Beta-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism among non-diabetic women with recurrent miscarriages

Subclinical beta-cell (β-cell) dysfunction is an endocrine abnormality and its association with recurrent miscarriages (RM) has not been extensively studied.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of β-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism [fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥ 5.1 mmol/L] among non-diabetic women with recurrent miscarriages and to establish if there was an association between RM and β-cell dysfunction and FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L.

This was a cross-sectional study involving 80 women with miscarriages at ≤ 13 weeks gestation and 80 women with normal pregnancies at ≤ 13 weeks of gestation with at least one successful live-birth and no history of miscarriage (comparison group). Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information. From each participant, FBG and fasting insulin were assayed. β-Cell function was computed. The data obtained was analysed using IBM-SPSS version 22.0.

A significantly higher prevalence of β-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism were observed among non-diabetic women with RM compared to age-matched controls (38.8% vs 10.0%, P < 0.001) and (27.5% vs 6.3%, P = 0.005) respectively. The mean β-cell function of the cases was 59.0% of the controls (264.41 ± 105.13 vs 447.82 ± 181.24, P < 0.001). Mean FBG was significantly higher in the case-group compared to the controls (4.77 ± 1.14 mmol/L vs 3.58 ± 0.78 mmol/L, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between RM and FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L and low β-cell function (P < 0.001).

This study suggests that women with recurrent miscarriages are more likely to have impaired β-cell function and abnormal glucose metabolism (FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L).