Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
04:36
Noninvasive Electrocardiography in the Perinatal Mouse
Published on: June 12, 2020
Intrapartum fetal ECG and diabetes
Branka M Yli1, Karin Källén, Babill Stray-Pedersen
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Rikshospitalet-Radiumhospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway. b.m.yli@medisin.uio.no
Summary
Fetuses of mothers with diabetes mellitus showed significantly more ST depression on fetal ECG during labor. This suggests an altered myocardial response rather than hypoxia, requiring further investigation into fetal compromise mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and gestational diabetes are common conditions affecting pregnancy.
- Fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) monitoring can detect fetal distress during labor.
- ST-segment changes on FECG are indicators of potential fetal cardiac compromise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and types of ST-segment changes on the fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) during labor.
- To compare FECG ST-segment changes in fetuses of mothers with diabetes mellitus (DM) versus controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-control study utilizing data from two multi-center trials (Swedish Randomized Control Trial and EU-STAN trial).
- Analysis of ST-segment changes on FECG in 104 cases (mothers with DM) and 207 controls.
- Statistical adjustment for trial, birth weight, and nulliparity.
Main Results:
- ST depression was significantly more prevalent in fetuses of mothers with DM (22.1%) compared to controls (12%) (OR = 2.6, p = 0.002).
- ST elevation prevalence was similar between groups (47.1% in DM vs. 41.2% in controls, OR = 1.4, p = 0.18).
Conclusions:
- ST depression on FECG is more common in fetuses of mothers with DM during labor.
- This finding may reflect an altered myocardial response to labor stress, not necessarily hypoxia.
- Further research is needed to understand fetal compromise mechanisms in diabetic pregnancies.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
01:14Fetal Circulation
Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
01:22Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
01:26Diabetes Mellitus: Introduction
Diabetes mellitus consists of chronic metabolic disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. This elevated blood glucose results from defects in insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or both. Insulin, produced by pancreatic β-cells, is essential for maintaining glucose homeostasis by facilitating cellular glucose uptake for energy or storage. Disruptions in insulin production or function lead to glucose accumulation in the bloodstream, causing the clinical features and long-term...
01:29Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a critical diagnostic tool that records the electrical signals produced by the heart during each heartbeat. This recording is achieved through electrodes placed strategically on the arms, legs, and chest. The electrocardiograph amplifies these signals and produces 12 distinct tracings, offering a comprehensive understanding of the heart's electrical activity.
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...