M Mode Assessment of Fetal Interventricular Septal Thickness in Third Trimester with Comparison Between Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Mothers

Abstract

Background: Babies born to diabetic mothers face increased risks of illness and death despite advances in prenatal care. One common heart defect in these babies is interventricular septal hypertrophy.

Objective: This study examines how gestational diabetes affects fetal interventricular septal thickness (IVST).

Material & Methods: The study took place at Sharda Hospital's Radiology Department over two months. Ninety pregnant women between 28 and 35 weeks of gestation were selected. The women were grouped based on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results into non-diabetic (Subgroup A), controlled diabetic (Subgroup B), and uncontrolled diabetic (Subgroup C). IVST measurements were taken using M-mode during diastole.

Results: The average age of participants was 26.41±3.18 years. In the 28-32 week group, the mean IVST was 3.76±0.23mm for non-diabetic women, 4.00±0.28mm for controlled diabetics, and 5.83±0.64mm for uncontrolled diabetics. In the 32-35 week group, the mean IVST was 4.25±0.29mm for non-diabetics, 4.75±0.43mm for controlled diabetics, and 6.84±0.34mm for uncontrolled diabetics. IVST was significantly higher in uncontrolled diabetics (p<0.05), while non-diabetic and controlled diabetic groups had similar thicknesses. There was a significant positive correlation between OGTT levels and IVST (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Fetal IVST was notably higher in uncontrolled diabetic mothers. There is a strong association between OGTT results and IVST. M-mode measurement of IVST is simpler than fetal echocardiography and can be included in routine third-trimester scans for diabetic mothers to detect early signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.