Neurodevelopmental outcome at early school age of children born to motherswith gestational diabetes

Aims-To study the metabolic derangements in the second half of pregnancy ca used by gestational diabetes, on the long term development of children. Methods-The neuropsychological function of 32 school age children born to 3 2 mothers with well controlled gestational diabetes and 57 control children matched by age, birth order, and parental socioeconomicc status was studie d. Results-There were no differences in head circumference and height, but the children born to diabetic mothers were heavier. The verbal IQ scores of in dex children below the age of 9 years were lower than those of control chil dren. No differences were found bet cr een the groups in various sensory an d motor functions and in the Touwen and Prechtl neurological test. The youn g index group children performed less well than controls in fine and gross motor functions, as observed on the Bruininks-Oseretzky test of motor profi ciency The scores of young children born to mothers with gestational diabet es were also lower than controls on the Pollack tapper test, and there were more index group children who scored abnormally on the parents' Conners qu estionnaire. No correlation was found between the performance of the index group children on various neurodevelopmental tests and the severity of peri natal complications. The differences tended to disappear with age. Conclusions-Gestational diabetes, as a result of the metabolic abnormalitie s in the second half of pregnancy, induces long term minor neurological def icits which are more pronounced in younger children. There does not seem to be any direct relation between the appearance of congenital anomalies and neurodevelopmental outcome.