FDA approves TNKase for acute ischemic stroke
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved TNKase (tenecteplase), a thrombolytic or clot-dissolving agent, for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in adults.
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Dr Fazlul Qadir appointed as SKIMS Medical College Bemina Principal
Srinagar: Dr. Fazlul
Qadir Parray, a renowned senior surgeon, has been appointed as the new principal
of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College and Hospital)
Bemina, Srinagar.
An order was issued
by the Jammu and Kashmir Health & Medical Education Department in this
regard on March 5, 2025. Prior to this role, Dr. Parray served as a Professor in the Department of General Surgery at SKIMS Soura.
“Sanction is hereby
accorded to the appointment of Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray, Professor, Department
of General Surgery, SKIMS Soura, as Principal, SKIMS Medical College/Hospital,
Bemina, Srinagar in the Pay Level-14 (Rs. 144200-218200) on a tenure basis, for
a period of two (2) years on a full-time basis,” the order stated.
Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray holds multiple prestigious qualifications, including an MS, FICS, and FMAS. He has also completed several fellowships, including the Fellow Colorectal Surgery Indian Section, Fellow International College of Surgeons, Fellow Minimal Access Surgery (SGRH Delhi), Fellow Advanced Laparoscopy (Galaxy Hospital Pune), and Fellow CRS Cleveland Clinic Florida, USA.
He is a member of several medical associations, including the Indian Medical Association,
Association of Surgeons of India, Association of Colorectal Surgeons of India,
International College of Surgeons, Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic
Surgeons of India, and Indian Hernia Society. He is also connected with a
number of ongoing research projects related to the impact of TME on sexual and
bladder function in Colorectal Cancer, Cyclin D1 Pleomorphism in Colorectal
Cancers, and Mechanical Bowel Preparation Versus No Preparation in Colorectal Surgery. With numerous publications in both national and international journals, his primary research focus areas are Colorectal Surgery and Minimal Invasive Surgery.
Sher-i-Kashmir Institute
of Medical Sciences, often abbreviated as SKIMS, is the largest medical
institute under State Legislature Act in Srinagar, in the Indian union
territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
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UP Doctors Demand Stipend Hike for MBBS Interns, FMGs
Lucknow: The doctors in Uttar Pradesh have urged the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Medical Education Brajesh Pathak to increase the stipend provided to the medical interns in the state.
Writing to the Deputy CM, the doctors under the CMJ Doctors Welfare Federation India pointed out that while the medical interns in the State get only Rs 12000 as a monthly stipend, similarly situated students in States like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi get an amount ranging between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 per month.
In the letter, the doctors highlighted how the medical interns work tirelessly, provide crucial patient care, assist in surgeries, and manage emergency cases.
They also pointed out that the interns face financial difficulties, especially considering the fact that the cost of medical education has increased significantly.
Commenting on the matter, the State President of CMJ Doctors Welfare Federation, Dr. Sudhanshu Pandey told Medical Dialogues, “We have written to the Deputy CM seeking an increase in the amount of stipend provided to the Indian and Foreign Medical Graduates who are undergoing internship in the State. The amount should be increased at least to Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month.”
“Currently, the stipend stands at 12000 per month, which is significantly lower than that of other states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, where medical interns receive 20,000,30,000 per month,” stated the letter.
“Medical interns work tirelessly in hospitals, providing crucial patient care, assisting in surgeries, managing emergency cases, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the healthcare system. Given the increasing workload, long working hours, and rising cost of living, the current stipend is insufficient to meet basic expenses such as accommodation, food, and transportation…Moreover, with the rising cost of medical education, many interns face financial difficulties, and a higher stipend would provide much-needed relief and motivation to continue serving the public with dedication,” it further mentioned.
Highlighting how the State of Uttar Pradesh is making remarkable progress in healthcare, the doctors added in the letter, “..increasing the internship stipend would further strengthen the morale of young doctors and improve healthcare services in the state.”
Accordingly, they requested to reconsider and revise the stipend for the medical interns in Uttar Pradesh to be at par with or better than other states. “This will not only benefit the interns but also encourage more young doctors to serve in government hospitals, ultimately improving healthcare delivery across the state,” the doctors added in the letter.
