Blood viscosity in umbilical cord blood from babies of diabetic mothers

Abstract
Summary Compared with normal babies, whole blood viscosity and packed cell volume were significantly higher in cord blood from the newborn of diabetic mothers. The differences were most marked in macrosomic diabetic babies. Whole blood viscosity and packed cell volume are suggested as retrospective fetal markers of the quality of diabetic control in pregnancy. The concept of hyperviscosity in utero as a cause of intra-uterine death in infants of diabetic mothers is discussed