Fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the fetus of a woman with diabetes

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 98; no. 5; pp. 925 - 927
• Main Authors: Sardesai, Maya G., Gray, Aileen A., McGrath, Michael M.J., Ford, Sally E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-11-2001; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic - diagnosis; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic - etiology; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Fetal Death - etiology; Fetal Diseases - diagnosis; Fetal Diseases - etiology; Fetal Macrosomia; Fetal Monitoring; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Endocrinopathy; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Diabetes mellitus; Cardiovascular disease; Myocardial disease; Macrosomia; Case study; Pregnancy; Fetal diseases; Hydrops fetalis; Malformation; Heart disease; Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; Adult; Complication; Female; Fetus; Death
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0029-7844(01)01455-7

BACKGROUND:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is recognized in infants of diabetic mothers, and when it occurs it is generally benign and transient. We describe a case of fetal cardiac death caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an infant of a diabetic mother.
CASE:
Hydrops fetalis caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy resulted in the death of a macrosomic male fetus of a young woman who had well-controlled diabetes mellitus and was treated with insulin therapy during pregnancy.
CONCLUSION:
It is important to monitor fetal heart function in macrosomic infants of diabetic mothers. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy might explain otherwise unexplained fetal deaths in women with diabetes.