Women with pregnancy hypertension develop CKD earlier than normotensive women.

Objective

To assess the long term effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy on renal function.

Design

Cohort study where exposure was gestational hypertension or preeclampsia in the first pregnancy. Normotensive women formed the comparison group.

Setting

Aberdeen, Scotland.

Participants

All women with date of birth on or before 30th June 1969 and at least their first singleton delivery recorded in the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank.

Methods

Participants were linked to the Renal Biochemistry Register, Scottish Morbidity Records, Scottish Renal Registry and National Register for deaths.

Main outcome measures

Occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) as identified from renal function tests in later life, hospital admissions or death from kidney disease or recorded as receiving renal replacement therapy.

Results

CKD was diagnosed in 7.5% and 5.2% of women who previously had GH and PE respectively compared to 3.9% in normotensive women. The unadjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of having CKD in PE was 2.04 (1.53, 2.71) and that for GH was 1.37 (1.15, 1.65), while the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of CKD was 1.93 (1.44, 2.57) and 1.36 (1.13, 1.63) in women with PE and GH respectively. Kaplan–Meier curves of survival time to development of chronic kidney disease revealed that women with preeclampsia were susceptible to kidney function impairment earliest, followed by those with gestational hypertension.

Conclusions

There was an increased subsequent risk of CKD associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Women with GH and PE were also found to have CKD earlier than normotensive women.

IGF-1 is associated with fetal growth and preterm delivery in type 1 diabetic pregnancy

AIM

No data on IGF-1 and either preterm or preeclampsia have been reported so far in diabetic pregnancies. We evaluated consecutive measurements of IGF-1 for preeclampsia, preterm delivery and birth weight in type 1 diabetic pregnancy.

SETTING

In an outpatient university clinic, 97 pregnant women were consecutively recruited for evaluation of indicators for deterioration of diabetes status and adverse perinatal outcome. At every visit, a blood sample for measurement of IGF-1 was drawn.

RESULTS

IGF-1 levels from week 14 to 32 was consistently lower in women who delivered preterm compared with women whose delivered after gestational week 36; the increase in 2nd and 3rd trimester was steeper in those delivering at term than in women delivering preterm (p = 0.032). IGF-1 in preeclampsia did not show the same relation in diabetic women (p = 0.74). The lowest tertile of birth weight ratio (0.8-1.2) was associated with lower IGF-1 from week 14 to 32 (p = 0.047, adjusted for preterm delivery and preeclampsia).

CONCLUSION

We found low IGF-1 levels associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight.

Health after pregnancy in the mother with diabetes

Progression of retinopathy and nephropathy in women with diabetes occurs, at least temporarily, during pregnancy and postpartum. However, normotensive pregnancy seems to have no detrimental effects regarding the long-term progression of any microvascular complication. Increased risk from pregnancy induced hypertension without proteinuria and with proteinuria (pre-eclampsia) relates mainly to the association with kidney disease in diabetes, and poor glycemic control. A history of pre-eclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension is an important prognostic factor for micro- and macro-vascular complications later in life. Data regarding the long-term effects of hypertensive pregnancies on late complications of diabetes suggest that women with diabetes should be monitored regularly and nephroprotective treatment initiated early.

Preeclampsia and diabetes

Preeclampsia is diagnosed in women presenting with new onset hypertension accompanied by proteinuria or other signs of severe organ dysfunction in the second half of pregnancy. Preeclampsia risk is increased 2- to 4-fold among women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The limited number of pregnant women with preexisting diabetes and the difficulties associated with diagnosing preeclampsia in women with proteinuria prior to pregnancy are significant barriers to research in this high-risk population. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) also increases preeclampsia risk, although it is unclear whether these two conditions share a common pathophysiological pathway. Nondiabetic women who have had preeclampsia are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Among women with type 1 diabetes, a history of preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of retinopathy and nephropathy. More research examining the pathophysiology, treatment, and the long-term health implications of preeclampsia among women with preexisting and gestational diabetes is needed.

