Second Trimester Fetal and Maternal Epicardial Fat Thickness in Gestational Diabetic Pregnancies

Abstract

Our aim was to evaluate the association between gestational diabetes mellitus and sonographically measured fetal epicardial fat thickness between 24–28 weeks’ gestation. This was a cross-sectional study that included 40 pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus, matched with 40 normal pregnancies with similar maternal age, body-mass index, gestational age, fetal gender, and fetal abdominal circumference on ultrasound. Fetal epicardial fat thickness was measured and recorded during ultrasonography at 24–28 weeks of gestation. Maternal evaluation included measurement of maternal epicardial fat thickness, using echocardiography. Fetal and maternal epicardial fat thickness values were compared across the groups. Ultrasound views of fetal epicardial fat thickness were evaluated independently by 3 perinatology fellows to determine inter- and intra-observer variability. Partial and intraclass correlation analyses were used. Fetal and maternal epicardial fat thickness measurements were moderately correlated (r=0.63). Mean fetal and maternal epicardial fat thickness values were higher in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies (p=0.004 and p<0.0001, respectively) compared to controls. Fetal epicardial fat thickness was positively correlated (r=0.43) with postchallenge 2-h glucose values. Inter- and intra-observer agreement was high, demonstrated by strong correlations (r=0.99 and r=0.99, respectively) across fetal epicardial fat thickness measurements of the examiners. Fetuses from gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies have significantly higher fetal and maternal epicardial fat thickness values compared to nongestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies. Fetal epicardial fat thickness obtained during second trimester fetal anatomy ultrasound may potentially be a reliable indicator for gestational diabetes mellitus. However, clinical validation studies are needed.

Key words

epicardial fat thickness - fetal echocardiography - gestational diabetes mellitus - insulin resistance

Introduction

Epicardial fat (EF) is a visceral fat tissue of the heart and derives from the brown fat tissue during embryogenesis, bearing a protective effect against cardiac hypothermia [1] [2]. The protective mechanism is by absorbing free fatty acids when these are high in the circulation and by working as an energy source when energy need is increased [3]. EF tissue is located between the myocardium and the visceral pericardium, and is directly connected to the myocardium [1] [4]. As there is no fascia separating EF tissue and myocardium, they share the same microcirculation [5]. EF is metabolically very active with secretion of many proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokines including vasoactive peptides related with obesity, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. The secretory activity includes interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, angiotensin II, plasminogen activator, omentin, and nerve growth factor [6] [7]. Moreover, EF tissue also secretes anti-inflammatory and antiaterogenic adipokins such as adiponectin and adrenomedullin [8].

To our knowledge, echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) measurement in adults was first attempted by Iacobellis et al. [9] [10] and was reported to vary between 1–23 mm [10]. Becaue EFT measurement seems to be unaffected by variations in skin and muscular tissue layers, it may show lipoidosis much more accurate than waist measurement [11]. Previous data from adult subjects indicate that EFT measured during echocardiography is in close relation with abdominal fat tissue measured via magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography [9].

EFT was reported to be increased in insulin resistance and in diabetes mellitus [12]. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disease manifesting itself as insulin resistance during pregnancy [6]. Diagnosis of GDM is important, as it causes an increase in maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications [13] [14] [15]. Insulin resistance develops long before fasting blood glucose levels increase, and the high insulin levels in blood is associated with lipogenesis and atherosclerosis [16] [17].

Although an association between sonographic EFT measurements and insulin resistance in adults has been previously shown, data on fetal EFT and GDM are scarce. Moreover, the relationship across fetal and maternal EFT measurements and the reliability of this parameter during midtrimester ultrasound has not been adequately investigated. We hypothesized that EFT measured during fetal ultrasound scans at 24–28 weeks of gestation has an acceptable reproducibility and a potential to predict maternal insulin resistance. For this purpose we compared and correlated fetal EFT values, maternal EFT values, and blood glucose measurements obtained during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We also evaluated inter- and intra-observer variability for fetal EFT measurements from recorded images.

