MACROSOMIC INFANTS OF NONDIABETIC MOTHERS AND ELEVATED C-PEPTIDE LEVELS IN CORD-BLOOD

C-peptide concentrations in the cord blood of 29 macrosomic neonates b orn of nondiabetic mothers were higher than in 23 control infants whos e birth weight was appropriate for gestational age, and there was a si gnificant direct correlation between birth weight and C-peptide concen tration. Six of the macrosomic infants studied (20%) had hypoglycemic! in the first 24 hours of life, compared with none of the infants born with appropriate weight, We conclude that chronic fetal hyperinsuline mia may be one of the causes of macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia i n infants of nondiabetic mothers.