Risk factors of hypertensive pregnancies in women with diabetes and the influence on their future life

Diabetic women carry a 2-4 times increased risk of a hypertensive pregnancy compared to non-diabetic people. This risk is related to presence of diabetic nephropathy, but also poor glycaemic control. Efforts to improve glycaemic control have decreased perinatal morbidity and mortality related to diabetic nephropathy. Despite good glycaemic control, overt nephropathy is associated with a variety of pregnancy complications, such as fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. General population studies show that women with a history of pre-eclampsia are more prone to develop cardiovascular disease later in life than women with a history of normotensive pregnancy. Furthermore, recent data regarding the long-term effects of hypertensive pregnancies on late diabetic complications indicate that these women should be followed and treatment should be started early. In this review we summarize data on risk factors and long-term effects of hypertensive pregnancies on late diabetic complications that may be of clinical relevance in the prevention of these complications.

Preeclampsia in healthy women and endothelial dysfunction 10 years later

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies have shown that women with a history of preeclampsia have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study investigated cardiovascular risk factors 10 years after preeclampsia in previously healthy women.

STUDY DESIGN

Based on data from the Medical Birth Registry in Norway, we selected 182 women with and 180 women without preeclampsia in their first pregnancy 9-11 years earlier, excluding women with cardiovascular or renal disease before pregnancy. Flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery were measured and blood samples were drawn. Blood samples were analyzed for cardiovascular risk markers and for circulating markers of endothelial function.

RESULTS

A total of 89 women with previous preeclampsia and 69 women without preeclampsia participated, an overall attendance rate of 44%. FMD and IMT were similar between groups. Women with previous preeclampsia more often had urate and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase values above the 75th percentile (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; P = .03, and OR, 2.4; P = .04, respectively) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values below the 25th percentile (OR, 2.3; P = .04). Women with preeclampsia with low birthweight offspring were associated with asymmetric dimethylarginine, L-arginine, and homoarginine above the 75th percentile, whereas the women with preeclampsia with normal-weight offspring were associated with urate and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase above the 75th percentile.

CONCLUSION

Preeclampsia was not associated with impaired FMD or increased IMT 10 years after pregnancy in previously healthy women, but preeclampsia was associated with changes in circulating markers that might represent early endothelial dysfunction.

Pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension are associated with severe diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes later in life

To investigate whether pre-eclampsia (PE) or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) predicts the development of severe diabetic retinopathy (SDR) in type 1 diabetes. Altogether, 203 women with type 1 diabetes who were followed during pregnancy were re-examined within the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study. After excluding patients with pre-pregnancy hypertension and those who had had laser treatment or whose retinopathy was graded as proliferative at the index pregnancy, 158 were prospectively studied. As a surrogate marker for SDR, retinal laser photocoagulation was used. The time from pregnancy to SDR (N = 21) or follow-up was 16 years (interquartile range, 11-19). HbA1c was repeatedly measured both during pregnancy and follow-up. Women with prior PE (26 % vs. 6 %, P = 0.003) or PIH (24 % vs. 6 %, P = 0.008) had more often incident SDR during follow-up compared to those with normotensive pregnancy. The hazard ratios (HR) remained associated with the progression to SDR after adjustment for duration of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy in a Cox regression analysis [PE: 3.5 (95 % CI 1.1-10.9); P = 0.03 and for PIH: 3.2 (1.1-9.8); P = 0.04]. The association between PIH and incident SDR did not change after inclusion of mean HbA1c, measured during pregnancy (all 3 trimesters) and serial HbA1c measurements during follow-up, 3.5 (1.1-11.8; P = 0.03). However, in a similar model, the HR for PE was no more significant 2.0 (0.6-6.8; P = NS). The results suggest that women with type 1 diabetes and a hypertensive pregnancy have an increased risk of severe diabetic retinopathy later in life.

Blood pressure levels but not hypertensive complications have increased in Type 1 diabetes pregnancies during 1989-2010

AIMS

The pre-pregnancy BMI and the third trimester HbA(1c) levels increased in Finnish parturients with Type 1 diabetes during 1989-2008. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether these trends have been accompanied by increases in blood pressure or hypertensive complications. Hypertension trends were analysed using the definitions of hypertension of both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Diabetes Association. The associations of hypertension, as defined by the latter criteria, with perinatal complications were also studied.