Also Read: NMC to introduce SOPs to address grievances on stipend, faculty, work hours
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Fact Check: Can walking on Karela (Bitter Gourd) Cure Diabetes?
An Instagram post claims walking on Karela (Bitter Gourd) Water cures Diabetes. The claim by the user is FALSE.
Claim
In an Instagram post, it is claimed that walking on Karela (Bitter Gourd) Water cures Diabetes. The user ai.doctor_sahab in the reel says, “Do you know that 74 million people are struggling with sugar today? But you can completely eliminate your sugar with this remedy. Take some bitter gourds and grind them to make juice, then pour it into a plate. Now, cut some bitter gourds and walk on this juice until you feel bitterness in your mouth. If you do this continuously for 25 to 30 days, your sugar will be completely cured. This is a miraculous remedy to eliminate sugar.”
The reel has 186,099 likes and can be accessed here.
Fact Check
The claim by the user is FALSE. While bitter gourd is known to have some blood sugar-lowering properties when consumed, simply walking in its water has no proven medical benefits for diabetes management. Further, diabetes is a chronic disease and cannot be cured.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a long-term condition that arises when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or when the body cannot use the insulin it produces efficiently. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, is a common outcome of poorly managed diabetes and, over time, can result in significant damage to various body systems, particularly the nerves and blood vessels.
Can Diabetes be Cured?
Currently, there is no cure for diabetes, but it is possible for most people to achieve diabetes reversal. This involves effectively managing blood sugar levels to the extent that medication is no longer needed and maintaining that state through a consistent routine of healthy eating and regular exercise.
What are the Nutritional Benefits of Karela (Bitter Gourd)?
Karela (Bitter Gourd) is a nutrient-dense vegetable with significant health benefits. It is rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Karela is also a good source of dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes gut health. Its low-calorie and low-carbohydrate content make it beneficial for weight management and diabetes control. The presence of bioactive compounds like flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants helps reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, bitter melon contains charantin and polypeptide-p, which have hypoglycemic effects, supporting blood sugar regulation.
Can walking in Karela water Cure Diabetes?
Karela (Bitter gourd) is often promoted for its potential to lower blood sugar levels. Studies suggest that consuming bitter gourd juice or extracts may help in lowering glucose levels. However, these studies are related to consumption of bitter gourd (eating or drinking in some form) and not related to topical application. The claim that merely walking in bitter gourd-infused water can treat or cure diabetes lacks any scientific evidence or medical consensus.
Emerging research highlights the potential role of bitter guard in managing blood sugar levels. A recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology suggests that consumption of bitter gourd may help lower elevated fasting plasma glucose in individuals with prediabetes.
Similarly, a study published in the International Journal of Ayurveda and Pharma Research highlights the presence of a hypoglycemic or insulin-like compound in karela, also referred to as ‘plant-insulin,’ which has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing blood and urine sugar levels.
However all the studies talk about consumption of bitter gourd or Karela and not its topical application. There is no mention in scientific literature or medical consensus that topical application such as walking on bitter gourd solution will cure diabetes
In a conversation with Dr Aman Rathore, DNB, Critical Care Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital explained, “There’s no truth to the claim that walking in karela (bitter gourd) water can cure diabetes. This does not even make any sense. As a doctor, I understand the appeal of natural remedies, but diabetes management requires a proven approach—healthy eating, regular exercise, and, if needed, medications. While bitter gourd is known for its potential blood sugar-lowering properties when consumed, simply walking in its water has no proven physiological benefits for diabetes management. It’s always best to rely on science-backed treatments and consult a doctor for proper diabetes care.”
Dr Anil Kumar Sharma, MD (Medicine) Senior Consultant Physician, Ashlok Hospital, MASSH HOSPITAL further added, “First of all there is no cure for diabetes in medical therapy. Consumption of bitter guard and its juice might help in reducing blood sugar levels to some extent but walking on bitter gourd water or mashed bitter guard doesn’t help any way in treatment or management of bitter guard.”
Medical Dialogues Final Take
The claim that walking in Karela (bitter gourd) water can cure diabetes is false. While bitter gourd may have some benefits when consumed as part of a balanced diet, external application has no scientific basis. Managing diabetes effectively requires a holistic approach, including proper medical care, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and blood sugar monitoring.
Hence, the claim by the user is FALSE.
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Automated Insulin Delivery Improves Glycemic Control in Diverse Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, Study Finds
USA: A recent nonrandomized clinical trial has shown promising results for automated insulin delivery (AID) systems in managing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study, published in JAMA Network Open, highlighted the effectiveness of AID in enhancing glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
“After 13 weeks, participants saw a notable reduction in HbA1c levels, dropping from 8.2% to 7.4%, while their time spent within the target glucose range rose from 45% to 66%. With minimal hypoglycemia, AID has shown potential as a promising solution for individuals with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes,” the researchers reported.
There is a growing need for additional treatment options for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are being treated with insulin. Given the limited data on using automated insulin delivery systems in this population, studies that assess their safety and efficacy are crucial. Therefore, Francisco J. Pasquel, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues to evaluate the association between AID and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in a diverse group of adults with type 2 diabetes.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a single-arm prospective trial at 21 clinical centers in the United States, involving individuals aged 18 to 75 years with type 2 diabetes who had been using insulin for at least 3 months before screening. Participants who were already using an AID system were excluded. The study began with a 14-day standard therapy phase, followed by 13 weeks of treatment with the investigational Omnipod 5 AID System. The first participant was enrolled on April 11, 2023, and the last follow-up visit was on February 29, 2024.
The trial’s primary outcome was the change in HbA1c levels at 13 weeks, which was tested for noninferiority (with a 0.3% margin) and superiority compared to baseline.
The key findings of the study were as follows:
- A total of 305 participants were enrolled in the trial, with a mean age of 57 years; 57% were female. Two-hundred eighty-nine participants (95%) completed the trial.
- At baseline, 73% of participants were using multiple daily injections, 21% were on basal insulin without bolus, 6% were using an insulin pump, 62% were using continuous glucose monitoring, 55% were using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), and 44% were using sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is).
- After 13 weeks of AID use, HbA1c levels decreased from a mean of 8.2% to 7.4% (mean difference, −0.8 percentage points).
- The improvement in HbA1c was consistent across various subgroups, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, insurance status, and regardless of GLP-1RA or SGLT-2i use or pretrial mealtime insulin regimen.
- Time spent in the target glucose range (70-180 mg/dL) increased from 45% to 66% (mean difference, 20 percentage points).
- The percentage of time in hypoglycemic ranges (less than 54 mg/dL and less than 70 mg/dL) was noninferior compared to standard therapy.
- There was one episode of severe hypoglycemia, with no cases of diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome.
In a single-arm nonrandomized trial involving adults with type 2 diabetes, the use of automated insulin delivery over 13 weeks resulted in improved glycemic control without an increase in hypoglycemia. HbA1c levels showed significant improvement in participants using multiple daily injections and those on basal insulin only at baseline.
“These benefits were observed across diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as among individuals using non-insulin glucose-lowering medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors,” the researchers concluded.
Reference:
Pasquel FJ, Davis GM, Huffman DM, et al. Automated Insulin Delivery in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2459348. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.59348
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CAC Score Guided Primary Prevention Reduces Plaque Progression Among Patients With Familial CAD: JAMA
Australia: A recent randomized clinical trial has highlighted the potential benefits of integrating coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring with a preventive treatment strategy in patients with a family history of coronary artery disease (CAD).
The researchers revealed that in intermediate-risk patients with a family history of CAD, integrating CAC scoring with a primary prevention strategy was linked to lower atherogenic lipid levels and reduced plaque progression compared to standard care. These findings, published in JAMA, highlight the value of CAC scoring in guiding intensive preventive approaches for this patient group.
