Is Maternal Serum Homocysteine a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker for Predicting Placenta-Mediated Disorders?

Background Uteroplacental insufficiency and related disorders, though a significant cause of undesirable maternal and fetal outcomes, are complex and poorly understood. The newer screening modalities are expensive and difficult to procure for day-to-day use in developing countries. This study aimed to examine the association of mid-trimester maternal serum homocysteine levels with maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methodology This was a prospective cohort study involving 100 participants between 18 and 28 weeks of gestation. The study was conducted at a tertiary care center in south India from July 2019 to September 2020. Maternal blood samples were analyzed for serum homocysteine levels and correlated with the third-trimester pregnancy outcomes. Statistical analysis was done, and diagnostic measures were computed. Results The mean age was found to be 26.8 ± 4.8 years. Of the participants, 15% (n = 15) were diagnosed with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, while 7% (n = 7) had fetal growth restriction (FGR) and 7% (n = 7) were complicated by preterm birth. An elevated maternal serum homocysteine level was positively associated with adverse pregnancy outcome measures such as hypertensive disorders (p = 0.001), with sensitivity and specificity of 27% and 99%, respectively, and FGR (p = 0.03) with sensitivity and specificity of 28.6% and 98.6%, respectively. Moreover, a statistically significant outcome was noted with preterm birth before 37 weeks (p = 0.001) and a low Apgar score (p = 0.02). No association was established with spontaneous preterm labor (p = 1.00), neonatal birth weight (p = 0.42), and special care unit admission (p = 1.00). Conclusions Such a simple and affordable investigation has the potential to go a long way in the early diagnosis and management of placenta-mediated disorders in pregnancy during the antenatal period, especially in low-resource settings.

Role of Routine Mid-Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler for Surveillance of Placental Mediated Disorders in a Low-Risk Population.

OBJECTIVES: Abnormalities in the placentation process can increase pregnancy-related complications like pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, intrauterine-fetal death (IUFD) or foetal-growth restriction (FGR). Our objective was to investigate the feasibility of utilising the mid-trimester uterine artery Doppler Pulsatility Index (PI), a non-invasive and effective screening tool, as a diagnostic measure to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in a low-risk population in South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study was done in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, South India, between August 2018 and January 2020. Uterine artery Doppler was performed along with the targeted anomaly scan between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation and a relationship was established with pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Of 100 participants, abnormal uterine artery PI (PI > 90th centile) was found in 13 pregnancies, of which statistically significant association was found with hypertensive disorders (P=0.001), FGR (P=0.064) and preterm birth before 37 weeks (P=0.051). No association was found between abnormal uterine artery PI and neonatal birth weight (P=-0.3), APGAR score (P=0.35) and NICU admission (P=0.078). CONCLUSION: An early abnormal finding in the doppler study can modify the level of antenatal surveillance required along with appropriate timely interventions, thereby significantly reducing the associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. When combined with routine ultrasound in pregnancy, such an affordable and straightforward diagnostic modality can improve antenatal care by reducing complications even in a low-risk population.

Pregnancy and pulmonary arterial hypertension-improving surveillance and outcomes with multidisciplinary care and N terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide trends.

OBJECTIVE: To describe maternal and fetal outcomes and N Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) trends in pregnancy with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS: The medical records of all pregnant women with PAH referred to Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 35 pregnancies in 22 women (mean age 27.9 ± 4.7 years, mean weight 50.6 ± 8.1 kg). The diagnoses were Eisenmenger syndrome (16, 72.7%), postoperative residual PAH (3, 13.6%), idiopathic PAH (2, 9.1%), and one (4.5%) had systemic lupus erythematosus. About 23 babies (65.7%) were born alive, gestational age of 35.1 ± 2.9 weeks, 47.8% at term, with a birth weight of 2.1 ± 0.8 kg. There was an elevation of NT-proBNP in the initial 72 h postdelivery (median 138 pg/ml, IQR 112-561). Those with a persistent rise beyond 72 h (median 686 pg/ml, IQR 370-3691) had prolonged recovery postpartum (median postdelivery hospital stay 18 days, IQR 12-22) reflecting continued right ventricular stress and maladaptation. There was single maternal mortality (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancy associated with PAH are better with strict surveillance and multidisciplinary team effort. Postpartum period remains the most vulnerable time. NT-proBNP trends during this period may be a promising objective monitoring tool in identifying at-risk subsets thus improving outcomes.

Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Delivery in Singleton Pregnancy in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery is a major obstetric complication and a leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is also associated with significant costs in terms of psychological and financial hardship, to the families. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with all preterm deliveries in singleton pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital and the secondary objective was to determine the fetal outcomes among women with preterm delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case control study was conducted between January 2019 and June 2019 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care center in Central Kerala, India. Women who delivered before 37 completed weeks of gestation were taken as cases and those who delivered at or after 37 weeks were considered as controls in a 1:1 ratio, approximately. Data regarding 191 cases and 200 controls were taken from delivery room records of the years 2016 to 2018 with the help of a predesigned checklist. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done to determine the magnitude of association between the exposure factors and preterm delivery. RESULTS: The mean age of study participants among the cases was 29.3 ± 5.1 years and controls was 28.1 ± 4.4. Pregnancy induced hypertension (aOR = 14.60; 95% CI 4.8, 44.1; p<0.001), abnormal amniotic fluid volume (aOR = 10.68; 95% CI 3.46, 32.98; p<0.001), premature rupture of membranes (PROM) (aOR = 10.27; 95% CI 4.82, 21.86; p<0.001), previous history of preterm delivery (aOR = 4.12; 95% CI 1.22, 13.85; p<0.002), history of urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy (aOR = 3.67; 95% CI 1.39, 9.68; p<0.002), systemic diseases (aOR = 2.78; 95% CI 1.28, 6.39; p<0.001), anaemia (aOR = 2.54; 95% CI 1.28, 5.03; p<0.004) were found to be the independent risk factors for preterm delivery. On analyzing the fetal outcomes, the average birth weight of preterm babies was 2 ± 0.6 kg compared to 3.1kg among term babies. CONCLUSION: Early detection and adequate treatment of various conditions like anaemia, pregnancy induced hypertension, UTI and systemic illness can help in reduction of the prevalence of preterm delivery.

Symptomatology and Surgical Perspective of Scar Endometriosis: A Case Series of 16 Women.

AIM: The prevalence of scar endometriosis is increasing with the increasing caesarean deliveries and laparoscopic procedures done for pelvic endometriosis. To analyse the symptomatology and surgical perspective of scar endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 16 women who underwent surgery for scar endometriosis in the period of 4 years in Amrita institute of medical sciences. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients is 35.19 years. Mean interval from the index surgery to the presentation is 4.56 years. Mean size of the swelling is 2.84 cm. In 68.8% of the patients, caesarean section was the inciting surgery. 18.7% had port site endometriosis. Cyclical pain and swelling at the scar site was present in 93.8% of the women. 18.9% had concurrent pelvic endometriosis. All women had involvement of the subcutaneous tissue followed by 11 women with the involvement of rectus sheath. There was no recurrence of the lesion in the operated patients in the mean follow-up period of 11.91 months. CONCLUSION: In all women presenting with cyclical scar site pain and swelling, scar endometriosis should be considered. It commonly follows caesarean section and laparoscopic surgeries done for endometriosis. Wide local excision with or without reconstruction is the method of choice for this condition. Role of tumescent solution during surgery and postoperative medical management to reduce recurrence needs further prospective studies.

Clinical Study of Endometrial Polyp and Role of Diagnostic Hysteroscopy and Blind Avulsion of Polyp.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial polyp is one of the common causes of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) in the reproductive age group as well as postmenopausal age group. AIM: To study the clinical features of endometrial polyp and the safety and feasibility of blind polypectomy following diagnostic hysteroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total of 256 women who were diagnosed to have endometrial polyp by transvaginal ultrasound and underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy and blind polypectomy by simple avulsion in the period of January 2008 to December 2014 were included in our study. Polyp was confirmed by the histopathology. RESULTS: The prevalence of polyp among women who underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy and blind polypectomy was more common in the age group of 40-49years. Polyps manifested as AUB in 45.6% of our study population. The mean size of the polyp was not significantly different between premenopausal and postmenopausal women and single and multiple polyps. Histopathological study of the polyp showed two malignant polyps in our study population. Premalignant lesions i.e., endometrial hyperplasia without atypia and with atypia was found in 33 women. There was one uterine perforation, one cervical tear; one false passage and one patient had mild bleeding after the procedure. In our study, in the mean follow-up period of 37.57±28.12 months, 3.9% (7 women) had recurrence. In the follow-up period of 16.56±18.96 months, 78.9% women didn't have recurrence. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic hysteroscopy and blind polypectomy has low complication rate and recurrence rate and technically feasible for the practicing gynaecologists which don't need much training and is cost-effective also.

Comparative Study of Cesarean Myomectomy with Abdominal Myomectomy in Terms of Blood Loss in Single Fibroid.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluate the safety and feasibility of cesarean myomectomy and compare this procedure with abdominal myomectomy in single fibroid, in terms of blood loss and postoperative complications. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who underwent cesarean myomectomy from June 2006 to 2012 in Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, were included in the study. Almost an equal number of patients who underwent abdominal myomectomy (32) in the same period were included. Women are divided into two groups: group 1-cesarean myomectomy, group 2-abdominal myomectomy. RESULTS: Mean age of the women was comparable; mean gestational age in group 1 was 37.97 +/- 1.57 weeks; and 60 % were primiparous. Hemoglobin (Hb) drop postoperatively was compared between the groups, and there was no significant difference. Though there was statistically significant difference among the groups regarding the size of fibroids, the main outcome measure of the study, the Hb drop was comparable between group 1 and 2. There is statistically significant difference in the Hb difference with increasing mean diameter of the fibroids. As the size increases, Hb drop also increases indicating the increasing blood loss. The measures used to reduce blood loss such as vasopressin instillation and stepwise devascularization influence the blood loss, and P value shows borderline significance. There was no difference in Hb drop among the groups according to the type of fibroids. But more subserous fibroids were removed in group 1, whereas more intramural fibroids were removed in group 2. CONCLUSION: Cesarean myomectomy can be safely done in single fibroids and is comparable to abdominal myomectomy in terms of blood loss.