Decreased fetal thymus size at 24 weeks gestation by ultrasound measurement in gestational diabetes mellitus fetal thymus examination for diabetes

• Published in: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 1348 - 1354
• Main Authors: Karaşin, Süleyman Serkan, Akselim, Burak, Tosun, Öznur, Karaşin, Zeynep T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kyoto, Japan John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01-06-2022
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; Diabetes, Gestational - diagnostic imaging; Female; fetal ultrasonography; Fetus; Gestational Age; gestational diabetes; Humans; Pregnancy; prenatal diagnosis; thymus; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; fetal ultrasonography; thymus; prenatal diagnosis; gestational diabetes
• ISSN: 1341-8076; 1447-0756
• DOI: 10.1111/jog.15229

Aim
This study aimed to evaluate the difference in fetal thymus diameter, which we measured ultrasonographically, between the healthy pregnant group and the pregnant group with gestational diabetes.
Method
Fetal thymus and thymus/thorax ratio parameters were assessed in this case–control study. Patients were examined in two groups. They included 49 diabetics (study group) women and 71 nondiabetic (control group). We performed a binary logistic regression analysis to determine the predictive value of ultrasonographic measurements. We completed the receiver curve characteristic analysis to evaluate the cut‐off thymus diameter.
Results
The median age of pregnant women was 27. Thymus diameter and thymus‐thorax ratio were smaller in fetuses of diabetic mothers than in the nondiabetic group (p <0.05). Thymus diameter was found to be more predictive of gestational diabetes prediction (p: 0.019). There was no correlation between fasting blood glucose and thymus diameter.
Conclusion
Decreased fetal thymus anterior–posterior diameter seems to be associated with diabetic pregnancy.