Pregnancy outcomes in patients with familial Mediterranean fever: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between FMF and pregnancy outcomes remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify this association. METHODS: Electronic databases-PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and EMBASE-were searched on 20 December 2022, using specific search terms. Case-control, cohort, and randomized clinical trial studies comparing patients with FMF and healthy controls were considered eligible. We excluded systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case series with fewer than five cases, republished articles without new findings on pregnancy outcomes, studies targeting paternal FMF, and those not published in English. The results were summarized in the form of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, using a random-effects model. This study was registered in the University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (Japan) as UMIN000049827. RESULTS: The initial electronic search identified 611 records, of which 9 were included in this meta-analysis (177 735 pregnancies, 1242 with FMF, and 176 493 healthy controls). FMF was significantly associated with increased odds of preterm deliveries (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.05-2.67; I2 = 22%) and insignificantly associated with increased odds of fetal growth restriction (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.90-2.34; I2 = 0%) and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.87-1.87; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: FMF was significantly associated with preterm delivery and insignificantly associated with fetal growth restriction and hypertensive disorders. All of the included studies were observational studies. Treatment characteristics were not fully collected from the articles, and further analysis of treatments for FMF in pregnancy is still warranted.

The indicators for early blood transfusion in patients with placental abruption with intrauterine fetal death: a retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: Placental abruption (PA) with intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) is associated with a high risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) resulting from severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Therefore, blood products that are sufficient for coagulation factor replacement must be prepared, and delivery should occur at referral medical institutions that are equipped with sufficient blood products and emergency transfusion protocols. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with PA and IUFD (PA-IUFD) to identify possible factors that may indicate the need for early blood transfusion and investigated whether the Japanese scoring system for PPH can be applied in such cases. METHODS: We used a database of 16,058 pregnant patients who delivered at Yokohama City University Medical Center between January 2000 and February 2016. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with PA-IUFD before delivery and categorized into two groups-blood transfusion and non-transfusion-to compare the maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: In patients with PA-IUFD, the transfusion group exhibited significantly more blood loss; lower fibrinogen levels and platelet counts; higher levels of fibrin degradation products (FDP), D-dimer, and prothrombin time; and a tendency for tachycardia on admission, compared to the non-transfusion group. Many patients in the transfusion group had normal fibrinogen levels on admission but later displayed markedly decreased fibrinogen levels. The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) DIC score was significantly higher in the transfusion than in the non-transfusion group. CONCLUSIONS: In PA-IUFD, the fibrinogen level, platelet count, D-dimer, FDP, heart rate, and JSOG DIC score on admission may indicate the need for blood transfusion. However, even with normal fibrinogen levels on admission, continuous monitoring is indispensable for identifying progressive fibrinogen reductions in patients with PA-IUFD.

Fertility preservation immediately after therapeutic abortion results in multiple normal follicular growth with the absence of mature oocytes due to early luteinization: a case report and literature review.

Cancer therapy has priority over fertility preservation. The time available for fertility preservation in patients with cancer is often very limited and depends on the condition of the underlying disease. This case report presents the results of two rounds of controlled ovarian stimulations (COSs) performed after an induced abortion. The patient had mixed phenotype acute leukemia diagnosed during early pregnancy and underwent a surgical abortion, followed by ovarian stimulation using urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (uFSH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. Oocyte retrieval was subsequently performed for oocyte cryopreservation. Despite good hormonal and ultrasonic follicular growth, no oocytes were obtained. During a second COS performed at a low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level (less than 100 IU/L), several mature oocytes were obtained, suggesting that higher hCG levels during COS induce the absence of mature oocytes during normal follicular growth. It is recommended to start COS post-abortion after confirming a low hCG level while considering the timing of cancer treatment.

Peripheral chemoreflex control of fetal heart rate decelerations overwhelms the baroreflex during brief umbilical cord occlusions in fetal sheep.

