Women born preterm or with inappropriate weight for gestational age are at risk of subsequent gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia

Association between Maternal Birth Weight and Prevalence of Congenital Malformations in Offspring: The Japanese Environment and Children's Study

Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan including 103,060 pregnancies. A binary logistic regression model with adjustment for various covariates revealed that an MBW of <2500 g (low MBW) was associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease (adjusted odds ratio: 1.388, [95% confidence interval: 1.075-1.792]), angioma (1.491 [1.079-2.059]), and inguinal hernia (1.746, [1.189-2.565]), while those with an MBW of ≥4000 g (high MBW) were associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract (2.194, [1.261-3.819]) and arrhythmia (1.775, [1.157-2.725]) compared with those with an MBW of 3000-3499 g. Low MBW was associated with cleft lip and/or palate (1.473, [1.052-2.064]), congenital heart disease (1.615, [1.119-2.332]), genital organs (1.648, [1.130-2.405]), hypospadias (1.804, [1.130-2.881]), and inguinal hernia (1.484, [1.189-1.851]) in male infants and CAKUT (1.619, [1.154-2.273]) in female infants, whereas high MBW was associated with congenital heart disease (1.745, [1.058-2.877]) and CAKUT (2.470, [1.350-4.517]) in male infants. The present study is the first to demonstrate a link between MBW and congenital malformations in Japanese children. While these results must be interpreted with caution, MBW should be considered a major predictor of congenital malformation risk.

Risk factors for pre-eclampsia in clinical practice guidelines: Comparison with the evidence

OBJECTIVE

To compare pre-eclampsia risk factors identified by clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) with risk factors from hierarchical evidence review, to guide pre-eclampsia prevention.

DESIGN

Our search strategy provided hierarchical evidence of relationships between risk factors and pre-eclampsia using Medline (Ovid), searched from January 2010 to January 2021.

SETTING

Published studies and CPGs.

POPULATION

Pregnant women.

METHODS

We evaluated the strength of association and quality of evidence (GRADE). CPGs (n = 15) were taken from a previous systematic review.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Pre-eclampsia.

RESULTS

Of 78 pre-eclampsia risk factors, 13 (16.5%) arise only during pregnancy. Strength of association was usually 'probable' (n = 40, 51.3%) and the quality of evidence was low (n = 35, 44.9%). The 'major' and 'moderate' risk factors proposed by 8/15 CPGs were not well aligned with the evidence; of the ten 'major' risk factors (alone warranting aspirin prophylaxis), associations with pre-eclampsia were definite (n = 4), probable (n = 5) or possible (n = 1), based on moderate (n = 4), low (n = 5) or very low (n = 1) quality evidence. Obesity ('moderate' risk factor) was definitely associated with pre-eclampsia (high-quality evidence). The other ten 'moderate' risk factors had probable (n = 8), possible (n = 1) or no (n = 1) association with pre-eclampsia, based on evidence of moderate (n = 1), low (n = 5) or very low (n = 4) quality. Three risk factors not identified by the CPGs had probable associations (high quality): being overweight; 'prehypertension' at booking; and blood pressure of 130-139/80-89 mmHg in early pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-eclampsia risk factors in CPGs are poorly aligned with evidence, particularly for the strongest risk factor of obesity. There is a lack of distinction between risk factors identifiable in early pregnancy and those arising later. A refresh of the strategies advocated by CPGs is needed.

The association between late preterm birth and cardiometabolic conditions across the life course: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of being born late preterm (34-36 weeks gestation) on cardiometabolic outcomes across the life course is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review the association between being born late preterm (spontaneous or indicated), compared to the term and cardiometabolic outcomes in children and adults.

DATA SOURCES

EMBASE(Ovid), MEDLINE(Ovid), CINAHL.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Observational studies up to July 2021 were included. Study characteristics, gestational age, cardiometabolic outcomes, risk ratios (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted.

SYNTHESIS

We pooled converted RRs using random-effects meta-analyses for diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and body mass index (BMI) with subgroups for children and adults. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and certainty of the evidence was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included (41,203,468 total participants; median: 5.0% late preterm). Late preterm birth was associated with increased diabetes (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17, 1.32; nine studies; n = 6,056,511; incidence 0.9%; I² 51%; low certainty) and hypertension (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.13, 1.30; 11 studies; n = 3,983,141; incidence 3.4%; I² 64%; low certainty) in children and adults combined. Late preterm birth was associated with decreased BMI z-scores in children (standard mean difference -0.38; 95% CI -0.67, -0.09; five studies; n = 32,602; proportion late preterm 8.3%; I² 96%; very low certainty). There was insufficient evidence that late preterm birth was associated with increased IHD risk in adults (HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.89, 1.62; four studies; n = 2,706,806; incidence 0.3%; I² 87%; very low certainty).

