RESUMO
Gestational diabetes (GD), is a common illness in our country, that is associated with high perinatal morbi-mortality. The objective of this study is to assess the utility of the 50 g glucose screen test (GST) to know the frequency of GD at the National Institute of Perinatology, for preventing the neonatal risks associated with this pathology. For that reason, we performed a one year prospective study including 144 pregnant patients between 24-28 weeks of gestation. All of the patients undergo the 50g GST, and those with results or = to 140 mg/dl were followed by the glucose tolerance test (GTT). This GTT was performed with 100g of glucose and then blood samples were taken at fasting time, later at 60-120-180 minutes respectively. Of the total of 144 patients, 33 (23%), resulted with a positive GST. The GTT confirms the GD in 10.7% of the patients, and an equal proportion of gestational alterations to the GTT was observed. It is concluded that the 50 g GST is the best screening test to identify alterations of the carbohydrate metabolism during pregnancy.