KEY POINTS: The majority of intrapartum decelerations are widely believed to be mediated by the baroreflex secondary to brief umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) but this remains unproven. We examined the responses to brief-UCOs in fetal sheep and compared these to a phenylephrine-stimulated baroreflex in a separate cohort. A further cohort was instrumented with near-infrared spectroscopy to measure cerebral oxygenation during UCO. The first 3-4 s of the brief-UCOs were consistent with a baroreflex, and associated with a minor fall in fetal heart rate (FHR). Thereafter, the remainder of the FHR decelerations were highly consistent with the peripheral chemoreflex. The baroreflex is not sufficient to produce deep, rapid decelerations characteristic of variable decelerations and it is therefore likely to be a minor contributor to intrapartum decelerations. ABSTRACT: Fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring is widely used to assess fetal wellbeing during labour, yet the physiology underlying FHR patterns remains incompletely understood. The baroreflex is widely believed to mediate brief intrapartum decelerations, but evidence supporting this theory is lacking. We therefore investigated the physiological changes in near-term fetal sheep during brief repeated umbilical cord occlusions (brief-UCOs, n = 15). We compared this to separate cohorts that underwent a phenylephrine challenge to stimulate the baroreflex (n = 9) or were instrumented with near-infrared spectroscopy and underwent prolonged 15-min complete UCO (prolonged-UCO, n = 9). The first 3-4 s of brief-UCOs were associated with hypertension (P = 0.000), a fall in FHR by 9.7-16.9 bpm (P = 0.002). The FHR/MAP relationship during this time was consistent with that observed during a phenylephrine-induced baroreflex. At 4-5 s, the FHR/MAP relationship began to deviate from the phenylephrine baroreflex curve as FHR fell independently of MAP until its nadir in association with intense peripheral vasoconstriction (P = 0.000). During prolonged-UCO, cerebral oxygenation remained steady until 4 s after the start of prolonged-UCO, and then began to fall (P = 0.000). FHR and cerebral oxygenation then fell in parallel until the FHR nadir. In conclusion, the baroreflex has a minor role in mediating the first 3-4 s of FHR decelerations during complete UCO, but thereafter the peripheral chemoreflex is the dominant mediator. Overall, the baroreflex is neither necessary nor sufficient to produce deep, rapid decelerations characteristic of variable decelerations; it is therefore likely to be a minor contributor to intrapartum decelerations.

Parasympathetic activity is the key regulator of heart rate variability between decelerations during brief repeated umbilical cord occlusions in fetal sheep.

Fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) is a widely used index of intrapartum well being. Both arms of the autonomic system regulate FHRV under normoxic conditions in the antenatal period. However, autonomic control of FHRV during labor when the fetus is exposed to repeated, brief hypoxemia during uterine contractions is poorly understood. We have previously shown that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) does not regulate FHRV during labor-like hypoxia. We therefore investigated the hypothesis that the parasympathetic system is the main mediator of intrapartum FHRV. Twenty-six chronically instrumented fetal sheep at 0.85 of gestation received either bilateral cervical vagotomy (n = 7), atropine sulfate (n = 7), or sham treatment (control, n = 12), followed by three 1-min complete umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) separated by 4-min reperfusion periods. Parasympathetic blockade reduced three measures of FHRV before UCOs (all P < 0.01). Between UCOs, atropine and vagotomy were associated with marked tachycardia (both P < 0.005), suppressed measures of FHRV (all P < 0.01), and abolished FHRV on visual inspection compared with the control group. Tachycardia in the atropine and vagotomy groups resolved over the first 10 min after the final UCO, in association with evidence that the SNS contribution to FHRV progressively returned during this time. Our findings support that SNS control of FHRV is acutely suppressed for at least 4 min after a deep intrapartum deceleration and takes 5-10 min to recover. The parasympathetic system is therefore likely to be the key mediator of FHRV once frequent FHR decelerations are established during labor.

Circulating catecholamines partially regulate T-wave morphology but not heart rate variability during repeated umbilical cord occlusions in fetal sheep.

Fetal heart rate (FHR) variability (FHRV) and ST segment morphology are potential clinical indices of fetal well-being during labor. ß-Adrenergic stimulation by circulating catecholamines has been hypothesized to contribute to both FHRV and ST segment morphology during labor, but this has not been tested during brief repeated fetal hypoxemia that is characteristic of labor. Near-term fetal sheep (0.85 gestation) received propranolol (ß-adrenergic blockade; n = 10) or saline (n = 7) 30 min before being exposed to three 2-min complete umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) separated by 3-min reperfusions. T/QRS ratio was calculated throughout UCOs and reperfusion periods, and measures of FHRV (RMSSD, SDNN, and STV) were calculated between UCOs. During the baseline period, before the start of UCOs, propranolol was associated with reduced FHR, SDNN, and STV but did not affect RMSSD or T/QRS ratio. UCOs were associated with rapid FHR decelerations and increased T/QRS ratio; propranolol significantly reduced FHR during UCOs and was associated with a slower rise in T/QRS ratio during the first UCOs, without affecting the maximal rise or T/QRS ratio during the second and third UCO. Between UCOs propranolol reduced FHR and T/QRS ratio but did not affect any measure of FHRV. These data demonstrate that circulating catecholamines do not contribute to FHRV during labor-like hypoxemia. Furthermore, circulating catecholamines did not contribute to the major rise in T/QRS ratio during labor-like hypoxemia but may regulate T/QRS ratio between brief hypoxemia.

