Serum Copeptin Levels in Threatened Preterm Labor.

AIM: We investigated maternal copeptin level's usefulness in prediction of preterm birth. Materials and methods: The study was comprised of 97 pregnant women hospitalized for threatened preterm labor and 35 healthy pregnant women without preterm labor. Serum copeptin were compared with likelihood of threatened preterm labor timing of delivery and time interval to delivery. Result: Copeptin level of threatened preterm labor group was higher than of control group [7.76(0.39-35.62) ng/mL, 6.23(1.64-36.88) ng/mL, respectively, p = .04]. Copeptin levels of women did not differ according to preterm or term birth [7.76(0.69-35.62) ng/mL, 6.73(0.39-36.88) ng/mL, respectively, p = .22). Quartiles of copeptin levels were not associated with risk status or preterm birth. Conclusions: Serum copeptin is higher in threatened preterm labor. It does not differentiate those with threatened preterm labor verses preterm birth.

Total oxidative and anti-oxidative status, and ADAMTS-12 levels in placenta previa and early-onset severe preeclampsia.

AIM: This study was carried out due to the discussions in the literature stating that the inverse association between placenta previa (PP) and preeclampsia (PE). The aim of this study was to determine whether total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) and ADAMTS-12 levels differ among early-onset (<34th gestational week) severe PE (EOS-PE), PP and uncomplicated pregnancies. METHODS: In this case-control study, serum samples obtained from 26 pregnant with EOS-PE, 31 pregnant with PP, and 32 healthy patients with uncomplicated pregnancies (control group). RESULTS: TOS levels were significantly higher in the EOS-PE than in the control group and PP groups (p=0.002, p=0.05, respectively). TAS levels were significantly lower in the EOS-PE than in the control (p<0.001). Although TAS levels were lower in the EOS-PE group than in the PP group, the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.09). There were no significant differences in the ADAMTS-12 levels of the groups. DISCUSSION: The data in this study suggested that the balance between oxidative and anti-oxidative substances were comparable and normal in pregnancies complicated by PP when compared to normal pregnancies without placentation abnormality. In support of this, we encountered no case with PE and fetal growth restriction in our study groups suggesting normal placental angiogenesis. Contrarily, EOS-PE was associated with decreased TAS and increased TOS levels in the maternal serum.

Novel indexes of arrhythmogenesis in preeclampsia: QT dispersion, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing evidence that preeclampsia (PE) may also be a risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including arrhythmia. In this study we aimed to evaluate the association between PE and ventricular repolarization using novel electrocardiogram markers: QT interval duration, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this controlled cross-sectional study sixty-four pregnant women with PE (31 with mild and 33 with severe disease) and 32 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies in the third trimester were compared by measuring QT parameters, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio. RESULTS: Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio values were significantly higher in both the mild and severe PE groups compared to the healthy pregnant group. CONCLUSION: Prevention of CVD requires that patients be aware of their risk factors, be educated about their risk, and perhaps most importantly perceive them to be at risk. In this study, we documented that PE has a significant effect on ventricular repolarization. This alteration could, in part, explain the increased cardiovascular risk in women with a history of PE. This important association can be used to screen women for increased risk in order to better target counseling regarding lifestyle modifications and to follow up and manage women with a history of hypertensive disease of pregnancy more closely.