Title:Diagnosis and Management of Monogenic Diabetes in Pregnancy
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Samantha Edensor, Olivia Jones*Ali J Chakera*
Affiliation:
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS
Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS
Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
Keywords:
MODY, Monogenic diabetes, glucokinase, pregnancy, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A, neonatal diabetes, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1B.
Abstract:
Monogenic diabetes occurs in up to 3% of people with diabetes. Mutations in over 40
different genes are responsible. The most common genes affected are HNF1A, HNF4A, GCK, and
HNF1B. Additionally, other types of diabetes with a genetic aetiology include neonatal diabetes
and diabetes plus syndrome. Each of these genetic subtypes has a different phenotype and requires
distinctive treatments. Due to the overlap of monogenic diabetes with type 1 and 2 diabetes and
even gestational diabetes, they can often be misdiagnosed. During pregnancy, individual subtypes
require treatment that is different from standard diabetes care, so recognition and prompt diagnosis
of monogenic diabetes are important to avoid inadequate treatment.
We describe the management of monogenic diabetes for the most significant subtypes, focussing
on the impact on and management in pregnancy.
A genetic diagnosis of diabetes can alter long-term treatment in those with diabetes. In pregnancy
and the postnatal period, this can involve specific management changes determined by the gene affected
and whether there is a fetal inheritance of the gene. Where inheritance of the genotype influences
the outcomes, cell-free fetal testing will hopefully soon become a diagnostic tool for early
recognition of fetal mutations.