The researchers note that coronary artery calcium scoring is crucial in predicting cardiovascular risk, particularly in individuals at intermediate risk for coronary artery disease. Despite its prognostic value, the potential benefits of integrating CAC scoring with a primary prevention strategy had not been evaluated in a randomized trial. To address this gap, Nitesh Nerlekar, Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and colleagues aimed to determine whether incorporating CAC scores into a preventive approach could help slow plaque progression in intermediate-risk patients with a family history of premature CAD.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a prospective, randomized clinical trial across seven hospitals in Australia between 2013 and 2020, with follow-up until June 5, 2021. They recruited asymptomatic individuals aged 40 to 70 years who had a family history of CAD, defined as onset before 60 years in a first-degree relative or before 50 years in a second-degree relative. Intermediate-risk participants underwent CAC scoring, and those with scores between 1 and 399 underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). They were then randomized to CAC score–guided prevention or usual care. Follow-up CCTA at three years assessed plaque progression.
The following were the key findings of the study:
- The study included 365 participants with a mean age of 58 years, of whom 57.5% were male.
- There were 179 participants in the CAC score–informed group and 186 in the usual care group.
- At three years, the CAC score–informed group had a greater reduction in total cholesterol (−56 mg/dL vs −3 mg/dL) and LDL cholesterol (−51 mg/dL vs −2 mg/dL) compared to usual care.
- This reduction was associated with a lower pooled cohort equation risk calculation (0.5% vs 2.1).
- Plaque progression was significantly lower in the CAC score–an informed group for total plaque volume (15.4 mm³ versus 24.9 mm³), noncalcified plaque volume (5.6 mm³ versus 15.7 mm³), and fibrofatty and necrotic core plaque volume (−0.8 mm³ versus 4.5 mm³).
- These differences were independent of other risk factors such as baseline plaque volume, blood pressure, and lipid profile.
The researchers found that using CAC scoring to guide preventive strategies in intermediate-risk patients with a family history of CAD was associated with slower plaque progression and improved lipid control compared to usual care. A CAC score–informed approach, including lifestyle interventions and moderate-intensity statin therapy, led to sustained reductions in LDL-C levels and cardiovascular risk estimation scores.
“These findings highlight the potential of CAC scoring in refining risk assessment and guiding intensive prevention strategies, suggesting its valuable role in improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes for intermediate-risk individuals,” they concluded.
Reference:
Nerlekar N, Vasanthakumar SA, Whitmore K, et al. Effects of Combining Coronary Calcium Score With Treatment on Plaque Progression in Familial Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. Published online March 05, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.0584
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No significant benefit of early invasive treatment in women with High-Risk non ST elevation ACS: Study
Researchers have observed that female patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) are more likely to have adverse outcomes but receive fewer recommended interventions by guidelines like coronary angiography and revascularization. Although early invasive management is good for high-risk patients, very little is known about the optimal timing of angiography in women. A new study was published in the journal CIRCULATION: Cardiovascular Interventions conducted by Gregory B. and fellow researchers.
Systematic search was performed on Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus until November 2023. Randomized controlled trials of early versus delayed coronary angiography in NSTE-ACS patients were included. Individual patient data from 2257 female patients in six trials were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups:
• Early invasive group (n=1141) with a median time to angiography of 5 hours.
• Delayed invasive group (n=1116) with median time to angiography of 49 hours.
The main outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction at 6 months. One-stage individual patient data meta-analysis was done with random-effects Cox models.
Key Findings
• There was no significant reduction in the main outcome (all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction) between early and delayed groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60–1.06; p=0.12).
• Early invasive treatment greatly lowered the risk of repeated ischemia (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.94; p=0.025).
• In female patients at high risk and with a Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score >140, early invasive treatment strongly lowered all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction at 6 months (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45–0.94; p=0.021; Pinteraction=0.035).
• Similar benefits were seen in female patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers, suggesting that early invasive management is particularly beneficial in high-risk groups.
Early invasive treatment in women with NSTE-ACS did not demonstrate a substantial overall decrease in mortality or myocardial infarction from delayed treatment. High-risk women, especially those with GRACE scores >140 or positive cardiac biomarkers, benefited significantly from early invasive treatment. These results highlight the significance of risk stratification in informing clinical decision-making in women with NSTE-ACS.