CONCLUSIONS

Late preterm birth was associated with an increased risk of diabetes and hypertension. The certainty of the evidence was low or very low. Inconsistencies in late preterm and term definitions, confounding variables and outcome age limited the comparability of studies.

Association of low birthweight and premature birth with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that women born preterm or small have an increased risk of experiencing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy; however, a quantitative summary of the evidence on this issue is unavailable.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to systematically review the literature to describe the association between being born preterm, low birthweight (LBW), or small for gestational age (SGA), and future gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ICTRP databases. We included all cohort and case-control studies examining the association between LBW, preterm birth, or SGA and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. We pooled the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. We assessed the certainty of evidence for each outcome using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were identified, totalling 752 316 participants. Being born preterm, LBW, or SGA was associated with gestational hypertension [pooled odds ratio (OR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.50; moderate certainty of evidence] and preeclampsia (pooled OR, 1.35; 95% CI 1.23-1.48; moderate certainty of evidence). No study measured eclampsia as an outcome.

CONCLUSION

Women born preterm, LBW, or SGA have an increased risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. The course of the mother's own birth might be used to identify women at risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Gestational diabetes mellitus in women born small or preterm: Systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

There is some evidence that women born preterm or with low birth weight (LBW) have an increased future risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy; however, a quantitative summary of evidence is lacking. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined the published data to investigate whether being born preterm, with LBW or small for gestational age (SGA) are associated with GDM risk.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases and study registries, including ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP, from launch until 29 October 2020. Observational studies examining the association between birth weight or gestational age and GDM were eligible. We pooled the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies were included (N = 827,382). The meta-analysis showed that being born preterm, with LBW or SGA was associated with increased risk of GDM (pooled odds ratio = 1.84; 95% confidence interval: 1.54-2.20; I² = 78.3%; τ² = 0.07). Given a GDM prevalence of 2.0, 10, and 20%, the absolute risk differences were 1.6%, 7.0%, and 11.5%, respectively. The certainty of the evidence was low due to serious concerns of risk of bias and publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Women born prematurely, with LBW or SGA status, may be at increased risk for GDM. However, whether this should be considered in clinical decision-making depends on the prevalence of GDM.

Current State of Preeclampsia Mouse Models: Approaches, Relevance, and Standardization

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic, pregnancy-specific disorder and a leading cause of maternal and fetal death. PE is also associated with an increased risk for chronic morbidities later in life for mother and offspring. Abnormal placentation or placental function has been well-established as central to the genesis of PE; yet much remains to be determined about the factors involved in the development of this condition. Despite decades of investigation and many clinical trials, the only definitive treatment is parturition. To better understand the condition and identify potential targets preclinically, many approaches to simulate PE in mice have been developed and include mixed mouse strain crosses, genetic overexpression and knockout, exogenous agent administration, surgical manipulation, systemic adenoviral infection, and trophoblast-specific gene transfer. These models have been useful to investigate how biological perturbations identified in human PE are involved in the generation of PE-like symptoms and have improved the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the human condition. However, these approaches were characterized by a wide variety of physiological endpoints, which can make it difficult to compare effects across models and many of these approaches have aspects that lack physiological relevance to this human disorder and may interfere with therapeutic development. This report provides a comprehensive review of mouse models that exhibit PE-like symptoms and a proposed standardization of physiological characteristics for analysis in murine models of PE.

Association Between Birth Weight and Risk of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Gestational Diabetes in Japanese Women: JPHC-NEXT Study

Background

Although prevalence of low birth weight has increased in the last 3 decades in Japan, no studies in Japanese women have investigated whether birth weight is associated with the risk of pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

We used data from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation (JPHC-NEXT), a population-based cohort study in Japan that launched in 2011. In the main analysis, we included 46,365 women who had been pregnant at least once, for whom information on birth weight and events during their pregnancy was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Women were divided into five categories according to their birth weight, and the relationship between birth weight and risk of PIH and GDM was examined using multilevel logistic regression analyses with place of residence as a random effect.

Results

Compared to women born with birth weight of 3,000–3,999 grams, the risk of PIH was significantly higher among women born <1,500 grams (adjusted odd ratio [aOR] 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–2.21), 1,500–2,499 grams (aOR 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03–1.30), and 2,500–2,999 grams (aOR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.22). The risk of GDM was significantly higher among women born 1,500–2,499 grams (aOR 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02–1.42), albeit non-significant association among women in other birthweight categories.

