Effect of late-onset fetal growth restriction on organization of behavioral state in infants.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze whether late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) alters regulatory capability in infants, and whether this can be detected using both the neonatal behavior assessment scale (NBAS) and brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP). METHODS: The diagnosis of FGR was made on Doppler examination in the third trimester of pregnancy. NBAS and BAEP measurement were performed at 1 month of corrected postnatal age. RESULTS: The group with late-onset FGR was integrated with 17 infants and the control group consisted of 14 subjects. The NBAS range of state score, which reflects organization of behavioral state, was low in infants with late-onset FGR. No differences were found in BAEP between groups. No association between NBAS and BAEP was detected. CONCLUSION: Late-onset FGR has a deleterious effect on NBAS range of state, but possibly does not alter BAEP response. It is proposed that regulatory capabilities in the neonatal period play a primary role in subtle cognitive difficulties in infants with late-onset FGR in the long term.

ß-hCG and prediction of therapeutic success in ectopic pregnancies treated with methotrexate, results from a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (ß-hCG) levels measurement, for predicting success of medical treatment in cases diagnosed as tubal ectopic pregnancy (TEP). DESIGN: Five-year prospective observational study. SETTING: Prenatal Diagnosis Unit, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital - Barcelona. PATIENTS: TEP cases fulfilling criteria for medical treatment with Methotrexate. INTERVENTIONS: ß-hCG levels were measured on d 0, 4 and 7 of treatment. Results were compared by non-parametrical tests. A ROC curve was plotted to define cut-off points. Diagnostic accuracy of the different measurements was evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Failure of treatment defined as need for surgical treatment or persistence of high ß-HCG levels despite treatment. RESULTS: 126 women were diagnosed as TEP, eligible for medical treatment. There were no differences in parity, age, previous TEP, or adnexal mass size. Success rate was 88%. ß-HCG decreased significantly more, between days 0-7 and 4-7, in the successful cases. LR for success prediction was 6.2 and 7.8 for ß-HCG levels at days 4 and 7 respectively, 4.02 and 2.47 for decrement between days 0-7 (25%) and 4-7 (20%), respectively. CONCLUSION: ß-hCG cutoff values have a potential for predicting a successful medical treatment of TEP.

Amniocentesis and the risk of second trimester fetal loss in twin pregnancies: results from a prospective observational study.

AIM: To compare the rate of pregnancy loss between twin pregnancies undergoing a genetic amniocentesis (AC) and a control group with similar characteristics. METHODS: Prospective observational study on a population of twin pregnancies referred to our prenatal diagnosis unit for screening from 1990 to 2010. Those women referred for an AC were compared with those without indication for the procedure. Primary outcomes were pregnancy loss within the 4 weeks after procedure and pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Secondary outcome included neonatal morbidity, gestational age at delivery and birth weight. results: Maternal characteristics were similar for both groups, except for maternal age. There was neither difference in the pregnancy loss rate within 4 weeks (2.7 versus 2.6%) nor in the loss rate before 24 weeks of gestation (1.2 versus 1.1%). Gestational age at birth was 36 weeks for both groups. Chorionicity and gestational age at procedure played no role in modifying the risk. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, there is no difference in the pregnancy loss rate in twin gestations, regardless of chorionicity or gestational age at procedure, either within 4 weeks after the procedure or before 24 weeks, in patients who undergo AC when compared with patients who do not.

Arabin cervical pessary to prevent preterm birth in severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome treated by laser surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the outcome of patients with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and cervical length ≤ 25 mm, treated with laser and an Arabin cervical pessary. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a consecutive series of all cases with severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome who underwent laser surgery: a group with cervical length above 25 mm (group A) and two groups who had a cervical length of 25 mm or less prior to the procedure. The first 8 cases (group B) were managed expectantly and the next 8 cases had a cervical pessary inserted immediately after laser surgery (group C). Gestational age at birth was the primary outcome. The secondary outcome was a composite one encompassing severe neonatal morbidity. RESULTS: The median gestational age at laser surgery was 20 weeks in all groups but the median gestational age at delivery was significantly higher in group C versus B (28 vs 32 weeks, p = 0.01). Severe neonatal morbidity was present in 18% in group C and 70% in group B (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early results suggest a potential role for pessary use in prolonging gestation in cases with shortened cervix at the time of laser. A randomized trial to test this hypothesis should be performed.

Cervical pessary in pregnant women with a short cervix (PECEP): an open-label randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most previous studies of the use of cervical pessaries were either retrospective or case controlled and their results showed that this intervention might be a preventive strategy for women at risk of preterm birth; no randomised controlled trials have been undertaken. We therefore undertook a randomised, controlled trial to investigate whether the insertion of a cervical pessary in women with a short cervix identified by use of routine transvaginal scanning at 20-23 weeks of gestation reduces the rate of early preterm delivery. METHODS: The Pesario Cervical para Evitar Prematuridad (PECEP) trial was undertaken in five hospitals in Spain. Pregnant women (aged 18-43 years) with a cervical length of 25 mm or less were randomly assigned according to a computer-generated allocation sequence by use of central telephone in a 1:1 ratio to the cervical pessary or expectant management (without a cervical pessary) group. Because of the nature of the intervention, this study was not masked. The primary outcome was spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks of gestation. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00706264. FINDINGS: 385 pregnant women with a short cervix were assigned to the pessary (n=192) and expectant management groups (n=193), and 190 were analysed in each group. Spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks of gestation was significantly less frequent in the pessary group than in the expectant management group (12 [6%] vs 51 [27%], odds ratio 0·18, 95% CI 0·08-0·37; p<0·0001). No serious adverse effects associated with the use of a cervical pessary were reported. INTERPRETATION: Cervical pessary use could prevent preterm birth in a population of appropriately selected at-risk women previously screened for cervical length assessment at the midtrimester scan. FUNDING: Instituto Carlos III.

