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Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004;103:240-244
© 2004 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Diabetic Pregnancy Associated With Increased Epidermal Growth Factor in Cord Serum at Term

Mikko Loukovaara, MD, Pekka Leinonen, MD, Kari Teramo, MD, Sture Andersson, MD, Henrik Alfthan, PhD and Ulf-Håkan Stenman, MD

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital; and Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Address reprint requests to: Mikko Loukovaara, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 2, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; e-mail: mikko.loukovaara{at}hus.fi.

OBJECTIVE: Epidermal growth factor is a ubiquitous mitogen that also possesses insulin-like properties. Fetal mal-growth is associated with altered epidermal growth factor levels. Maternal diabetes is frequently complicated by macrosomia, but the effect of maternal diabetes on fetal epidermal growth factor levels is not known. We studied cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations in pregnancies complicated by diabetes and in normal pregnancies.

METHODS: Cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations were measured at birth by a sandwich-type time-resolved immunofluorometric assay in 63 pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, in 25 pregnancies complicated by insulin-treated gestational diabetes, and in 56 normal pregnancies.

RESULTS: Cord serum epidermal growth factor correlated positively with the duration of pregnancy in diabetic and normal pregnancies. In a subgroup of women at similar gestational ages (38–39 weeks), cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations were higher in pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (962 ± 211 ng/L, P = .047; n = 9) and in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (1133 ± 115 ng/L, P = .001; n = 9) than in controls (564 ± 75 ng/L; n = 22). In multiple regression analysis, only umbilical artery hemoglobin in diabetic pregnancies and vaginal delivery in normal pregnancies were associated with cord serum epidermal growth factor.

CONCLUSION: Epidermal growth factor concentrations are higher than normal in fetuses of diabetic mothers at term. Pregnancy complications, such as hypertensive disorders, fetal hypoxia and fetal malgrowth, may not explain the rise in epidermal growth factor levels. We hypothesize that the rise in epidermal growth factor levels is a metabolic response of the fetoplacental unit to diabetes-related hyperglycemia.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III






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