Conclusions

We observed an increased risk of PIH among women born with lower birth weight albeit non-significant increased risk of GDM among Japanese women.

Risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in nulliparous women - Associations with early life body size and change in body mass index from childhood to adulthood

AIMS

We examined whether a woman's birthweight, childhood height, body mass index (BMI), and BMI changes from childhood to pregnancy were associated with risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

We studied 13,031 women from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register born 1959-1996 with birthweight and measured anthropometric information at ages 7 and/or 13. The diagnosis of GDM (n = 255) was obtained from a national health register. Risk ratios (RR) were estimated using log-linear binomial regression.

RESULTS

Own birthweight and childhood height were inversely associated with GDM. Girls with overweight at age 7 had a higher risk of GDM than girls with normal-weight (RR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.47). Compared to women with normal-weight in childhood and adulthood, risks of GDM were higher in women who developed overweight from age 7 to pregnancy (RR: 4.62; 3.48, 6.14) or had overweight at both times (RR: 4.71; 3.24, 6.85). In women whose BMI normalized from age 7 to pregnancy the RR for GDM was 1.08 (0.47, 2.46).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower birthweight, shorter childhood height, and higher childhood BMI are associated with increased risks of GDM. Efforts to help girls maintain a normal BMI before pregnancy may be warranted to minimize risks of GDM.

Low birth weight and abnormal pre-pregnancy body mass index were at higher risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Low birth weight is known to be associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP); however, this association might vary by race/ethnicity. This study aimed to clarify the association between women's own birth weight and their subsequent risk for HDP in a Japanese population, in combination with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). We conducted a cohort study as part of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Miyagi, Japan. Our study's population included 4810 women. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the women's own birth weight for HDP, in the combination categories of birth weight and pre-pregnancy BMI. As a result, the group with a low birth weight of <2500 g had a significant association with HDP (the aOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.02-2.21). In the subtype analysis, the odds ratio for only preeclampsia was significantly increased in the low birth weight group (aOR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.84-6.16). In the group with a low birth weight, the prevalence of HDP was higher in both the underweight and overweight groups. In conclusion, there was a significant association between low birth weight and subsequent HDP in Japanese women. Furthermore, a significant association with HDP was found for women born with a low birth weight who were underweight or overweight as adults. Maintaining a normal weight may be effective for preventing HDP even if a woman was born small.

Body surface area at birth and later risk for gestational diabetes mellitus among primiparous women

AIMS

To assess the relationship between body surface area (BSA) at birth and future risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

This is an observational cohort study from Vantaa, Finland. The cohort included 1548 Finnish primiparous women, aged 15-28 years, without pre-existing diabetes, who gave birth 2009-2015. All women were born full-term and had complete information about their birth weight and length, from the Finnish Medical Birth Register. Additional data for the study were provided by individual patient health records and Statistics Finland. Study participants were divided into five levels (I-V) according to BSA at birth, based on normal distribution.

RESULTS

There was an inverse association between BSA at birth and risk for GDM (p = 0.015 for linearity, after adjustments for age, educational attainment, pre-pregnancy BMI and smoking). The odds ratio (OR) for GDM in level V, with the largest BSA at birth, compared with level I, with the smallest BSA at birth, was 0.43 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.83]; adjusted for age, educational attainment, pre-pregnancy body mass index and smoking. The OR for GDM was 0.8 (95% CI 0.68-0.95, p = 0.009) for each one standard deviation increase in BSA at birth, adjusted for the same confounders. BSA at birth correlated with adult anthropometry: correlation coefficients were r = 0.16 (95% CI 0.11-0.21) for weight, r = 0.31 (95% CI 0.26-0.35) for height, and r = 0.06 (95% CI 0.01-0.11) for BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Body surface area at birth is inversely associated with future risk for GDM in primiparous women.

Gestational Diabetes: Underpinning Principles, Surveillance, and Management

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is carbohydrate intolerance resulting in hyperglycemia with onset during pregnancy. The article aims to provide clinicians with a working framework to minimize maternal and neonatal morbidity. Landmark historical and recent data are reviewed and presented to provide clinicians with a quick, easy reference for recognition and management of GDM. Data presented tie in insights with underlying pathophysiologic processes leading to GDM. Screening and diagnostic thresholds are discussed along with management upon diagnosis. Good clinical practice regarding screening, diagnosis, and management of GDM effectively reduces risk and improves outcomes of women and fetuses in affected pregnancies.

