ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF GENERAL MOVEMENTS IN FETUSES AND INFANTSOF WOMEN WITH TYPE-I DIABETES-MELLITUS

The effect of type-I diabetes on the quality of general movements (GMs ) was studied longitudinally in 12 human fetuses. GMs were analysed at two-weekly intervals from 16 weeks until delivery. A pregnancy optima lity-score and a diabetes optimality-score were used to cover the cour se of the pregnancy and delivery and the severity of diabetes. GMs of infants were analysed 1, 4-6, and 12-18 weeks after birth and the Bayl ey developmental test was performed at 10 months. All fetuses showed n ormal GMs at 16 weeks. From 20 weeks onwards until delivery five fetus es developed abnormal GMs. The diabetes optimality-score was significa ntly lower in the group with abnormal GMs (P = 0.018) whereas the preg nancy optimality-score did not differ between fetuses with normal and abnormal GMs. Our results indicate that type-I diabetes can have a neg ative impact on prenatally observed GMs. Consistently normal GMs indic ate normal neurodevelopmental outcome at 10 months whereas in the grou p with abnormal GMs reduced Bayley-scores may occur. (C) 1997 Publishe d by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.