Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Influence of pregnancy on long-term progression of retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Chankramath Arun, Professor Roy Taylor

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: Pregnancy in type 1 diabetic women is associated with risk of worsening of retinopathy. It has been reported that deterioration continues in the months after delivery, but direct data are lacking. It is also unclear what impact pregnancy has on the long-term progression of retinopathy. Methods: We studied 59 women with type 1 diabetes who had retinal photographs before pregnancy and yearly for 5 years post pregnancy. These photographs were graded using the EURODIAB retinopathy grading system. Results: The mean duration of diabetes was 14.4±8.2 years and mean age at pregnancy was 29.8±5.5 years. Mean HbA1c was 8.2±2.0% before pregnancy with tighter control during pregnancy itself. This value was high despite efforts to improve take-up of pre-conception care. Mean HbA1c was 8.6±1.5 during the follow-up period. At baseline, 43 (72.9%) women were free of retinopathy, 15 had non-proliferative retinopathy and one woman had previously had laser therapy. During pregnancy four women required laser therapy. Over the next 5 years none required laser therapy, although retinopathy worsened in 14 women. Ten-year follow-up data were available on 22 women, one of whom required laser therapy 8 years after pregnancy. Baseline retinopathy status was the only independent risk factor which predicted progression of retinopathy. Conclusions/interpretation: Pregnancy is not associated with post-partum worsening of retinopathy. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Arun CS, Taylor R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Diabetologia

Year: 2008

Volume: 51

Issue: 6

Pages: 1041-1045

ISSN (print): 0012-186X

ISSN (electronic): 1432-0428

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00125-008-0994-z

DOI: 10.1007/s00125-008-0994-z

PubMed id: 18392803


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share