Ischemia-modified albumin in preterm infants born to mothers with pre-eclampsia

BACKGROUND

Pre-eclampsia (PE) carries an increased risk for maternal and/or fetal mortality or serious morbidity. PE is associated with ischemia and increased oxidative stress in the placenta, which may lead to modification of plasma albumin to ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). The aim of this study was to investigate IMA and hematological parameters in mothers and in premature infants in normal and in pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

METHODS

Twenty-five pregnant women with PE and their premature newborns were categorized as the PE group, and 25 normotensive pregnant women and their premature newborns as the control group. Preterm infants are classified as small for gestational age (SGA) or non-SGA according to the Fenton preterm growth chart. Serum IMA, complete blood count (CBC), liver function tests (LFT), renal function tests (RFT), albumin, and C-reactive protein were measured in the mothers immediately before birth, and in the cord blood and serum of the newborns at 6 and 24 h after birth. Clinical and demographic data were recorded for both groups.

RESULTS

While IMA, LFT and RFT were significantly increased in the PE group compared with the control group, albumin and CBC were significantly lower in the PE group. A total of 40% of PE newborns were SGA, 30% of whom had severe SGA (birthweight <3rd percentile). Cord IMA was significantly increased in all preterm neonates in the PE group compared with the control group. No mothers or neonates died.

CONCLUSION

Serum IMA in addition to the prevalence of SGA were significantly increased in the PE group. Cord blood IMA, therefore, might be a predictive biomarker for SGA in PE pregnancies.

Specific Metabolic Characteristics of Women With Former Gestational Diabetes: the Importance of Adipose Tissue

Women with a positive history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome later in life. The higher risk of these metabolic complications is closely associated with adipose tissue. In this review, the importance of adipose tissue is discussed in relation to GDM, focusing on both the quantity of fat deposits and the metabolic activity of adipose tissue in particular periods of life: neonatal age, childhood, adolescence, and pregnancy followed by nursing. Preventive measures based on body composition and lifestyle habits with special attention to the beneficial effects of breastfeeding are also discussed.

Ponderal index at birth associates with later risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

Low birth weight (BW) and low ponderal index (PI) are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study has two purposes: first to investigate the influence of PI on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); second, to study the association between glucose metabolism and BW in women with previous GDM.

METHODS

GDM cohort: 185 women with GDM in 1978-1996, attending a follow-up study in 2000-2002. Control cohort: 1137 women from a population-based diabetes screening study (Inter99) in a neighbouring county in 1999-2001. BW and birth length were collected from the original midwifery records. BW and PI were stratified into tertiles for analysis.

RESULTS

PI in the lower tertiles was associated with an increased risk of GDM [odds ratio 1.59 (95% confidence interval 1.07-2.36, p = 0.021)]. Among women with previous GDM, the area under the curve (AUC) for plasma levels of glucose and insulin during an OGTT was highest for the lower tertiles of BW (for AUCglucose p = 0.048, for AUCinsulin p = 0.047 adjusted for age and BMI).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower PI is associated with increased risk of GDM. In women with previous GDM, lower BW is associated with a more severe impairment of glucose metabolism one to two decades after the pregnancy complicated by GDM.

Pregnancy as a critical window for blood pressure regulation in mother and child: programming and reprogramming

Pregnancy is a critical time for long-term blood pressure regulation in both mother and child. Pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency, resulting in pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, are associated with a threefold increased risk of the mother to develop hypertension later in life. In addition, these complications create an adverse intrauterine environment, which programmes the foetus and the second generation to develop hypertension in adult life. Female offspring born to a pregnancy complicated by placental insufficiency are at risk for pregnancy complications during their own pregnancies as well, resulting in a vicious circle with programmed risk for hypertension passing from generation to generation. Here, we review the epidemiology and mechanisms leading to the altered programming of blood pressure trajectories after pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency. Although the underlying mechanisms leading to hypertension remain the subject of investigation, several abnormalities in angiotensin sensitivity, sodium handling, sympathetic activity, endothelial function and metabolic pathways are found in the mother after exposure to placental insufficiency. In the child, epigenetic modifications and disrupted organ development play a crucial role in programming of hypertension. We emphasize that pregnancy can be viewed as a window of opportunity to improve long-term cardiovascular health of both mother and child, and outline potential gains expected of improved preconceptional, perinatal and post-natal care to reduce the development of hypertension and the burden of cardiovascular disease later in life. Perinatal therapies aimed at reprogramming hypertension are a promising strategy to break the vicious circle of intergenerational programming of hypertension.