Reference:
Mills GB, Kotanidis CP, Mehta S, Tiong D, Badings EA, Engstrøm T, van ‘t Hof AWJ, Høfsten D, Holmvang L, Jobs A, Køber L, Milasinovic D, Milosevic A, Stankovic G, Thiele H, Mehran R, Kunadian V. Early Versus Delayed Invasive Management of Female Patients With Non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2025 Mar 4:e014763. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.124.014763. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40035144.
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Propranolol reduces tremors in Parkinson’s disease, reveals research
The standard medication levodopa does not always work against tremors in Parkinson’s disease, especially in stressful situations. Propranolol, however, does work during stress, providing insight into the role of the stress system in tremors. MRI scans reveal that propranolol directly inhibits activity in the brain circuit that controls tremors. Doctors may consider this medication when levodopa is ineffective.
People with Parkinson’s disease report that tremors worsen during stressful situations. ‘Tremors act as a sort of barometer for stress; you see this in all people with Parkinson’s’, says neurologist Rick Helmich from Radboud university medical center. The commonly used drug levodopa usually helps with tremors, but it tends to be less effective during stress, when tremors are often at their worst. Helmich and his team wanted to investigate whether a medication targeting the stress system could help and how this effect of stress on tremors works in the brain.
Mathematical calculations
The medication in question, propranolol, is a beta-blocker that inhibits the action of stress hormones. It was developed for high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias, has been around for a long time, and is already used as a standard treatment for essential tremor — a condition in which people experience tremors without other neurological symptoms. There were already indications that propranolol might reduce tremors in Parkinson’s, but until now, no thorough research has explored its potential effects.
Helmich and his team studied 27 people with Parkinson’s who experienced tremors. They were given propranolol on one day and a placebo on another day. A device on their hands measured the intensity of their tremors, while an MRI scan mapped brain activity. This was done both at rest and during a task involving stressful mathematical calculations. The stress response was measured by pupil size and heart rate, both of which increased during the calculations. As expected, without medication, tremors worsened during stress.
Amplifier
The study showed that propranolol reduced tremors both at rest and during stress. The MRI scans revealed how this works: after taking the medication, the brain circuit responsible for tremors showed less activity. Helmich explains: ‘We know that abnormalities in systems like the dopamine system cause tremors. Based on our study, we now think that the stress hormone noradrenaline acts as an amplifier, which increases tremor intensity in the brain’s movement area. Propranolol inhibits this amplifying effect and thus reduces symptoms.’
It surprised the researchers that propranolol also worked to reduce tremors at rest. ‘Apparently, our stress system is occasionally active, even at rest’, says researcher Anouk van der Heide. ‘This changes how alert someone is and leads to spontaneous fluctuations in tremors. We previously thought that the stress hormone system was only active under stress, but apparently, that’s too simplistic. It also plays a role at rest.’
Mindfulness
Helmich already prescribes propranolol for some Parkinson’s patients. ‘The most effective medication for Parkinson’s is levodopa. It not only helps with tremors but also with other symptoms, so that’s what we start with’, Helmich explains. ‘However, in about forty percent of patients, it is not effective against tremors. In that case, we first increase the dose, but if that doesn’t work, propranolol is an option. However, we must be cautious about side effects, such as low blood pressure.’
In addition to medication studies, Helmich’s team is also exploring lifestyle changes that could help with Parkinson’s. ‘It doesn’t take much to trigger a stress response, causing people to tremble more. Even something as simple as wondering: did I lock the front door? can set it off. We are currently investigating whether mindfulness can positively influence the stress system.’
Reference:
Anouk van der Heide, Maaike Wessel, Danae Papadopetraki, Dirk E.M. Geurts, Teije H. van Prooije, Frank Gommans, Bastiaan R. Bloem, Michiel F. Dirkx, Rick C. Helmich. Propranolol Reduces Parkinson’s Tremor and Inhibits Tremor‐Related Activity in the Motor Cortex: A Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Trial. Annals of Neurology, 2024; DOI: 10.1002/ana.27159
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Hormone therapy linked to tau accumulation, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease among older women: Study
A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers has found faster accumulation of tau-a key indicator of Alzheimer’s disease-in the brains of women over the age of 70 who took menopausal hormone therapy (HT) more than a decade before. Results, which are published in Science Advances, could help inform discussions between patients and clinicians about Alzheimer’s disease risk and HT treatment.