The prevalence of congenital varicella syndrome after a maternal infection, but before 20 weeks of pregnancy: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of congenital varicella syndrome (CVS) within the population of presumably infected pregnant women. METHODS: From 1993 to 2006, all women who presented vesicular rash or a suspicious contact were referred and evaluated in a special unit at our center. Those with residual immunity or were serologically negative were precluded from this study. Positive IgM cases underwent monthly ultrasound scans (US), fetal blood (FB) sampling (including IgM anti VZV and virus culture). Amniotic fluid sample for PCR was added to the diagnosis of positive IgM cases after 1997. RESULTS: A total of 276, of the 566 consulted women, tested positive for IgM anti VZV. Seventeen (6%) were excluded because of an unadvised termination of pregnancy and seven (2.55%) miscarried. Only seven (2.7%) were considered highly likely to have a VZV fetal infection. One case showed positive IgM in FB but developed normally. Another fetus showed positive PCR and infection was confirmed post TOP. Four cases that underwent TOP and histochemistry confirmed no more cases. Complete post-natal follow-up was carried out. The asymptomatic infected child grew healthy until the completion of screening tests when it reached 5 years old. CONCLUSION: The fetal infection rate in this cohort was 0.8%, but the best expected prevalence of CVS, according to our findings, should be 0.39% among infected women. This data should be considered and used during parental counselling.

Use of 3-dimensional sonography for prenatal evaluation and follow-up of fetal goitrous hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal goitrous hypothyroidism is a rare and potentially lethal condition. Consequently, its early diagnosis and treatment improve prognosis. Thyroid hormone measurement in either fetal serum or amniotic fluid implies important risks. Here we present a fetal goiter and the follow-up procedure, both done by the traditional method and by using 3-dimensional power Doppler (3DPD) imaging and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL). METHODS: A single well-documented case of fetal goiter was followed weekly from 22 weeks until delivery. Amniocentesis for thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (T(4)) measurement as well as levothyroxine injections were performed at every control. In addition to amniocentesis, every control involved a sonographic evaluation, which included standard measurements of the gland and the capture of volume image sets in gray scale and 3DPD. Volume calculation of the gland was done using VOCAL software. Vascularization of the gland was evaluated by the vascularization index (VI) included in the software. RESULTS: With treatment, TSH levels decreased progressively until normalization. Free T(4) levels increased toward the end of gestation. Sonographic measurements of the gland volume to estimated fetal weight ratio decreased across treatment as levels of TSH did. The VI clearly depicted the vascular regression of the goiter, decreasing throughout treatment in a consistent way until 24 hours before delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Gray scale and 3DPD evaluations of the thyroid gland have been validated under similar circumstances and might be reliable complements to the invasive methods used in the management of this fetal condition.

Doppler fetoplacentario en hipertensión gestacional y preeclampsia leve / The usefulness of fetal placental doppler ultrasound in gestational hypertension and mild preeclampsia

Introducción: la preeclampsia se presenta en 6% de los embarazos en Colombia y se asocia con una elevada tasa de morbimortalidad maternofetal. Con frecuencia los casos severos se acompañan de restricción del crecimiento intrauterino; en estos casos el doppler fetoplacentario es útil para determinar el pronóstico fetal, pero su valor en preeclampsia leve o hipertensión gestacional no está bien definido. Objetivos: determinar en estas dos circunstancias la frecuencia de alteraciones en el doppler de las arterias umbilical y cerebral media. Materiales y métodos: búsqueda de casos en la base datos de la unidad de medicina maternofetal del Hospital de San José, entre agosto de 2006 y febrero de 2008. Se definió como casos las pacientes con gestaciones > a 28 semanas con HTG o PL y fetos con perfil de crecimiento normal. Se consideraron y analizaron variables demográficas, resultados del doppler fetoplacentario y las complicaciones. Resultados: se identificaron 85 pacientes. El 17% presentó alteración del doppler de la AU y 7% de la ACM; en gestaciones < 32 semanas los hallazgos anormales son bajos (75% AU y 85% ACM normales). Conclusiones: la frecuencia de alteraciones en el Doppler de AU y ACM fue similar en el grupo de mujeres que presentaron complicaciones y aquellas con un desenlace normal.

Introduction: In Colombia, around 6% of pregnant women will experience preeclampsia. It is associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rates. Severe cases are frequently related to intrauterine growth restriction; placental and fetal Doppler has prognostic value in these cases, although, its usefulness in mild preeclampsia (MP) or gestational hypertension (GHT) is not yet well defined. Objectives: to determine the frequency of abnormal Doppler sonography of the umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) in MP or GHT. Materials and methods: cases were searched for in the Maternal Fetal Unit databases at Hospital de San José between August 2006 and February 2008. Cases were defined as patients with > 28 week pregnancies complicated by GHT or MP with fetuses with a normal growth profile. Demographic variables, placental fetal Doppler evaluation results and complications were considered and analyzed. Results: 85 patients were identified. Seventeen percent (17 %) presented abnormal Doppler of the UA and 7% of the MCA; abnormal findings were low (normal UA in 75% and normal MCA in 85%) in < 32 week gestations. Conclusions: the frequency of abnormal Doppler results of the UA and MCA were similar in the group of women with complications and in those who had a normal pregnancy outcome.