The Effects of Insulin Antibodies during Diabetic Pregnancy on Newborn Infants

Abstract

Levels of insulin antibody, free insulin, and total insulin in the blood of diabetic mothers and their newborn infants were measured, and the relations of these findings to perinatal complications were studied. The subjects were 35 patients: 8 treated with bovine/porcine insulin, 15 with porcine, and 12 with human insulin. Insulin antibody levels (insulin binding capacity; IBC) in patients injected with bovine/porcine insulin were higher. There was no difference in the insulin antibody levels between the groups treated with porcine and human insulin preparations. Infant insulin antibody levels were close to the mother's levels. Free insulin levels did not correlate with total insulin nor antibody levels, but correlated with plasma glucose levels in the infants. The birth weight did not correlate with insulin antibody levels. The frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia and cord hematocrit levels were increased when the mother's insulin antibody levels were over 20%. We conclude the following: 1) Insulin antibodies are transferred through the placenta; 2) The risk of neonatal hypoglycemia is high if the mother's insulin antibody levels are high; 3) Bovine insulin preparations should not be used.