Elevated maternal glucose concentrations and placental infection in twin pregnancies.

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal screening glucose concentration and placental infection in nondiabetic twin pregnancies.

Study Design: One thousand sixty-one nondiabetic twin pregnancies at > or =28 weeks' gestation were divided into 3 groups based on the screening 50-g fasting glucose concentration at 24-28 weeks: lowest quartile (< 96 mg/dL), middle 2 quartiles (96-128 mg/dL) and upper quartile (> 128 mg/dL). Outcomes were modeled using general linear and multinomial logistic regression, controlling for confounding factors.

Results: The middle and highest glucose groups were associated with increased risks for clinical chorioamnionitis (adjusted OR [AOR] 3.18, 95% CI 1.34, 7.54; AOR 6.80, CI 1.89, 24.53, respectively). Birth at <32 weeks and histologic diagnosis of placental infection (chorioamnionitis, funisitis, necrosis, vasculitis or villitis) were significantly associated only with the highest glucose group (AOR 1.79, CI 1.02, 3.13; AOR 6.95, CI 1.10, 8.68, respectively).

Conclusion: Elevated screening glucose in nondiabetic twin pregnancies may be a marker of placental inflammation and infection.