METHODS

The records of a cohort of 1007 consecutive patients with Type 1 diabetes with a singleton live childbirth during 1989-2010 at the Helsinki University Central Hospital were studied.

RESULTS

The frequencies of hypertensive pregnancy complications did not change, but the mean diastolic blood pressure increased in normotensive parturients in all trimesters. The proportion of patients with systolic blood pressure > 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 80 mmHg in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy increased from 25 to 33%, from 26 to 35% and from 57 to 71%, respectively. Systolic blood pressure of 131-139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 81-89 mmHg in the third trimester was associated with umbilical artery pH < 7.15.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood pressure of patients with Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy is increasing. A growing proportion of women with Type 1 diabetes exceed the American Diabetes Association's definition of hypertension during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia and prevalence of microalbuminuria 10 years later

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A recent meta-analysis found that about 30% of women with a previous preeclamptic pregnancy had persistent microalbuminuria at follow-up. The analysis was, however, based on small studies, and more data are needed.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Using data from the Medical Birth Registry in Norway, this study identified women with or without preeclampsia in their first pregnancy 9-11 years previously (1998-2000). Women with diabetes, rheumatic disease, essential hypertension, or renal disease before first pregnancy and/or preeclampsia in later pregnancies were excluded. Eighty-nine women with and 69 women without preeclampsia participated in the study. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was measured in three morning urine samples. Estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated using the CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration formula.

RESULTS

Median urinary ACR in follow-up urine samples was 0.53 mg/mmol for women with and 0.50 mg/mmol for women without preeclampsia (P=0.54). Only one woman (1%) with previous preeclampsia had urinary ACR >2.5 mg/mmol in two of three urine samples. Preeclampsia was not associated with urinary ACR above the 75th percentile. Women with preeclampsia did not have significantly higher eGFR than women without preeclampsia (107.9 versus 104.9 ml/min per 1.73 m(2); P=0.12), but preterm preeclampsia was significantly associated with eGFR above the 75th percentile (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based study of otherwise healthy women, preeclampsia 10 years earlier was not associated with increased risk of persisting microalbuminuria. Estimated GFR was not significantly different between women with and those without preeclampsia, but preterm preeclampsia was associated with high normal eGFR.

From preeclampsia to renal disease: a role of angiogenic factors and the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system?

Complicating up to 8% of pregnancies, preeclampsia is the most common glomerular disease worldwide and remains a leading cause of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. Although the exact pathogenesis of this syndrome of hypertension and proteinuria is still incomplete, a consistent line of evidence has identified an imbalance of proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic proteins as a key factor in the development of preeclampsia. Furthermore, more attention has been recently addressed to the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), to provide understanding on the hypertension of preeclampsia. The imbalance of the RAAS and the imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors, which may be both common to preeclampsia and chronic kidney disease (CKD), might explain why a history of preeclampsia predisposes women to develop CKD. In this review, we briefly describe the characteristics of preeclampsia with a focus on the mechanisms of angiogenesis and the RAAS and its role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Our main focus will be on the intriguing association between preeclampsia and the subsequent increased risk of developing CKD and on the potential mechanisms by which the risk of CKD is elevated in women with a history of preeclampsia.

Pregnancy in diabetes and kidney disease

With appropriate multi-disciplinary team care, most women with diabetic nephropathy will have successful pregnancy outcomes; however, pregnancy complications are increased compared to non-diabetic individuals, particularly in those with poor glycaemic control. Women with more severe renal impairment, especially those with hypertension and proteinuria at are highest risk of worse pregnancy outcomes and deterioration in pre-existing renal function. Pre-pregnancy counselling should be offered to all women with diabetes in order to optimise diabetic care, and inform women of potential complications. Pregnancy is an indicator of long-term health, and may indicate important issues for the future management of women with diabetic nephropathy.