Relationship of maternal birth weight on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a multicenter study in Beijing

OBJECTIVE

Birth weight is an important indicator for childhood and adulthood diseases. Published studies lack information on the relative contribution of women's own birth weight to the course of her pregnancy, not only for maternal but especially to neonatal outcome. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship of maternal birth weight on maternal and perinatal complications during pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

Medical and obstetrical data were collected from 5479 women at 15 hospitals in Beijing, by a systemic cluster sampling survey conducted from 20 June 2013 to 30 November 2013. These women were categorized into five groups, according to their own birth weight: low birth weight (⩽2500 g, n=275), sub-optimal birth weight (2500 to 2999 g, n=1079), optimal birth weight (3000 to 3499 g, n=2590; 3500 to 3999 g, n=1085) and high birth weight (⩾4000 g, n=450). The occurrence of maternal and neonatal complications was recorded and compared among the groups. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20.0 and values of P<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

Low maternal birth weight was associated with higher rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (χ²=21.268, P=0.006) and hypertensive disorders (χ²=10.844, P=0.028). The latter association was strongest in women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index above 25 kg m^-2. Low maternal birth weight was also associated with an apparently higher incidence of preterm labor (χ²=18.27, P=0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (χ²=2.739, P=0.027) in pregnancy. An association between women with low birth weight and a significantly higher rate of small for gestational age infants (χ²=93.507, P<0.001) and low birth weight (χ²=36.256, P<0.001) was detected. High maternal birth weight was associated with an increased risk of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity (P<0.001), as well as for large for gestational age infants (χ²=93.507, P<0.001) and macrosomia (χ²=72.594, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, high or low maternal birth weight was strongly associated with maternal and perinatal adverse pregnancy outcomes. This suggests that by controlling the birth weight of female infants among the normal range, adverse outcomes may be decreased in the future and for the following generations.

Adrenal, metabolic and cardio-renal dysfunction develops after pregnancy in rats born small or stressed by physiological measurements during pregnancy

KEY POINTS

Women born small are at an increased risk of developing pregnancy complications. Stress may further increase a woman's likelihood for an adverse pregnancy. Adverse pregnancy adaptations can lead to long-term diseases even after her pregnancy. The current study investigated the effects of stress during pregnancy on the long-term adrenal, metabolic and cardio-renal health of female rats that were born small. Stress programmed increased adrenal Mc2r gene expression, a higher insulin secretory response to glucose during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (+36%) and elevated renal creatinine clearance after pregnancy. Females that were born small had increased homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance and elevated systolic blood pressure after pregnancy, regardless of stress exposure. These findings suggest that being born small or being stressed during pregnancy programs long-term adverse health outcomes after pregnancy. However, stress in pregnancy does not exacerbate the long-term adverse health outcomes for females that were born small.

ABSTRACT

Females born small are more likely to experience complications during their pregnancy, including pregnancy-induced hypertension, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. The risk of developing complications is increased by stress exposure during pregnancy. In addition, pregnancy complications may predispose the mother to diseases after pregnancy. We determined whether stress during pregnancy would exacerbate the adrenal, metabolic and cardio-renal dysfunction of growth-restricted females in later life. Late gestation bilateral uterine vessel ligation was performed in Wistar Kyoto rats to induce growth restriction. At 4 months, growth-restricted and control female offspring were mated with normal males. Those allocated to the stressed group had physiological measurements [metabolic cage, tail cuff blood pressure, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT)] conducted during pregnancy whilst the unstressed groups were unhandled. After the completion of pregnancy, dams were aged to 12 months and blood pressure, and metabolic and renal function were assessed. At 13 months, adrenal glands, pancreases and plasma were collected at post-mortem. Females stressed during pregnancy had increased adrenal Mc2r gene expression (+22%), higher insulin secretory response to glucose during IPGTT (+36%) and higher creatinine clearance (+29%, indicating increased estimated glomerular filtration rate). In contrast, females that were born small had increased homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (+54%), increased water intake (+23%), urine output (+44%) and elevated systolic blood pressure (+7%) regardless of exposure to stress. Our findings suggest that low maternal birth weight and maternal stress exposure during pregnancy are both independently detrimental for long-term adrenal, metabolic and cardio-renal health of the mother, although their effects were not exacerbated.

