Gynaecology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Gynaecology, including details on pap smears, laparoscopy, ultrasound, hysteroscopy.

Pre-eclampsia but not pregnancy-induced hypertension is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic women.

Gordin D, Hiilesmaa V, Fagerudd J, Rönnback M, Forsblom C, Kaaja R, Teramo K, Groop PH,

Folkhälsan Research Center, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, POB 63, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to study whether pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-induced hypertension are predictors of diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 203 type 1 diabetic women, who were pregnant between 1988 and 1996 and followed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Helsinki, were re-assessed after an average of 11 years within the nationwide, multi-centre Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study. Diabetic nephropathy was defined as microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria or end-stage renal disease. RESULTS: Patients with prior pre-eclampsia had diabetic nephropathy more often than patients with a normotensive pregnancy (diabetic nephropathy vs normal albumin excretion rate: 41.9% vs 8.9%; p<0.001), whereas patients with a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension did not (10.3% vs 8.9%; p=0.81). CHD was more prevalent in patients with a history of pre-eclampsia than in patients with a normotensive pregnancy (12.2% vs. 2.2%; p=0.03). Pre-eclampsia (odds ratio [OR] 7.7, 95% CI 1.6-36.1; p=0.01) and HbA(1c) (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.8; p<0.05) were associated with incident diabetic nephropathy even when adjusted for follow-up time, BMI, smoking, diabetes duration and age. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These data suggest that a history of pre-eclamptic pregnancy but not pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with an elevated risk of diabetic nephropathy.

Published 6 February 2007 in Diabetologia, 50(3): 516-22.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Gynaecology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.