Association between fetal subcutaneous fat and perinatal outcomes in Heavy for date infants

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18231
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Endo Toyohide 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (10866833)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 胎児超音波 / 胎児発育 / 胎児四肢容積 / 妊娠糖尿病 / 胎児脂肪量

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed measurements of fetal soft tissue (fat and muscle) and fetal limb volume, in order to search for new prognostic markers of perinatal outcome. As a result, two papers were submitted and accepted for publication. First, we reported for the first time in Japan the normal growth curve and reference values of fetal fractional limb volume in Japanese. In addition, we found that upper arm volume (including fat mass) increased in the second trimester of pregnancy in fetuses of gestational diabetes mellitus mothers. This corresponds to an increased risk of fetal shoulder dystocia in gestational diabetic mothers, and is a clinically important finding.

Free Research Field

周産期学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により胎児軟部組織(脂肪量と筋肉量)の指標である胎児四肢容積について、日本人における正常発育曲線および各妊娠週数ごとの基準値を、本邦で初めて報告した。これは今後、周産期予後予測における胎児軟部組織量や四肢容積の有用性を検討していく基盤となる、重要な知見と考えられる。また、妊娠糖尿病の母体における胎児では、上腕容積(脂肪量を含む)が妊娠後期に増大することを見出し報告した。これは、妊娠糖尿病の母体では胎児の肩甲難産のリスクが上昇することとも対応しており、臨床的にも重要な知見が得られた。