Metabolomic Profiles of Nonobese and Obese Women With Gestational Diabetes

CONTEXT

In non-pregnant population, nonobese individuals with obesity-related metabolome have increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The risk of these diseases is also increased after gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to examine whether nonobese (body mass index [BMI] < 30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and obese non-GDM women differ in metabolomic profiles from nonobese non-GDM controls.

METHODS

Levels of 66 metabolic measures were assessed in early (median 13, IQR 12.4-13.7 gestation weeks), and across early, mid (20, 19.3-23.0), and late (28, 27.0-35.0) pregnancy blood samples in 755 pregnant women from the PREDO and RADIEL studies. The independent replication cohort comprised 490 pregnant women.

RESULTS

Nonobese and obese GDM, and obese non-GDM women differed similarly from the controls across early, mid, and late pregnancy in 13 measures, including very low-density lipoprotein-related measures, and fatty acids. In 6 measures, including fatty acid (FA) ratios, glycolysis-related measures, valine, and 3-hydroxybutyrate, the differences between obese GDM women and controls were more pronounced than the differences between nonobese GDM or obese non-GDM women and controls. In 16 measures, including HDL-related measures, FA ratios, amino acids, and inflammation, differences between obese GDM or obese non-GDM women and controls were more pronounced than the differences between nonobese GDM women and controls. Most differences were evident in early pregnancy, and in the replication cohort were more often in the same direction than would be expected by chance alone.

CONCLUSION

Differences between nonobese and obese GDM, or obese non-GDM women and controls in metabolomic profiles may allow detection of high-risk women for timely targeted preventive interventions.

Longitudinal Metabolic Profiling of Maternal Obesity, Gestational Diabetes, and Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorders

CONTEXT

Comprehensive assessment of metabolism in maternal obesity and pregnancy disorders can provide information about the shared maternal-fetal milieu and give insight into both maternal long-term health and intergenerational transmission of disease burden.

OBJECTIVE

To assess levels, profiles, and change in the levels of metabolic measures during pregnancies complicated by obesity, gestational diabetes (GDM), or hypertensive disorders.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A secondary analysis of 2 study cohorts, PREDO and RADIEL, including 741 pregnant women.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We assessed 225 metabolic measures by nuclear magnetic resonance in blood samples collected at median 13 [interquartile range (IQR) 12.4-13.7], 20 (IQR 19.3-23.0), and 28 (27.0-35.0) weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

Across all 3 time points women with obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30kg/m2] in comparison to normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.99 kg/m2) had significantly higher levels of most very-low-density lipoprotein-related measures, many fatty and most amino acids, and more adverse metabolic profiles. The change in the levels of most metabolic measures during pregnancy was smaller in obese than in normal weight women. GDM, preeclampsia, and chronic hypertension were associated with metabolic alterations similar to obesity. The associations of obesity held after adjustment for GDM and hypertensive disorders, but many of the associations with GDM and hypertensive disorders were rendered nonsignificant after adjustment for BMI and the other pregnancy disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the pregnancy-related metabolic change is smaller in women with obesity, who display metabolic perturbations already in early pregnancy. Metabolic alterations of obesity and pregnancy disorders resembled each other suggesting a shared metabolic origin.

The risk of complications in second pregnancy by maternal BMI: The role of first-pregnancy complications, pregestational diabetes and chronic hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of several pregnancy complications. In the second pregnancy, previous pregnancy and other medical history provide additional information about individual morbidity risk. In this study, we assess the risk of pregnancy complications in the second pregnancy by maternal body mass index (BMI) and evaluate how first-pregnancy complications and preexisting conditions modify these associations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have used nationwide data on all women (n = 48 963) experiencing their first and second pregnancy between 2006 and 2013 in Finland. The associations between the full scale of maternal BMI and pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) were analyzed using logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression models and interactions between BMI and first-pregnancy complications, pregestational diabetes or chronic hypertension were tested.

RESULTS

The risk of pregnancy complications increased with adiposity. Unadjusted probability of second-pregnancy gestational diabetes with BMI of 25 kg/m² was 56% and 8.4% among women with and without first-pregnancy gestational diabetes, respectively. The corresponding figures with BMI of 30 kg/m² were 64% and 17%. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) for second-pregnancy gestational diabetes with BMI of 25 kg/m² was 45 (34-59) and 3.3 (2.6-4.0) among women with and without first-pregnancy gestational diabetes, respectively, when compared with women with BMI of 20 kg/m² and no first-pregnancy gestational diabetes. Adjusted OR (95% CI) for second-pregnancy gestational hypertension among women with BMI of 25 kg/m² was 42 (26-66) and 2.3 (1.4-3.8) among women with and without first-pregnancy hypertensive disorder, respectively, when compared with women with BMI of 20 kg/m² and no first-pregnancy hypertensive disorder. The risk of preeclampsia increased with adiposity independent of first-pregnancy complications. Pregestational diabetes or chronic hypertension did not modify the association between adiposity and any of the second-pregnancy complications.

CONCLUSIONS

As maternal BMI increases, the risk of complications increases in the second pregnancy. The risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension is, however, highest among women with complications in the first pregnancy.

Adrenal infarction in a healthy pregnant woman

Adrenal infarction is a very rare event but occasionally seen in hypercoagulable states. We present a case of a 31-year-old woman at 38 weeks of gestation who developed a severe upper abdominal pain and unilateral adrenal infarction due to thrombosis of the adrenal vein. The only thrombogenic factor found was pregnancy. The case highlights that adrenal infarction may complicate a normal pregnancy and should be included in the differential diagnosis of the acute abdomen in pregnancy.