While the researchers did not see a significant difference in amyloid beta accumulation, they did find a significant difference in how fast regional tau accumulated in the brains of women over the age of 70, with women who had taken HT showing faster tau accumulation in specific regions of the brain. This difference was not seen in women younger than 70.
“Approximately a quarter of currently postmenopausal women who are 70 years and older have a history of HT use and have now entered a critical age of risk for Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior author Rachel F. Buckley, PhD, of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. “Our findings add to the evidence that delaying initiation of HT, especially in older women, could lead to worse Alzheimer’s outcomes.”
The study, which was led by first author Gillian T. Coughlan, PhD, of MGH’s Department of Neurology, compared brain imaging from 73 women who had used hormone therapy an average of 14 years prior and 73 age-matched women who had not. Participants were between ages 51 and 89 at the beginning of the study. Participants had PET scans for amyloid beta over a mean 4.5-year period and for tau over a 3.5-year period.
The authors note that they cannot definitively conclude whether the influence of chronological age is due to changes in guidelines on HT prescribing or simply due to a higher tau-PET signal typically observed at more advanced ages. Current clinical guidance is that HT should be initiated within 10 years following a woman’s age at menopause to avoid adverse effects.
“Our data indicate that HT may influence tau accumulation as a function of age, with implications for cognitive decline,” said Coughlan. “We hope that our study will help to inform AD risk discussions relating to women’s reproductive health and treatment.”
Reference:
Gillian T. Coughlan et al. ,Associations between hormone therapy use and tau accumulation in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.Sci. Adv.11,eadt1288(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adt1288
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Higher Maternal BMI in Pregnancy Associated with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Risk in Daughters: Study
Germany: A recent study published in the Leukemia Journal suggests that higher maternal body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy may increase the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in female offspring but not in male offspring.
Mahdi Fallah, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues analyzed data from over 2.9 million children born in Sweden between 1983 and 2018, making it one of the largest population-based cohort studies to explore this association.
They found that both higher maternal BMI in early pregnancy and before delivery were linked to an increased risk of childhood ALL in female offspring. However, no such associations were observed in male offspring, and gestational weight gain did not appear to influence the risk of ALL in either sex.
The study evaluated 2,961,435 children, among whom 1,388 were diagnosed with ALL during follow-up, including 772 boys (55.6%) and 616 girls (44.4%). The maternal BMI distribution showed that 64.6% of children were born to mothers of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), 22.4% to overweight mothers (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2), 9.5% to obese mothers (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), and 3.6% to underweight mothers (BMI <18.5 kg/m2).
Key Findings:
- Children born to mothers with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher in early pregnancy had a greater likelihood of being diagnosed with ALL compared to those born to mothers of normal weight (SIR, 1.2).
- There was no significant association between maternal underweight status in early pregnancy and childhood ALL (SIR, 1.1).
- Sons of overweight or obese mothers did not show an increased risk of ALL (SIR, 1.0).
- Daughters born to mothers with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or higher in early pregnancy had a 40% greater risk of ALL compared to those born to mothers of normal weight (SIR, 1.4).
- Girls born to mothers with a BMI of 29 kg/m2 or higher before delivery had an increased risk of ALL compared to those born to mothers with a BMI of 22.5-28 kg/m2 (SIR, 1.4), while there was no such association in boys (SIR, 0.9).
- Analysis of gestational weight gain in 1,463,141 children revealed no significant difference in ALL risk between children born to mothers with high (SIR, 1.0) or low gestational weight gain (SIR, 1.0) compared to those with normal weight gain.
The researchers emphasized that this is the first study to highlight a sex-specific difference in the association between maternal BMI in early pregnancy and the risk of childhood ALL. They suggest that further research is needed to explore the potential role of sex hormones and chromosomal factors in this mother-daughter association.
Reference:
Liu, J., Kharazmi, E., Liang, Q., Chen, Y., Sundquist, J., Sundquist, K., & Fallah, M. (2025). Maternal weight during pregnancy and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in offspring. Leukemia, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-025-02517-6
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