LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY ON DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS

The aim of our study was to establish whether pregnancy affects long-t erm development and progression of retinopathy and nephropathy in diab etic women compared to nulliparous diabetic women. Twenty-eight diabet ic women who had delivered in 1983-85 at Helsinki University Central H ospital and 17 nulliparous controls matched according to age, duration of diabetes, and degree of vascular complications were personally int erviewed and the current retinal status and renal function were assess ed 7 years later, in 1990-92. Serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, nocturnal albuminuria, and HbA(1c) were measured and colour fundus pho tography carried out. The results were compared to the status in 1983- 85. Of those who had been pregnant, 5 of 26 (19.2 %) had experienced w orsening of retinopathy. In 3 of these, proliferative retinopathy had developed from only minimal background changes. In the control group, progression had occurred in 8 cases of 16 (50 %, p < 0.05). The groups did not differ from each other regarding progression or development o f nephropathy. This suggests that pregnancy does not seem to affect de velopment or progression of diabetic nephropathy whereas progression o f retinopathy seems to occur less often after pregnancy compared to nu lliparous women.