Pre-eclampsia and long-term maternal health

Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome of pregnancy, defined by the gestational-onset of hypertension and proteinuria, which resolves postpartum. This definition does not consider the variable multiorgan involvement of a syndrome that can include seizures, fulminating hepatic necrosis and a consumptive coagulopathy. These disparate clinical features are a consequence of an accelerated but transient metabolic syndrome with widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. A trigger to this maternal state is the relatively ischaemic placenta. As pregnancy progresses, the concentration of vaso-toxic factors released by the relatively ischaemic placenta gradually builds up in the maternal circulation. Those predisposed to endothelial dysfunction, e.g. women with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, are more sensitive to these placental derived factors and will develop pre-eclampsia before natural onset of labour. A woman's vulnerability to pre-eclampsia is therefore composed of a unique balance between her pre-existing maternal endothelial and metabolic health and the concentration of placental derived factors toxic to maternal endothelium. Delivery of the placenta remains the only cure. Years later, women who had pre-eclampsia are at increased risk of chronic hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, thromboembolism, hypothyroidism and even impaired memory. This article describes how a brief, usually single episode of this acute pregnancy syndrome might both identify those vulnerable to chronic disease in later life and in some cases initiate chronic disease.

Optimal glycemic control, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension in women with type 1 diabetes in the diabetes and pre-eclampsia intervention trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between glycemic control, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension in women with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Pregnancy outcome (pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension) was assessed prospectively in 749 women from the randomized controlled Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia Intervention Trial (DAPIT). HbA(1c) (A1C) values were available up to 6 months before pregnancy (n = 542), at the first antenatal visit (median 9 weeks) (n = 721), at 26 weeks' gestation (n = 592), and at 34 weeks' gestation (n = 519) and were categorized as optimal (<6.1%: referent), good (6.1-6.9%), moderate (7.0-7.9%), and poor (≥8.0%) glycemic control, respectively.

RESULTS

Pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension developed in 17 and 11% of pregnancies, respectively. Women who developed pre-eclampsia had significantly higher A1C values before and during pregnancy compared with women who did not develop pre-eclampsia (P < 0.05, respectively). In early pregnancy, A1C ≥ 8.0% was associated with a significantly increased risk of pre-eclampsia (odds ratio 3.68 [95% CI 1.17-11.6]) compared with optimal control. At 26 weeks' gestation, A1C values ≥ 6.1% (good: 2.09 [1.03-4.21]; moderate: 3.20 [1.47-7.00]; and poor: 3.81 [1.30-11.1]) and at 34 weeks' gestation A1C values ≥ 7.0% (moderate: 3.27 [1.31-8.20] and poor: 8.01 [2.04-31.5]) significantly increased the risk of pre-eclampsia compared with optimal control. The adjusted odds ratios for pre-eclampsia for each 1% decrement in A1C before pregnancy, at the first antenatal visit, at 26 weeks' gestation, and at 34 weeks' gestation were 0.88 (0.75-1.03), 0.75 (0.64-0.88), 0.57 (0.42-0.78), and 0.47 (0.31-0.70), respectively. Glycemic control was not significantly associated with gestational hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who developed pre-eclampsia had significantly higher A1C values before and during pregnancy. These data suggest that optimal glycemic control both early and throughout pregnancy may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes and the kidney in pregnancy

The prevalence of diabetes in pregnant women is increasing, with 4% of deliveries in the United States occurring in women with pregestational or gestational diabetes. The proteinuria of late pregnancy is exaggerated in women with diabetes. However, diabetic women with preserved renal function before pregnancy appear to have little risk of deterioration of kidney function during pregnancy. Women with impaired renal function before pregnancy may be at risk for permanent decline of renal function during pregnancy, although it is unclear whether this represents the effect of pregnancy or the natural history of their diabetic renal disease. Preeclampsia, which is more common in women with diabetes, may be difficult to diagnose in this group of women. From the currently available literature, there appears to be no negative effect of pregnancy on the long-term progression of diabetic renal disease if renal function is normal and marked proteinuria is absent, but in light of recent findings in which preeclampsia appears to be associated with an increased risk of end-stage renal disease, large cohort studies will be necessary before this question can be definitively answered.

Hypertension in diabetic pregnancy: impact and long-term outlook

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy can be chronic, pregestational or just diagnosed before the 20th week, or newly diagnosed in the second half of pregnancy. Any type of hypertension is more frequent in diabetic pregnancies with a different distribution among different types of diabetes. Most of the evidence is for pre-eclampsia associated with a marked increase in primary caesarean section, preterm birth and more need for neonatal intensive care. Different risk factors and pregnancy outcomes would support the hypothesis that pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension might be largely separate entities, but this position is not unanimously accepted. Chronic hypertension increases with age and duration of diabetes, predicting increased rates of prematurity and neonatal morbidity, especially when associated with superimposed pre-eclampsia. Long-term consequences are observed in women whose pregnancy was complicated by hypertension such as chronic hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Are adverse pregnancy outcomes risk factors for development of end-stage renal disease in women with diabetes?

