Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in singleton pregnancies represent a high-risk scenario. The incidence, associated factors and outcomes of GDM in twin pregnancies is not known in the UAE. Methods This was five years retrospective analysis of hospital records of twin pregnancies in the city of Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Relevant data with regards to the pregnancy, maternal and birth outcomes and incidence of GDM was extracted from two major hospitals in the city. Regression models assessed the relationship between socio-demographic and pregnancy-related variables and GDM, and the associations between GDM and maternal and fetal outcomes at birth. Results A total of 404 women and their neonates were part of this study. The study population had a mean age of 30.1 (SD: 5.3), overweight or obese (66.5%) and were majority multiparous (66.6%). High incidence of GDM in twin pregnancies (27.0%). While there were no statistical differences in outcomes of the neonates, GDM mothers were older (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06–1.4) and heavier (aOR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00 -1.04). They were also likely to have had GDM in their previous pregnancies (aOR: 7.37, 95% CI: 2.76–19.73). The prognosis of mothers with twin pregnancies and GDM lead to an independent and increased odds of cesarean section (aOR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.03–5.30) and hospitalization during pregnancy (aOR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.16–2.20). Conclusion More than a quarter of women with twin pregnancies were diagnosed with GDM. GDM was associated with some adverse pregnancy outcomes but not fetal outcomes in this population. More studies are needed to further investigate these associations and the management of GDM in twin pregnancies.

Background: Stress-induced hyperprolactinemia can be difficult to differentiate from true hyperprolactinema and may result in patients having unnecessary investigations and imaging. We report the results of cannulated prolactin tests with serial prolactin measurements from an indwelling catheter to differentiate true from stress-induced hyperprolactinemia in patients with persistently mildly elevated prolactin levels in both referral and repeat samples. Methods: Data were collected for 42 patients who had a cannulated prolactin test between January 2017 and May 2018. After cannula insertion, prolactin was measured at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Normalization is defined as a decline in prolactin to gender-defined normal ranges. Results: The mean age was 33.8 years ( SD ± 9.9), and 37 (88%) were female. Menstrual irregularities were the main presenting symptom in 28.57% of the patients. Prolactin normalized in 12 (28.6%) patients of whom cannulated prolactin test was done. Repeat random prolactin levels were significantly higher in patients whose prolactin did not normalize during the cannulated prolactin test. MRI of the pituitary gland showed an abnormality in 23 out of 28 (82%) patients who did not normalize prolactin, a microadenoma in the majority of patients (18 patients). Conclusion: The cannulated prolactin test was useful in excluding true hyperprolactinemia in 28.6% of patients with previously confirmed mildly elevated random prolactin on two occasions, thus avoiding over-diagnosis and unnecessary imaging.

BackgroundDiabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) is a well-known acute complication of diabetes. This study aims to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics of adult patients with different diabetes types and DKA severities attending a tertiary hospital in the UAE.MethodsWe retrospectively extracted sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data from the electronic medical records of 220 adult patients with DKA admitted to Tawam Hospital between January 2017 and October 2020.ResultsThe average age was 30.6 ± 16.6 years of whom 54.5% were women, 77.7% were UAE nationals and 77.9% were Type 1 diabetes (T1DM). 12.7% were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Treatment noncompliance (31.4%), and infection (26.4%) were the main precipitating factors. Most patients presented with moderate DKA (50.9%). Compared to T1DM, patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were older (53.6 vs 23.9 years, p < 0.001), had longer hospital stay (12.1 days vs 4.1 days, p < 0.001), had more complications (52.1%, vs 18.9% p <0.001), and a higher mortality rate (6.3% vs 0.6%, p = 0.035). Patients with severe DKA had a shorter diabetes duration compared to mild and moderate DKA (5.7 vs 11.0 vs 11.7 years, respectively, p = 0.007), while complications were significantly lower in the mild group compared to both the moderate and severe groups (11.6% vs 32.1% vs 33.3%, respectively).ConclusionThe risk of DKA is higher for patients with T1DM than for those with T2DM. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with T2DM differ from those with T1DM highlighting the importance of educating all patients about DKA.