The relationship between first-trimester haemoglobin a1c and pregnancy loss in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background and aims: A precarious glycemic control in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, the period defining organogenesis, increases the risk of pregnancy loss. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between pregnancy loss and HbA1c values in early pregnancy in type 1 diabetic women. Material and method: The present study included all pregnancies in type 1 diabetic women followed at Diabetes Clinic, Emergenc y County Clinical Hospital, Timisoara, from 1990 -2011. Results: The risk of pregnancy loss was significantly increased compared with the background control group. In our study the relative risk of pregancy loss increased when HbA1c exceeded 6.5%. We found a consistent increasing risk with stepwise increasing levels of HbA1c. Conclusions: A better glycemic control in this period and throughout the pregnancy could reduce the risk of severe adverse outcomes in type 1 diabetic pregnancies. key words: diabetes mellitus, pregnancy loss, haemoglobin A1c, congenital malformations, spontaneus abortions.