Diabetic fetopathy associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and ambiguous genitalia: a case report
Diabetic fetopathy associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and ambiguous genitalia: a case report
Published: December 2009
Abstract
Introduction:
Many fetal malformations can occur because of maternal diabetes. However, ambiguous genital organs have never been reported as an associated finding in the literature. This is the first report of associated ambiguous genital organ and bilateral adrenal hyperplasia in a case of diabetic fetopathy.
Case presentation:
A 19-year-old Thai primigravida with familial history of diabetes mellitus (DM) was diagnosed as having gestational DM type 2, based on 100 g oral glucose tolerance test, and was poorly controlled with insulin injections. Delayed targeted ultrasonography at 28 weeks gestation revealed multiple fetal anomalies. The woman underwent low transverse cesarean section at 30 weeks gestation due to preterm labor and transverse lie. The newborn with ambiguous genitalia was delivered but expired after birth. Autopsy findings revealed alobar holoprosencephaly, a prominent forehead, hypotelorism, an absent nose, absent bilateral ears, median cleft lip and palate, preaxial polydactyly of the right hand, accessory spleens, single umbilical artery, markedly enlarged adrenal glands and ambiguous external genitalia The subsequent fetal chromosomal study revealed 46,XX.
Conclusion:
We describe a case of diabetic fetopathy with classic facial malformation and preaxial hallucal polydactyly which has been proposed as a marker of diabetic embryopathy. Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia with ambiguous genitalia, an uncommon associated anomaly, was also identified. It is controversial whether adrenal hyperplasia can be a novel feature of diabetic fetopathy or just a coincidental finding. Further observation and adequate investigation are needed in such cases.
Introduction
It is well known that maternal diabetes, type 1 or type 2 including gestational diabetes, increase the risk of congenital malformations [1]. The most frequent types of malformations involve the central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skeletal systems [2]. Although in the present century, there have been significant improvements in the management and outcome of diabetic women and infants and most neonatal problems have declined, nevertheless diabetes-associated anomalies still remain a major health problem in Thailand [3]. While many fetal malformations occur as a result of maternal diabetes, ambiguous genital organs are not included. Overall, congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the most frequent cause of ambiguous genitalia in newborns and is the most common cause of virilization of female external genitalia [4]. The association of diabetic embryopathy with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia has never been reported in the English medical literature, based on online medical searching. We describe a case of maternal diabetes with multiple fetal anomalies and associated bilateral fetal adrenal hyperplasia.
congenital malformaiton, adrenal hyperplasia, diabetic embryopathy, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal macrosomia, adrenal hyperplasia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal hyperplasia glanda, causes congenital adrenal hyperplasia, mixed gonadal dysgenesis, female pseudohermaphroditism, male pseudohermaphroditism






