Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of pregnancy on deterioration of retinopathy in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sixty-five pregnant Type 1 diabetic women attending the University Hospital in Lund were studied retrospectively. The degree of retinopathy, and levels of HbA1c and blood pressure 12 months before, during, and 6 months after pregnancy were compared of those of 56 non-pregnant Type 1 diabetic women matched for age and duration of diabetes. For all patients, sight-threatening deterioration of retinopathy did not differ between the pregnancy group (9/65) and the control group (6/56). Over time, pregnant patients had lower HbA1c levels than controls (p < 0.001). Pregnant patients with sight-threatening deterioration of retinopathy had higher HbA1c levels than those without (p = 0.028 and the decrement in HbA1c between the 6-14th and the 20th week of gestation was more pronounced (p = 0.006). In those patients who developed pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, deterioration of retinopathy ocurred more frequently compared to those without pre-eclampsia (4/8 vs 5/65; p = 0.005). In conclusion, sight-threatening deterioration of retinopathy was not more common during pregnancy in IDDM patients than among age- and duration-matched control patients. In pregnant patients, deterioration of retinopathy was associated with the pregestational degree of metabolic control as well as with a rapidly improved glycaemic control acheived during pregnancy. Among those in whom deterioration occurred during pregnancy, pre-eclampsia was a potent risk factor.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1059-1065 |
Journal | Diabetic Medicine |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Bibliographical note
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.The record was previously connected to the following departments: Ophthalmology (Lund) (013043000), Unit on Vascular Diabetic Complications (013241510), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Lund) (013018000)
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Endocrinology and Diabetes
Free keywords
- pre-eclampsia
- pregnancy
- retinopathy
- type 1 diabetes