Plasma vasopressin levels are closely associated with fetal hypotension and neuronal injury after hypoxia-ischemia in near-term fetal sheep.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive biomarkers are needed to rapidly identify high-risk infants after hypoxia-ischemia for neuroprotective treatment. Hypotension is a key determinant of hypoxic-ischemic neural injury, and a potent stimulus of humoral pressors including angiotensin-II and arginine vasopressin. We therefore aimed to quantify the relationship between vasopressin and angiotensin-II levels in the latent phase after hypoxia-ischemia induced by umbilical cord occlusion (UCO) with both the severity of preceding hypotension and subsequent neuronal injury. METHODS: Chronically instrumented near-term fetal sheep underwent sham-UCO or UCO for either 15 min or until mean arterial pressure was <8 mmHg. Neuronal injury was assessed after 72 h recovery. RESULTS: Umbilical cord occlusion was associated with severe hypotension that recovered after UCO; two fetuses developed profound secondary hypotension within 6 h and died. Vasopressin levels but not angiotensin-II were significantly elevated 1-3 h after UCO and were closely associated with the severity of hypotension during UCO and the subsequent severity of neuronal loss in the parasagittal and lateral cortex, caudate nucleus and putamen. The Youden cut-point for vasopressin at 1 h was 180.0 pmol/L, with sensitivity 100% and specificity 92.3% for severe neuronal injury or death. CONCLUSION: Vasopressin levels shortly after moderate-severe hypoxia-ischemia may be a useful early biomarker to guide the timely implementation of neuroprotective treatment. IMPACT: It can be difficuIt to rapidly identify infants who might benefit from therapeutic hypothermia. We investigated whether increases in plasma pressor hormones early after hypoxia-ischemia were biomarkers for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy using near-term fetal sheep. Arginine vasopressin levels were elevated at 1-3 h after hypoxia-ischemia and were predictive of the severity of preceding hypotension and subsequent risk of severe neuronal injury or death after hypoxia-ischemia. Arginine vasopressin may help identify neonates at high risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy early within the therapeutic window for hypothermia.

Early sinusoidal heart rate patterns and heart rate variability to assess hypoxia-ischaemia in near-term fetal sheep.

KEY POINTS: •Therapeutic hypothermia needs to be started as early as possible in the first 6 h after acute injury caused by hypoxia-ischaemia (HI), but the severity and timing of HI are often unclear. In this study we evaluated whether measures of heart rate variability (HRV) might provide early biomarkers of HI. •The duration but not magnitude of suppression of HRV power and conversely increased sample entropy of the heart rate were associated with severity of HI, such that changes in the first 3 h did not discriminate between groups. •Relative changes in HRV power bands showed different patterns between groups and therefore may have the potential to evaluate the severity of HI. •Aberrant fetal heart rate patterns and increased arginine vasopressin levels in the first hour after moderate and severe HI were correlated with loss of EEG power after 3 days' recovery, suggesting potential utility as early biomarkers of outcome. ABSTRACT: Therapeutic hypothermia is partially neuroprotective after acute injury caused by hypoxia-ischaemia (HI), likely because the timing and severity of HI are often unclear, making timely recruitment for treatment challenging. We evaluated the utility of changes in heart rate variability (HRV) after HI as biomarkers of the timing and severity of acute HI. Chronically instrumented fetal sheep at 0.85 gestational age were exposed to different durations of umbilical cord occlusion to produce mild (n = 6), moderate (n = 8) or severe HI (n = 8) or to sham occlusion (n = 5). Heart rate (HR) and HRV indices were assessed until 72 h after HI. All HI groups showed suppressed very low frequency HRV power and elevated sample entropy for the first 3 h; more prolonged changes were associated with greater severity of HI. Analysis of relative changes in spectral power showed that the moderate and severe groups showed a shift towards higher HRV frequencies, which was most marked after severe HI. This shift was associated with abnormal rhythmic HR patterns including sinusoidal patterns in the first hour after HI, and with elevated plasma levels of arginine vasopressin, which were correlated with subsequent loss of EEG power by day 3. In conclusion, absolute changes in HRV power in the first 3 h after acute HI were not significantly related to the severity of HI. The intriguing relative shift in spectral power towards higher frequencies likely reflects greater autonomic dysfunction after severe HI. However, sinusoidal HR patterns and elevated vasopressin levels may have utility as biomarkers of severe HI.

