Exploration of the Clinico-Biochemical Parameters to Explain the Altered Renal Mechanisms in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

• Main Authors: Nagalakshmi C.S., Devaki R.N., Akila P, Suma K.B., Prashant V., Suma M.N., Parveen D., Sujatha P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2012-05-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: gestational diabetes mellitus; serum creatinine; uric acid; albumin; maternal age; gravidity; bmi; blood pressure; foetal birth weight; complications
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/1987/3812_E(C)_F(T)_PF(V)_PFA(A)_P(_).pdf

Context: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic abnormality which affects ~2-5% of the pregnancies annually. Various risk factors such as advanced maternal age, previous infants with macrosomia, a strong family history of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or GDM, poor glycaemic control and a high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) have been implicated for the development of GDM. Aims: To compare the serum creatinine, uric acid and the albumin levels in patients with GDM and in normal pregnant women and to see if there existed any correlation between these biochemical markers and certain clinical parameters in the study groups. Settings and Design: Hospital based prospective study. Methods and Material: The study group consisted of 40 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and 40 normal healthy pregnant women who served as the controls. We evaluated the biochemical and the metabolic alterations in these women by measuring their serum creatinine, uric acid and albumin levels. We also concentrated on the maternal complications and the perinatal outcomes. Statistical analysis used: The independent samples t-test and the Pearson’s correlation test. Results: There was a significant increase in the serum creatinine and the uric acid levels and a significant decrease in the serum albumin levels in the GDM patients. The incidence of GDM in the studied groups was influenced by factors such as maternal age, gravidity, pre-pregnancy BMI and blood pressure. We observed quite a number of complications such as pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, hyperbilirubinaemia, RDS, etc. in the GDM women and their foetuses. Conclusions: The estimation of serum creatinine, uric acid and albumin can help us in predicting the metabolic alterations which occur in the GDM patients and their foetuses. Further, it is quite essential to identify and manage the complications which are associated with GDM and to prevent its recurrence by considering the modifiable risk factors, since such women would in all probability be prone for GDM in their future pregnancies.