Association between Fibrinogen Levels and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the First 20 Weeks of Gestation

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a widely prevalent condition amongst pregnant women with a high morbidity. Various guidelines have been put forth for the early screening of the condition due to its adverse effects on both the mother and the fetus. The incidence of GDM is increasing worldwide, now 20-27% of all pregnancies [3]. The prevalence in urban areas is 17.8% and in rural areas is 9.9% [4]. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is thought to be developed as a consequence of high insulin resistance. It has been proposed that insulin resistance may be involved in the pathogenesis of hyperfibrinogenemia in GDM which is the basis of our study. If screening and diagnosis are performed at the earliest, there will be a significant improvement in the mothers’ quality of life and reducing major neonatal morbidity.

AIM: To determine the association between Serum fibrinogen levels and gestational diabetes mellitus in the first 20 weeks of gestation

MATERIALS AND METHOD: An observational study conducted at Sree Balaji medical college and hospital from 2023 – 2024 which included a total of 460 antenatal women attending the antenatal clinic. Venous blood sample were obtained from the patients during the first 20 weeks of gestation to estimate the Serum fibrinogen levels. All the women were subjected to OGCT at 24 - 28 weeks of gestation and 32 - 36 weeks of gestation and classified according to DIPSI guidelines. The data was analysed to estimate the association between Serum fibrinogen levels and GDM.

CONCLUSION: It was observed that 38.1% of the study population were diagnosed with GDM. Among those with GDM, 68.4% had abnormal fibrinogen levels (p value-0.041). This shows a positive correlation between serum fibrinogen levels and GDM.