Association of antenatal antithrombin activity with perinatal liver dysfunction: A prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Liver dysfunction with decreased antithrombin (AT) activity and/or thrombocytopenia is life threatening in pregnant women. Whether AT is clinically useful for prediction of liver dysfunction remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 541 women were registered prospectively at gestational week 34.7 (20.0-41.4) with available data on antenatal AT and platelet count (PLC). RESULTS: Liver dysfunction defined as serum aspartate aminotransferase > 45 IU/L concomitant with lactate dehydrogenase > 400 IU/L occurred in five women antenatally (≤ 2 weeks before delivery) and in 17 women post-partum (within 1 week post-partum). Median (5th-95th) antenatal value was 85 (62-110)% for AT and 202 (118-315) × 109 /L for PLC in the 541 women and was significantly lower in women with than without perinatal liver dysfunction; 75 (51-108) versus 86 (62-110)% and 179 (56-244) versus 203 (121-316) × 109 /L, respectively. Nineteen (86%) women with liver dysfunction showed AT ≤ 62% or thrombocytopenia (PLC ≤ 118 × 109 /L) perinatally, but five lacked thrombocytopenia throughout the perinatal period. The best cut-off (AT, 77%; PLC, 139 × 109 /L) suggested by receiver operating characteristic curve gave antenatal AT and PLC sensitivity of 59% and 41% with positive predictive value of 8.6% and 14%, respectively, and combined use of AT and PLC improved sensitivity to 73% (16/22) with positive predictive value of 9.2% for prediction of perinatal liver dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced AT not accompanied by thrombocytopenia can precede liver dysfunction. Clinical introduction of AT may enhance the safety of pregnant women.

Prediction of perinatal outcomes based on primary symptoms in women with placental abruption.

AIMS: Placental abruption is an important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Although there are many reports on the risk factors for placental abruption, there are few on its classification. Our aim is to evaluate the associations between primary symptoms and the outcomes of placental abruption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 12,474 births at the Perinatal Center for Maternity and Neonates of the Yokohama City University Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2012. There were 151 women with placental abruption, 136 of whom were included in this study. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their primary symptoms: those with bleeding (external bleeding group) and those with abdominal pain (abdominal pain group). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Both fetal and maternal outcomes were significantly poorer in the abdominal pain group than in the external bleeding group in terms of intrauterine fetal death (6.5% vs 33.3%, P < 0.001), perinatal mortality (8.1% vs 33.3%, P = 0.001), umbilical arterial pH < 7.1 (15.7% vs 57.1%, P < 0.001), bleeding volume, rate of blood transfusion, and disseminated intravascular coagulation incidence. CONCLUSIONS: This classification based on primary symptoms was found to be useful for predicting both maternal and neonatal outcomes of placental abruption.

A case of cardiac arrest due to postpartum hemorrhage treated with hysterectomy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is relatively contraindicated in patients with severe disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), it can be safely introduced by providing adequate anti-DIC therapy.

Fetal heart rate variability is a biomarker of rapid but not progressive exacerbation of inflammation in preterm fetal sheep.

Perinatal infection/inflammation can trigger preterm birth and contribute to neurodevelopmental disability. There are currently no sensitive, specific methods to identify perinatal infection. We investigated the utility of time, frequency and non-linear measures of fetal heart rate (FHR) variability (FHRV) to identify either progressive or more rapid inflammation. Chronically instrumented preterm fetal sheep were randomly assigned to one of three different 5d continuous i.v. infusions: 1) control (saline infusions; n = 10), 2) progressive lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 200 ng/kg over 24 h, doubled every 24 h for 5d, n = 8), or 3) acute-on-chronic LPS (100 ng/kg over 24 h then 250 ng/kg/24 h for 4d plus 1 µg boluses at 48, 72, and 96 h, n = 9). Both LPS protocols triggered transient increases in multiple measures of FHRV at the onset of infusions. No FHRV or physiological changes occurred from 12 h after starting progressive LPS infusions. LPS boluses during the acute-on-chronic protocol triggered transient hypotension, tachycardia and an initial increase in multiple time and frequency domain measures of FHRV, with an asymmetric FHR pattern of predominant decelerations. Following resolution of hypotension after the second and third LPS boluses, all frequencies of FHRV became suppressed. These data suggest that FHRV may be a useful biomarker of rapid but not progressive preterm infection/inflammation.