Prenatal Clinical Assessment of NT-proBNP as a Diagnostic Tool for Preeclampsia, Gestational Hypertension and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Common complications of pregnancy include preeclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension (GH) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Hypertensive disorders (PE/GH) and GDM may result in greater maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Women with PE/GH, one of the most common causes of heart burden in an obstetrical setting, present with elevated serum levels of BNP and NT-proBNP. The aim of this study was to shed more light on the role of NT-proBNP in pathophysiology of PE, GH and GDM. The study included 156 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. A total of 26 women developed arterial hypertension during pregnancy, 14 were diagnosed with PE, and GDM was detected in 81 patients. The control group included 35 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, normal arterial blood pressure and normal glucose concentrations. Patients with GH presented with significantly higher serum concentrations of NT-proBNPthan normotensive women (65.5 vs. 37.4 pg/ml; p = 0.0136). Serum levels of NT-proBNP in patients with PE were the highest of all the analyzed subsets, being significantly higher than in women without this condition (89.00 vs. 37.4pg/ml,p = 0,0136). However, women with and without GDM did not differ significantly in terms of their serum NT-proBNPconcentrations. Serum NT-proBNP (pg/ml) (p = 0.0001) and BMI (p<0.0001) turned out to be independent predictors of GH on multivariate logistic regression analysis.Moreover, serum NT-proBNP (pg/ml) was identified as an independent indicator of PE (p = 0.0016). A significant inverse correlation was found between birth weight and maternal serum NT-proBNP concentrations. In our opinion, NT-proBNP can be a useful clinical marker of GH and PE. Determination of NT-proBNP levels may be helpful in identification of patients with PE and GH and in their qualification for intensive treatment; this in turn, may be reflected by better neonatal outcomes.

Programming of maternal and offspring disease: impact of growth restriction, fetal sex and transmission across generations

Babies born small are at an increased risk of developing myriad adult diseases. While growth restriction increases disease risk in all individuals, often a second hit is required to unmask 'programmed' impairments in physiology. Programmed disease outcomes are demonstrated more commonly in male offspring compared with females, with these sex-specific outcomes partly attributed to different placenta-regulated growth strategies of the male and female fetus. Pregnancy is known to be a major risk factor for unmasking a number of conditions and can be considered a 'second hit' for women who were born small. As such, female offspring often develop impairments of physiology for the first time during pregnancy that present as pregnancy complications. Numerous maternal stressors can further increase the risk of developing a maternal complication during pregnancy. Importantly, these maternal complications can have long-term consequences for both the mother after pregnancy and the developing fetus. Conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and hypertension as well as thyroid, liver and kidney diseases are all conditions that can complicate pregnancy and have long-term consequences for maternal and offspring health. Babies born to mothers who develop these conditions are often at a greater risk of developing disease in adulthood. This has implications as a mechanism for transmission of disease across generations. In this review, we discuss the evidence surrounding long-term intergenerational implications of being born small and/or experiencing stress during pregnancy on programming outcomes.

Animal Model of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Pathophysiological Resemblance to the Human Condition Induced by Multiple Factors (Nutritional, Pharmacological, and Stress) in Rats

This study attempts to develop an experimental gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) animal model in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were fed with high fat sucrose diet, impregnated, and induced with Streptozotocin and Nicotinamide on gestational day 0 (D0). Sleeping patterns of the rats were also manipulated to induce stress, a lifestyle factor that contributes to GDM. Rats were tested for glycemic parameters (glucose, C-peptide, and insulin), lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL), genes affecting insulin signaling (IRS-2, AKT-1, and PCK-1), glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), and antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GPX) on D6 and D21. GDM rats showed possible insulin resistance as evidenced by high expression of proinflammatory cytokines, PCK-1 and CRP. Furthermore, low levels of IRS-2 and AKT-1 genes and downregulation of GLUT-4 from the initial to final phases indicate possible defect of insulin signaling. GDM rats also showed an impairment of antioxidant status and a hyperlipidemic state. Additionally, GDM rats exhibited significantly higher body weight and blood glucose and lower plasma insulin level and C-peptide than control. Based on the findings outlined, the current GDM animal model closely replicates the disease state in human and can serve as a reference for future investigations.

Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy and Daughters' Preeclampsia Risk

Background

An obstetrical paradox is that maternal smoking is protective for the development of preeclampsia. However, there are no prior studies investigating the risk of preeclampsia in women who were exposed to tobacco smoking during their own fetal period. We aimed to study the subsequent risk of preeclampsia in women who were exposed to tobacco smoke in utero, using a national population-based register.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Medical Birth Register of Sweden for women who were born in 1982 (smoking data first recorded) or after, who had given birth to at least one child; 153 885 pregnancies were included.

