Diabetic embryopathy

The teratogenicity of human pregestational maternal diabetes mellitus (DM), classes B-T, is beyond any doubt and leads to a spectrum of malformations known as diabetic embryopathy (DE). Gestational DM (classes A1 and A2) is not an established teratogen yet. This is linked to its late diagnosis, usually only after the 20th week, and to the incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of DE. Since class A-T DM affects approximately 5% of all pregnancies, intensive laboratory and clinical research continues to address the numerous aspects of DE. A review of this research during 1997 and 1998 is presented for the pediatrician in order to enhance the awareness of DE and its possible role in "idiopathic" malformations for children.