Does being an infant of gestational diabetic mother affect cerebellar size?

Abstract

In this study, our aim was to investigate cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter with cranial ultrasonography in infants of gestational diabetic mothers. Forty infants of diabetic mothers (21 appropriate-for-gestational age and 19 large-for-gestational age infants) and 40 gestational-age matched healthy controls were evaluated with cranial ultrasonography within 24 hours of birth. Cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter were measured midsagitally from anterior fontanelle and then coronally from mastoid fontanelle. In terms of cerebellar vermis height and transverse cerebellar diameter, no statistically significant difference was found between infants of diabetic and healthy mothers. Gestational diabetes mellitus could not affect cerebellar size in neonates. In studies with larger series, evaluation of cerebellar size and morphology in infants of diabetic mothers during long-term monitorization of their neurodevelopment could be also useful. © 2018, Logos Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.