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether adverse pregnancy-related outcomes in women with pregestational diabetes are associated with later development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death.

METHODS

We linked data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway with data from the Norwegian Renal Registry and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Data from up to three pregnancies for women with a first singleton delivery from 1967 to 1994 were included and analysed in a cohort design using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Altogether, 639,018 women were included in the analyses, among whom 2204 women had diabetes mellitus before pregnancy. Their first pregnancy was complicated by pre-eclampsia in 13.2%, low birth weight offspring (<2.5 kg) in 11.0% and preterm birth in 25.1%, and their risk of ESRD and death in the follow-up period of up to 37 years was markedly higher. In women with pregestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth were associated with significantly increased risks of ESRD and death in women with only one pregnancy, but not in women with two or more pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONS

In women with pregestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and preterm birth were associated with long-term increased risk of ESRD and death, but only in women who had only one pregnancy.

Adult stature and diabetes complications in patients with type 1 diabetes: the FinnDiane Study and the diabetes control and complications trial

OBJECTIVE

Short adult stature has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease, but its relationship with the microvascular complications of diabetes is uncertain. Therefore, we evaluated the association between adult stature and prevalence and incidence of diabetic microvascular complications.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional and longitudinal study comprises 3,968 adult patients with type 1 diabetes from the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study and 1,246 adult patients from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). In FinnDiane, diabetic nephropathy was defined as urinary albumin excretion > or = 300 mg/24 h, dialysis, or renal transplantation. Retinopathy was divided into background and proliferative (laser-treated) retinopathy. In the DCCT, original nephropathy (class 1-6) and retinopathy (Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study) classifications were used.

RESULTS

In the FinnDiane study, patients in the lowest quartile of adult height had increased risks of prevalent diabetic nephropathy (odds ratio [OR] 1.71, 95% CI 1.44-2.02) and prevalent laser-treated retinopathy (1.66, 1.43-1.93) compared with other patients. Similarly, in the DCCT, patients in the lowest quartile of adult height had increased risks of incident diabetic nephropathy class 4-6 (hazard ratio 2.70, 95% CI 1.59-4.59) and incident proliferative retinopathy (2.06, 1.15-3.71). In the FinnDiane study, the associations were largely explained by childhood exposure to diabetes. However, in the DCCT, where a greater proportion of patients had diabetes onset >18 years, the association with nephropathy was independent of childhood diabetes exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Short adult stature is associated with microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes. These findings are compatible with either childhood diabetes exposure or "common soil" or both as potential explanations.

Acute hyperglycaemia induces an inflammatory response in young patients with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at a substantially increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Stress-induced hyperglycaemia in turn is shown to worsen the prognosis of patients suffering from an acute myocardial infarction. However, the mechanisms behind these findings are incompletely known.

AIM

To investigate whether markers of chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress respond to acute hyperglycaemia in patients with T1D.

METHODS

The plasma glucose concentration was rapidly raised from 5 to 15 mmol/L in 35 males (22 men with T1D and 13 age-matched non-diabetic volunteers) and maintained for 2 h. All participants were young non-smokers without any signs of diabetic or other complications. Markers of chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress were analysed in serum/plasma samples drawn at base-line and after 120 min of hyperglycaemia.

RESULTS

Compared to normoglycaemia, acute hyperglycaemia increased the interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations by 39% in patients with T1D (P<0.01) and 26% in healthy volunteers (P<0.05). During hyperglycaemia the superoxide dismutase concentration was increased by 17% in the healthy volunteers (P<0.01) and 5% in the patients with type 1 diabetes (P=NS). The increase in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was larger in patients with type 1 diabetes than in non-diabetic volunteers (35% versus -10%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that acute hyperglycaemia induces an inflammatory response in patients with type 1 diabetes.