Estimations of blood glucose were made by Somogyi-Nelson´s method on maternal and umbilical venous blood immediately after birth in 25 cases of normal full-term pregnancy and in 18 cases of preeclampsia, which were divided into two groups; the first group (15 cases of normal pregnancy & .10 cases of preeclampsia) without dextrose injection, the second group (10 cases of normal pregnancy & 8 cases of preeclampsia with injection of 50 cc of 50% D/W 10-50 min. before delivery.
The baby´s blood glucose at birth was found to be lower in cases of preeclampsia than in cases of normal pregnancy. ( In cases of normal preg mother; 102.2 mg, fetus; 89.7 mg. In cases of preeclam psia, mother; 98.5 mg%, fetus; 75.0 mg%.) This supported the view that the placenta played a governing part in fetal carbohydrate metabolism and that the transfer of glucose was somewhat impaired through the placenta in preeclampsia cases. It was also shown that free and equal transfer of glucose through. the placenta was obtained in cases of normal pregnancy and in cases of preeclampsia when maternal hyperglycemia was induced. (In cases of normal pregnancy, mother; 196.0 mg% fetus; 165;3´ mg % , Inn cases of preeclampsia: mother; 200.5 mg % , fetus; 171.0 mg %) This can´t be explained by the present therories of the transfer of glucose.
But it is suggested that in pregnancies with impaired placental function, an adequate carbohydrate diet should be ensured; and hypoglycemia in the baby can be lessened by giving glucose intravenously to the mother during labor.
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