THE PATHOGENESIS OF DIABETES-ASSOCIATED CONGENITAL-MALFORMATIONS

Congenital malformation remains the major cause of morbidity and morta lity among the offspring of women with diabetes. Animal and human stud ies indicate that these anomalies occur very early in pregnancy and ar e the result of an abnormal metabolic milieu. The mechanism for induct ion of dysmorphogenesis in experimental diabetic pregnancy has been sh own to include generation of free oxygen radicals as well as alteratio ns in the embryonic levels of arachidonic acid, prostaglandins, and my o-inositol. This article reviews recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis and mechanisms of diabetic embryopathy.