Subjects and Methods

The study protocol was subject to local ethics committee approval. Pregnant women scheduled for a 75 g OGTT at 24+0/6 to 28+0/6 weeks of gestation between May 2015–December 2015 were included. The study group consisted of 40 women with GDM diagnoses according to the American Diabetes Association criteria of 75 g OGTT results. The diagnosis of GDM was made when any one of the following plasma glucose values was exceeded: fasting≥92 mg/dl, 1 h≥180 mg/dl, or 2 h≥153 mg/dl [18]. Those with pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes were excluded. In the control group, there were 40 pregnancies with normal 75 g OGTT values, matched for maternal age, body-mass index (BMI), gestational age, fetal gender, and fetal abdominal circumference (AC) on ultrasound. Demographic data were extracted from patient files. Gestational age depended on the last menstrual period confirmed by a first trimester crown-length measurement. All women were weighed and their height measured at the time of OGTT, and BMI was calculated. Fetal anatomy scan including cardiac examination and maternal echocardiography were also performed on the same day as the OGTT. Those with fetal anomalies, accompanying maternal disease (except GDM), and women on medications other than oral iron supplementation and/or multivitamins had been excluded.

Fetal and maternal EFT evaluations were performed by 3 perinatology fellows with a Voluson E6 ultrasound equipment (General Electric, Tiefenbach, Austria) fitted with a 2–7 MHz convex abdominal probe and with a TTE VIVID 7 (General Electric, USA) ultrasound device in the adult cardiology unit of our hospital by a cardiologist experienced in adult echocardiography, respectively. As previously described by Iacobellis [9], measurements were made at end-diastole in 3 cardiac cycles through the available wall of the right ventricle both in the fetus and the mother ([Fig. 1]). As a benchmark, the highest EFT measured throughout 3 cycles from the perpendicular wall of the right ventricle across the ultrasound ray vertical to the aortic annulus was recorded [9]. All the images that included fetal EFT measurements were saved as JPEG files.

Fig. 1 The distance on the line running to the aortic annulus between epicardium and myocardium is described as an epicardial thickness, shown in the fetal a and maternal b echocardiographic views (LA: left atrium; LV: left ventricle; LVOT: left ventricle outflow tract; RV: right ventricle).

Following retrieval of all images, the saved ultrasound views were evaluated independently by the same 3 perinatology fellows to determine interobserver variability. The evaluations were repeated following a period of 2 weeks to establish intra-observer variability. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the inter- and intra-observer agreement during first and second occasions.

Statistical analysis

Data are expressed as mean±standard deviations (SD). Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine the distribution of variables. Mann-Whitney U-test and chi-square test were used for comparisons. Partial correlation analyses controlling for confounding variables such as maternal age, gestational weeks, BMI and AC measurement on ultrasound were used to determine the relationship between clinical parameters and EFT. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant in all analyses. Correlation coefficients (r) between 0.3–0.7 indicated moderate and >0.7 strong correlations, respectively.

Results

The GDM and control groups (n=40, each) were homogenous concerning maternal age, maternal BMI, gestational weeks, fetal ultrasound AC estimation, and fetal gender (p>0.05 for all comparisons). As expected, fasting, 1-h, and 2-h OGTT serum glucose values were significantly higher (p<0.0001 for all comparisons) in women with GDM compared to the controls. In the GDM group, fetal (p=0.004) and maternal EFT (p<0.0001) were found to be significantly increased ([Table 1], [Fig. 2]).

Fig. 2 Fetal epicardial fat thickness values in the study and control groups. (Color figure available online only).

Table 1 Comparisons of baseline and output data in gestational diabetic and control groups.