Results

The associations between intrauterine smoking exposure (three categories: non-smokers, 1–9 cigarettes/day [moderate exposure], and >9 cigarettes/day [heavy exposure]) and subsequent preeclampsia (n = 5721) were assessed using logistic regressions. In models adjusted for maternal age, parity and own smoking, the odds ratios (OR) for preeclampsia were 1.06 [95% CI: 0.99,1.13 for moderate intrauterine exposure, and 1.18, [95% CI: 1.10,1.27] for heavy exposure. Estimates were slightly strengthened in non-smoking women who experienced heavy intrauterine exposure (adjusted OR 1.24 [95% CI: 1.14,1.34]). Results were no longer statistically significant after adjustment for the woman’s own BMI, gestational age and birthweight Z-scores.

Conclusion

These data revealed some evidence of a possible weak positive association between intrauterine smoking exposure and the risk of subsequent preeclampsia, however, results were not significant over all manifestations of preeclampsia and confounder adjustment. The increased risk might be mediated through exposed women’s own BMI or birthweight.

The potential perinatal origin of placentation disorders in the young primigravida

The fetus is exposed to high plasma concentrations of unbound estrogens and progesterone throughout pregnancy. However, secretory or decidual changes in the fetal uterus occur relatively infrequently before birth, suggesting a variable endometrial progesterone response at the time of birth. Arguably, partial progesterone resistance that persists into adolescent years may compromise the physiological transformation of the spiral arteries and predispose for defective placentation in the case of pregnancy. Decidualization of the endometrial stromal compartment and junctional zone myometrium precedes trophoblast invasion. It represents the first step in the process of spiral artery remodeling needed to establish effective uteroplacental blood flow by midpregnancy. The major obstetric syndromes caused by impaired placental bed spiral artery remodeling are prevalent in teenage pregnancies, including preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and spontaneous preterm labor. Preconditioning of the uterus in response to cyclic menstruation during adolescence may be critical to achieve full uterine responsiveness to hormonal cues. Understanding the mechanisms of functional maturation of the uterus during the early reproductive years may yield novel insights into the major obstetric syndromes.

Prematurity, smallness-for-gestational age and later hospital admissions: a nation-wide registry study

INTRODUCTION

Being born premature or small for gestational age (SGA) is known to be associated with diseases later in life, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia. In this study we examined the association between being born premature or SGA and all diseases diagnosed during hospital admissions later in life.

METHODS

Using Danish nation-wide registries we created a cohort of 1,348,106 persons born 1974-1996 and assessed all unique diagnoses registered in the Danish Patient Registry (DPR) for hospital admissions in the period 1994-2007 (n=27,910,558). We determined the odds ratios for persons born premature or SGA using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 15,059 unique ICD-10 diagnosis codes were represented in the period. Only diagnoses used at least 100 times were included in the analysis (n=4175). Of these 838 showed an odds ratio that was statistically significantly different from unity for people born premature or SGA. After correcting for multiple testing, 250 remained significant. The diagnoses covered diseases in most organ systems, including cardiovascular, endocrinological, infectious, neurological/neurosurgical, obstetric, orthopedic, psychiatric, lung & urological diseases, and occurred throughout childhood and early adulthood. Novel findings included increased risks for delayed puberty, neurofibromatosis type 1 and ileus and decreased risks of mononucleosis, peritonsillar abscesses, chronic hypothyroidism and several types of fractures and contusions later in life.

CONCLUSION

Being born premature or SGA was associated with significantly altered risks of being admitted to a hospital with a wide range of diseases later in life, affecting almost all organ systems throughout childhood and early adulthood. Our findings may motivate testing in other cohorts and search for novel mechanisms of pathogenesis.

Gestational weight gain and perinatal outcomes of subgroups of Asian-American women, Texas, 2009

BACKGROUND

Asian-American subgroups are heterogeneous, but few studies had addressed differences on gestational weight gain (GWG) and perinatal outcomes related to GWG among this growing and diverse population. The purposes of this study were to examine whether Asian-American women are at higher risk of inadequate or excessive GWG and adverse perinatal outcomes than non-Hispanic White (NH-White) women, and to compare those risks among Asian-American subgroups.

METHODS

This retrospective study included all singleton births to NH-Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnam, and NH-White women documented in 2009 Texas birth certificate data (N = 150,674). Data were analyzed using the χ(2) test, t test, multinomial logistic regression, and binary logistic regression. Chinese women were the reference group in the comparisons among Asian subgroups.

