Mohammad Momen Gharibvand - Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
Mohammad Ghasem Hanafi - Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.
Mohamad Reza Fadaee - Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran.

Background The metabolic enhancement resulted from hyperglycemia in gestational diabetes leads to macrosomia, which can affect the placenta. In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) pregnant women, the thickness of placenta and cord diameter can change at ages prior to treatment initiation. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the thickness of placenta and umbilical cord in mothers with gestational diabetes, compared to the control group, in order to indirectly investigate the effects of hyperglycemia on fetus. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, pregnant women in the gestational ages ranged ۲۸-۳۲ weeks, who underwent a ۳-hour glucose test to detect gestational diabetes mellitus, were evaluated using ultrasound in terms of placenta thickness and umbilical cord area, compared to the control group. Results: Out of ۹۳ pregnant women in gestational ages of ۲۸-۳۲ weeks, ۴۵ had gestational diabetes and ۴۸ of them were selected as the control group. The mean age of the individuals was ۲۶.۳۳ years old with standard deviation of ۴.۸۸. There was a significant increase in the thickness of the placenta and the transverse diameter of the cord in the case group and there was a direct and significant relation (p <۰.۰۵). Also, there was a significant relationship between cord area and the thickness of placenta (p <۰.۰۵). Conclusion The thickness of placenta and consequently the cord area in mothers with gestational diabetes increases independently from changes caused by macrosomia and fetus weight.

cord diameter, Gestational diabetes, Placenta thickness