Pregnancy outcome in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy treated with ACE inhibitors before pregnancy

The preconception and intrapregnancy parameters that are relevant to outcome in women with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and diabetic nephropathy remain controversial. We analyzed the types and frequencies of maternal and neonatal complications in 24 IDDM patients with diabetic nephropathy (24 pregnancies), all with preserved to mildly impaired renal function. All patients received treatment with captopril for at least six months prior to planned pregnancy and were maintained under strict glycemic control from at least three months before pregnancy to delivery. A successful pregnancy outcome (live, healthy infant without severe handicaps two years after delivery) was observed in 87.5% of the patients. Preexisting hypertension was the only parameter found to be significantly predictive of an unsuccessful outcome (p=0.0004). We conclude that in patients with IDDM complicated by diabetic nephropathy, pre-pregnancy captopril treatment combined with strict glycemic control offers a prolonged protective effect against possible renal deterioration and probably improves pregnancy outcome.