Maternal and perinatal outcomes in 143 Danish women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 143 controls with a similar risk profile

Aims To assess maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by ge stational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to non-diabetic pregnancies with an otherwise similar risk profile and to study the association between dif ferent anti-diabetic treatments and fetal outcomes. Methods The records of 143 consecutive GDM pregnancies and 143 nondiabetic controls matched on the basis of age, parity and pre-pregnancy body mass in dex (BMI) were studied. The GDM patients were treated with diet, tolbutamid e and insulin. Data were collected from medical records and birth records. Results Despite treatment, the GDM group had a statistically significant hi gher frequency of maternal hypertension (20% vs. 11%), induction of labour (61% vs. 24%), Caesarean section (33% vs. 21%), macrosomia (14% vs. 6%), ne onatal hypoglycaemia (24% vs. 0) and admission to a neonatal unit (46% vs. 12%). The risk of complications was similar in the different treatment grou ps. However, in the tolbutamide-treated group, one case of long-standing se vere hypoglycaemia in a premature neonate occurred. Conclusions Pregnancies complicated by GDM are associated with a higher fre quency of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The outcomes seem to be unaf fected by treatment modality. However, because of the potential risk of hyp oglycaemia in some neonates, tolbutamide treatment cannot be recommended in pregnancy.