Evaluation of fetal cardiac function in pregnancies with well-controlled gestational diabetes

Objective To evaluate fetal ventricular diastolic function in pregnancies of women with gestational diabetes (GD), to determine whether minimal anomalies of glucose metabolism may influence fetal cardiac function. Study design Fetal ventricular filling time was measured by transabdominal ultrasound in singleton pregnancies between 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. We used a measurement which consists in the ratio between the diastolic time and the whole cardiac cycle time. Results The study included 35 women with a GD and 217 non-diabetic. Right ventricular filling time (RVFT) was significantly lower in the GD group (mean of RVFT = 39.2 +/- 4.4 vs 43.6 +/- 4.6; p < 0.01). Likewise, left ventricular filling time (LVFT) was shorter in the GD group compared to the non-GD group, though the difference was not significant (mean of LVFT = 43.6 +/- 4.6 vs 44.6 +/- 5.5; p = 0.33). Conclusions Fetal right cardiac function is altered also in pregnancies where gestational diabetes is well controlled.

Automated summary

This study found that fetal right ventricular filling time was significantly shorter in pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes, indicating that fetal right cardiac function may be affected even when the diabetes is well controlled. Left ventricular filling time was also shorter in the GD group, although the difference was not significant.