Evaluation the effect of 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate on gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women at risk for preterm birth

The Role of HIV Infection in the Pathophysiology of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Purpose of the Review: The main objective of this study is to investigate mechanisms associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in HIV infected pregnant women by looking how placental hormones such as (progesterone and prolactin) and basic haemostatic parameters are regulated in HIV infected pregnancies.

Recent Findings: HIV/AIDS are a major global obstetric health burden that lead to increased rate of morbidity and mortality. HIV/AIDS has been associated with the pathophysiology of GDM and HDP. Increased risk of GDM due to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) usage has been reported in HIV infected pregnancies, which causes insulin resistance in both pregnant and non-pregnant individuals. HAART is a medication used for lowering maternal antepartum viral load and pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis of the infant. In pregnant women, HAART induces diabetogenic effect by causing dysregulation of placental hormones such as (progesterone and prolactin) and predispose HIV infected women to GDM. In addition to HIV/AIDS and GDM, Studies have indicated that HIV infection causes haemostatic abnormalities such as hematological disorder, deregulated haematopoiesis process and the coagulation process which results in HDP.

Summary: This study will help on improving therapeutic management and understanding of the pathophysiology of GDM and HDP in the absence as well as in the presence of HIV infection by reviewing studies reporting on these mechanism.

Is vaginal progesterone treatment associated with the development of gestational diabetes? A retrospective case-control study

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women who received vaginal progesterone due to short cervical length or to prevent recurrent preterm birth.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we included 190 women with singleton pregnancies at risk for preterm birth who received vaginal natural progesterone (200 mg daily between gestational weeks 16 + 0 and 36 + 0) for a minimum of 4 weeks and delivered > 28 weeks. The control group consisted of 242 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched patients without progesterone administration. Data were acquired from a database containing prospectively collected information. Patients with pre-existing diabetes, and conception after in vitro fertilisation procedure were excluded.

RESULTS

The incidence of GDM did not differ significantly between the progesterone-treated and the control group (14.7% vs. 16.9%, respectively; p = 0.597). In a binary regression model, patients with higher pre-pregnancy BMI (OR 1.1; p = 0.006), and those with a family history of diabetes had a higher risk for GDM development (OR 1.8; p = 0.040), whereas vaginal progesterone treatment had no significant influence (p = 0.580).

CONCLUSION

The use of vaginal progesterone for the prevention of recurrent preterm delivery and in women with a short cervix does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of GDM.