Poorly contracting uterus in diabetic women increases risk of caesarean

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that the strength of uterine contractions in diabetic pregnant women is significantly weaker than in non-diabetic women, increasing the risk of emergency caesarean birth.

Poorly contracting uterus in diabetic women increases risk of caesarean

In the past ten years, the prevalence of births complicated by diabetes has increased by approximately 50 percent. u00a0There has, however, been very little research undertaken to understand why only a quarter will have a normal vaginal delivery.u00a0

Scientists at the University, working with the Liverpool Women's Hospital, studied more than 100 biopsies of the uterus from pregnant women with and without diabetes. u00a0They found that contractions in women who had the disease were not as strong as those in non-diabetic women.u00a0

To understand why this happens the team looked at possible differences in the changes in calcium within the muscle cells, as this is an essential component of uterine contractions.

Calcium levels in the uterus should rise to allow the muscle to contract effectively. Researchers found, however, that in women with diabetes, calcium levels are significantly reduced. u00a0Further investigation revealed that the channels in the cell membrane, that are necessary for calcium to enter the cells, were also reduced.

u00a0This suggests why the uterus may not contract as strongly as it should in women with diabetes. Uterus tissue in diabetic women also failed to reach the same levels of contractility as in non-diabetic women when stimulated with the drug oxytocin, a commonly used treatment for women experiencing difficult births.u00a0

The research suggests why so many pregnancies in diabetic women result in an emergency caesarean.

Professor Sue Wray, from the University's Institute of Translational Medicine, said: "In the UK approximately 35,000 pregnant women per year have diabetes and some women develop the condition during pregnancy, a condition called gestational diabetes. u00a0We know that more than 60 percent of these women will need a caesarean section in order to deliver a baby successfully.

"These major operations increase the risk of complications and infection, as well as excessive bleeding and haemorrhage. Up until now we have not known why diabetic women suffer such complicated births, but it is important that more work is done in this field to prevent the further increase in emergency caesarean sections.

"Our work shows that calcium in inhibited from entering the muscle cells. u00a0This, together with evidence of reduced overall muscle mass, contributes to a poorly contracting uterus in women with diabetes. u00a0Future studies to help diabetic women should now focus on why the condition causes these changes in the first instance and if there is any way to stop it from happening." (ANI)

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels