A Comparative Morphometric and Histological Study of Human Fetus and Fetal Pancreas in Hyperglycemic and Normoglycemic Mothers

Background: A significant percentage of pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been found to result in the delivery of macrosomic babies. The current study intends to highlight the correlation between maternal diabetes and fetal parameters as well as the histogenesis of the fetal pancreas in humans. Materials and methods: The study included thirty aborted fetuses, categorized into seven groups according to their gestational age. Morphometric analysis of fetal parameters and fetal pancreas was done, and the values were compared within different gestational age groups. Pancreatic tissue was processed, stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin, and examined. A comparison was then made between fetuses with and without gestational diabetes. Results: All the fetal biometrics as well as pancreatic parameters showed greater numeric values in mothers with GDM as compared to the controls of the same gestational age groups. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Histogenesis in such fetuses revealed GDM-related hyperplasia of islets of Langerhans. Conclusion: A timely diagnosis of GDM is thus of paramount significance due to its potential implications so that appropriate interventions can be done on time, to improve the overall outcome.