Microvascular reactivity in women with gestational diabetes mellitus studied during pregnancy.

Aim: To compare microvascular reactivity assessed in the skin using laser Doppler fluximetry (LDF) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational age-matched control during pregnancy.

Methods: 110 pregnant women at ~33 weeks gestation participated in the study. Skin microvascular reactivity was evaluated by LDF, at rest, during the response to brief arterial occlusion (post occlusive hyperaemic response) and during sympathetically mediated vasoconstrictor response to deep inspiratory breath hold.