	Control Group	GDM Group	p-Value
Maternal age (years)	27.8±6.3	27.6±6.3	0.888
Body-mass index (kg/m2)	27.5±2.7	28.3±2.8	0.171
Gestational age (weeks)	25.9±1.2	26.0 ±1.2	0.880
Fetal gender (male/female)	1.5 (24/16)	0.74 (17/23)	0.117
Estimated AC on ultrasound (mm)	219.9±14.1	222.5±15.0	0.413
Fetal EFT (mm)	1.31±0.03	1.34±0.04	0.004
Maternal EFT (mm)	5.3±1.3	6.9±1.6	0.0001
OGTT (mg/dl)
Fasting	80.9±5.0	90.3±8.0	0.0001
Hour 1	163.1±5.3	184.9±7.0	0.0001
Hour 2	125.2±5.8	148.9±7.1	0.0001

Data are expressed as mean±standard deviations or ratios. AC: Abdominal circumference; EFT: Endocardial fat thickness; GDM: Gestational diabetes; OGTT: Oral glucose challenge test

[Table 2] summarizes the result of correlations after controlling for confounding factors such as maternal age, gestational weeks at ultrasound, maternal obesity, and fetal macrosomia. Maternal and fetal EFT measurements were moderately and positively associated. In the whole group, there were significant correlations across maternal EFT and all the 75 g OGTT results ([Table 2]). These associations were present, but weaker at 1-h and 2-h results considering fetal EFT. When only GDM pregnancies were included, maternal EFT was no longer independently correlated with OGTT results, whereas fetal EFT was positively and moderately related to 2-h glucose values ([Table 2]). These data indicate that fetal EFT is associated with increased 2-h postchallenge serum glucose measurements, independent of maternal obesity and fetal size in pregnancies with GDM.

Table 2 Correlations across fetal and maternal epicardial fat thickness and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test results, after controlling for maternal age, gestational age, body-mass index, and abdominal circumference on ultrasound.

			Fetal EFT	Maternal EFT	75 g OGTT results
					Fasting	Hour 1	Hour 2
Overall (n=80)	Fetal EFT (mm)	r	–	0.627	0.238	0.347	0.401
		p	–	0.0001	0.238	0.038	0.0001
	Maternal EFT (mm)	r	0.627	–	0.425	0.557	0.576
		p	0.0001	–	0.0001	0.0001	0.0001
GDM group (n=40)	Fetal EFT (mm)	r	–	0.463	−0.204	−0.019	0.428
		p	–	0.004	0.232	0.913	0.009
	Maternal EFT (mm)	r	0.463	–	−0.025	0.029	0.227
		p	0.004	–	0.884	0.868	0.182

EFT: Endocardial fat thickness; GDM: Gestational diabetes; OGTT: Oral glucose challenge test; r: Adjusted correlation coefficient by partial correlation analysis

[Table 3] and [Fig. 3] show the results of intraclass correlation analyses for the inter- and intra-observer agreement of fetal EFT from prerecorded ultrasound images across 3 perinatology research fellows. The correlation coefficients were high (r=0.99, p<0.0001 and r=0.99, p<0.0001), indicating high inter- and intra-observer agreements ([Table 3], [Fig. 3]). Bland-Altman plots with their respective 95% limits of agreement across observers are provided in [Fig. 4].

Fig. 3 Plots showing correlation among 3 perinatology research fellows for the measurement of fetal epicardial fat thickness. (Color figure available online only).

Fig. 4 Bland-Altman plots with their respective 95% limits of agreement across observers. (Color figure available online only).

Table 3 Intraclass correlation analyses for inter- and intra-variability between the first and second fetal epicardial fat thickness measurements by 3 research fellows.

	Fetal epicardial fat thickness (mm)
	Range	Median	Mean±SD	r	p
First occasion
Observer I	1.24–1.38	1.32	1.32±0.03	0.990	0.0001
Observer II	1.24–1.38	1.33	1.32±0.03
Observer III	1.24–1.38	1.32	1.32±0.03
Second occasion
Observer I	1.23–1.37	1.32	1.32±0.03	0.986	0.0001
Observer II	1.23–1.37	1.33	1.32±0.03
Observer III	1.24–2.38	1.32	1.32±0.03

Discussion and Conclusions

In our study, ultrasound estimation of EFT was significantly higher in gestational diabetic pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies. While the mean difference in EFT measurement was relatively small (0.02 mm), this was statistically significant. Although the clinical application of such difference requires further validation studies, to our knowledge ours is the first prospective study, in which fetal EFT was measured in women with GDM.