FINDINGS

Asian women had a higher risk of inadequate GWG and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than NH-White women. No difference in the odds of excessive GWG was found among Asian subgroups, although Japanese women had the highest risk of inadequate GWG. After adjusting for confounders, Korean women had the lowest risk of GDM (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.49), whereas Filipino women and Asian Indian had the highest risks of gestational hypertension (AOR, 2.01 and 1.61), cesarean birth (AOR, 1.44 and 1.39), and low birth weight (AOR, 1.94 and 2.51) compared with Chinese women.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the heterogeneity of GWG and perinatal outcomes among Asian-American subgroups. The risks of adverse perinatal outcomes should be carefully evaluated separately among Asian-American subpopulations.

Maternal diabetes, gestational diabetes and the role of epigenetics in their long term effects on offspring

There is a global epidemic of obesity and diabetes, and current efforts to curb the diabetes epidemic have had limited success. Epidemiological studies have highlighted increased risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular complications in offspring exposed to maternal diabetes, and gestational diabetes increases the risk of diabetes in subsequent generations, thereby setting up a vicious cycle of "diabetes begetting diabetes". This relationship between maternal hyperglycaemia and long-term health in the offspring is likely to become even more important with an increasing proportion of young woman being affected by diabetes, and the number of pregnancies complicated by hyperglycaemia continuing to rise. Animal models of gestational diabetes or maternal hyperglycaemia have highlighted long-term changes in the offspring with some instances of sex bias, including increased adiposity, insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, hypertension, as well as other structural and functional changes. Furthermore, several of these changes appear to be transmissible to later generations through the maternal line. Epigenetic changes play an important role in regulating gene expression, especially during early development. Recent studies have identified a number of epigenetic modifications in the offspring associated with maternal hyperglycaemia. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiological evidence linking maternal hyperglycaemia with adverse long-term outcome in the offspring, as well as of some of the studies that explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms. A better understanding of the pathways involved may provide novel approaches for combating this global epidemic.

Genetic, nongenetic and epigenetic risk determinants in developmental programming of type 2 diabetes

Low birthweight (LBW) individuals and offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exhibit increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated cardiometabolic traits in adulthood, which for both groups may be mediated by adverse events and developmental changes in fetal life. T2D is a multifactorial disease occurring as a result of complicated interplay between genetic and both prenatal and postnatal nongenetic factors, and it remains unknown to what extent the increased risk of T2D associated with LBW or GDM in the mother may be due to, or confounded by, genetic factors. Indeed, it has been shown that genetic changes influencing risk of diabetes may also be associated with reduced fetal growth as a result of reduced insulin secretion and/or action. Similarly, increased risk of T2D among offspring could be explained by T2D susceptibility genes shared between the mother and her offspring. Epigenetic mechanisms may explain the link between factors operating in fetal life and later risk of developing T2D, but so far convincing evidence is lacking for epigenetic changes as a prime and direct cause of T2D. This review addresses recent literature on the early origins of adult disease hypothesis, with a special emphasis on the role of genetic compared with nongenetic and epigenetic risk determinants and disease mechanisms.

The relation of a woman’s impaired in utero growth and association of diabetes during pregnancy

Small for gestational age (weight for gestational age <10th percentile, SGA) birth status and adulthood susceptibility to diabetes is well established, but the relationship to diabetes during pregnancy is incompletely understood. The authors investigated the association between women's impaired fetal growth (as measured by SGA status) and diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy. Stratified and multivariable binomial regression analyses were performed on the Illinois transgenerational dataset. Former SGA (n = 13,934) mothers had a greater prevalence of DM during pregnancy than former appropriate for gestational age (AGA) mothers (n = 116,683): 2.7 versus 1.9 %, relative prevalence (RP) equaled 1.4 [95 % confidence interval (CI)1.3, 1.6]. In a multivariable binomial regression model, the adjusted RP (95 %CI) (controlling for maternal age, education, parity, plurality, marital status, and race/ethnicity) for DM during pregnancy for former SGA (compared to AGA) mothers equaled 1.5 (1.3, 1.6). When stratified by race/ethnicity, the adjusted RP (95 % CI) of DM during pregnancy for former SGA (compared to AGA), non-Latina White, African-American, and Mexican-American mothers was 1.4 (1.3, 1.6), 1.6 (1.2, 2.1), and 2.3 (1.1, 4.7), respectively. The authors conclude that impaired fetal growth (as measured by SGA status) is a risk factor for DM during pregnancy among the leading racial/ethnic groups in the United States.