Fetal adrenal gland size in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background The aim of this study was to compare the adrenal gland size of fetuses of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with that of healthy control fetuses. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included measurements of the adrenal gland size of 62 GDM fetuses (GDM group) and 370 normal controls (control group) between the 19th and 41st week of gestation. A standardized transversal plane was used to measure the total width and the medulla width. The cortex width and an adrenal gland ratio (total width/medulla width) were calculated from these data. Adrenal gland size measurements were adjusted to the week of gestation and compared between the two groups in a multivariable linear regression analysis. A variance decomposition metric was used to compare the relative importance of predictors of the different adrenal gland size measurements. Results For all the investigated parameters of the adrenal gland size, increased values were found in the case of GDM (P < 0.05), while adjusting for the week of gestation. GDM seems to have a greater impact on the size of the cortex than on the size of the medulla. Conclusion The fetal adrenal gland is enlarged in pregnancy complicated by GDM. The width of the cortex seems to be particularly affected.