EFT measurement with transthoracic echocardiography in adults has recently been a popular study topic. Increased EFT has been found in relation with metabolic syndrome and coronary heart diseases in many studies [9] [12] [19] [20]. Previous publications revealed a significant relationship between EFT, fasting blood glucose, and DM in adults [12] [21] [22].

Some other studies investigated the relationship across EFT and glucose intolerance in women during or after gestational diabetic pregnancies. In 62 women with previous GDM, EFT measured by echocardiography was significantly increased compared to the control group [23]. The authors stated that high EFT results might indicate presence of atherosclerosis in women with previous GDM [23]. In another study, mean EFT was measured as 7.2 mm in pregnant women with GDM vs. 5.6 mm in controls, revealing a significant increment. In the same study, significant correlations between EFT, BMI, and postprandial serum glucose levels were also present [11]. These findings were supported by another investigation indicating that postprandial glucose and BMI were associated with maternal EFT in regression models [24]. Our data showing higher maternal EFT measurements in pregnancies with GDM (6.9 vs. 5.3 mm) support these findings. Although we showed significant correlations across maternal EFT and OGTT values in the overall study group, these associations disappeared when only the gestational diabetics were taken into account. This may be due to limited number of GDM women in our design or lack of an association, as we rigorously controlled for confounding factors such as maternal age, maternal obesity, and fetal size. Therefore, fetal but not maternal EFT may be an independent predictor of postchallenge serum glucose levels.

The effect of gender on EFT has not been adequately studied. Some investigators reported a gender difference in adults, with increased measurements in men (7.6 mm vs. 6.9 mm) [9]. In our study, fetal EFT values were similar in male and female fetuses. These preliminary data may indicate an environmental effect on EFT considering gender, rather than nonimprinted genetic influences.

Recently, Jackson et al. retrospectively performed fetal EFT measurements in the second trimester in 28 diabetic and 28 nondiabetic women. After controlling for maternal BMI, estimated fetal weight, birth weight, fetal abdominal circumference, and subcutaneous fat thickness, EFT was significantly higher in diabetic (1.43 mm) vs. control fetuses (1.16 mm). To our knowledge, this was the first study on fetal EFT measurements in diabetic pregnancies [25]. However, a limitation was its retrospective design not allowing estimating the EFT value by measuring through 3 cardiac cycles during end-diastole as originally described by Iacobellis. We aimed to overcome such limitation by prospectively performing both maternal and fetal EFT measurements, using a standardized technique. In this context, ours is probably the first prospective study that includes measurements of EFT from gestational diabetic pregnancies and corroborates previous findings by Jackson et al. despite a lower difference in measured values.

Depending on our results, fetal EFT measurement seems to be a novel noninvasive parameter for the metabolic status of the pregnancy. On the other hand, EFT estimation requires high definition ultrasonography and medical staff specialized on fetal echocardiography. Fetal EFT measurement is also difficult to perform when the heart is in posterior position, especially during early gestational weeks. Therefore, it should not currently be considered as a routine screening test. However, fetal EFT measurements can be performed during detailed fetal ultrasonograms of high-risk pregnancies at specialized centers. This may allow determination of pregnancies requiring maternal dietary and physical activity interventions. Moreover, studies evaluating neonatal and long-term outcomes of fetuses with increased EFT values should be encouraged.

Some drawbacks of our study include relatively limited number of patients and its cross-sectional design that does not allow follow-up through delivery or neonatal period. We did not include maternal serum insulin and glycated hemoglobin measurements. Another drawback was lack of storage as video clips, which is a preferable method to static images for the assessment of intra- and inter-observer reproducibility. This may have led to overestimation of intra- and inter-observer correlation results in our design. Nevertheless, we have provided robust prospective data on this subject, including reliability of the fetal EFT measurements. Further large-scaled prospective follow-up studies with clinical validation trials on the feasibility of fetal and maternal EFT evaluations in pregnancies with metabolic syndrome are necessary.

Statement

The investigation was carried out at Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Perinatology, Isparta, Turkey.

Abstract accepted as an oral presentation at the 26^th World Congress on Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 25–28 September 2016, Rome, Italy.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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