Research Abstract
Abstract Purpose: To determine the possible causes for IUFD and to investigate for the pattern
of glucose intolerance as a cause of unexplained IUFD among pregnant women.
Methods: For one year, 420 pregnant women with IUFD at or after the 28th week of pregnancy
and another 200 women carrying normal looking fetuses were recruited as a control group.
Random venous samples and HbA1c were tested to assess the glucose control in the studied
women.
Results: Of the studied women, 68.09% had unexplained cause for their IUFD. Other causes for
IUFD included Hypertensive disease with pregnancy (6.9%), accidental hemorrhage (5.5%), and
small for gestational age (11.4%). Overt DM was diagnosed at 1.7%. Women who had unexplained
IUFD showed higher HbA1c and Random Blood Sugar (RBS) than control group. 18% of women
carrying unexplained IUFD and had normal RBS showed abnormally high HbA1c level.
Conclusions: Unexplained IUFD represented the major category of IUFD (68.09%). Laboratory
indices of diabetes mellitus are more prevalent in this category of patients. Accordingly, screening
for diabetes is recommended for these women. However, the use of RBS alone is not sufficient
to exclude poor metabolic control. HbA1c may be a better alternative
Research Journal
Middle East Fertility Society Journal
Research Rank
1
Research Year
2015
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