Tadalafil treatment for fetuses with early-onset growth restriction: a protocol for a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase II trial (TADAFER IIb).

INTRODUCTION: TheTADAlafil treatment for Fetuses with early-onset growth Restriction: multicentrer, randomizsed, phase II trial (TADAFER II) study showed the possibility of prolonging the pregnancy period in cases of early-onset fetal growth restriction; however, it was an open-label study. To establish further evidence for the efficacy of tadalafil in this setting, we planned a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This trial will be conducted in 180 fetuses with fetal growth restriction enrolled from medical centres in Japan; their mothers will be randomised into three groups: arm A, receiving two times per day placebo; arm B, receiving one time per day 20 mg tadalafil and one time per day placebo and arm C, receiving 20 mg two times per day tadalafil. The primary endpoint is the prolongation of gestational age at birth, defined as days from the first day of the protocol-defined treatment to birth. To minimise bias in terms of fetal baseline conditions and timing of delivery, a fetal indication for delivery as in TADAFER II will be established in this trial. The investigator will evaluate fetal baseline conditions at enrolment and decide the timing of delivery based on this indication. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by Mie University Hospital Clinical Research Review Board on 22 July 2019 (S2018-007). Written informed consent will be obtained from all mothers before recruitment. Our findings will be widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: jRCTs041190065.

Risk Factors for Chlamydia trachomatis Infection and Preterm Birth in Pregnant Japanese Women: Does Chlamydial Infection Cause Preterm Birth?

The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for chlamydial infection and determine whether infection during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth in Japanese women. The subjects were women who underwent Chlamydia trachomatis polymerase chain reaction testing during a singleton pregnancy and delivered after the 22nd week of gestation at a tertiary care center between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2016. We compared Chlamydia-positive (n = 259) and Chlamydianegative (n = 1,974) groups and evaluated the pregnancy outcomes. The Chlamydia-positive group had a higher rate of public assistance coverage, smoking during pregnancy, nulliparity, lack of a partner, presence of other sexually transmitted infections, high-risk social status, and younger age (P < 0.01). The incidence of preterm births was not different between the groups, with an odds ratio of 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.62-1.46). The incidences of low birth weight deliveries, premature rupture of membranes, and preterm premature rupture of membranes prior to the 37th week were also comparable between the groups. Chlamydial infection during pregnancy had no effect on preterm birth, even after adjustment for confounding factors.

Expectant Management Leading to Successful Vaginal Delivery following Intrauterine Fetal Death in a Woman with an Incarcerated Uterus.

Expectant management leads to successful vaginal delivery following intrauterine fetal death in a woman with an incarcerated uterus. Management of intrauterine fetal death in the second or third trimester of pregnancy in women with an incarcerated uterus is challenging. We report a case of successful vaginal delivery following intrauterine fetal death by expectant management in a woman with an incarcerated uterus. In cases of intrauterine fetal death in women with an incarcerated uterus, vaginal delivery may be possible if the incarceration is successfully reduced. If the reduction is impossible, expectant management can reduce uterine retroversion, thereby leading to spontaneous reduction of the incarcerated uterus. Thereafter, vaginal delivery may be possible.

Emergent Uterine Arterial Embolization Using N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate in Postpartum Hemorrhage with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.

Although it is widely accepted that uterine artery embolization (UAE) is an effective therapeutic strategy for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), no consensus has been reached regarding the efficacy of UAE in patients with PPH with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients treated with UAE using NBCA for PPH between 2010 and 2015. The patients were divided into DIC and non-DIC groups, according to the obstetrical DIC score and the overt DIC diagnostic criteria issued by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), and their clinical outcomes were compared. There were 28 patients treated with UAE using NBCA. Complete hemostasis was achieved by UAE in 19 of 28 patients. In eight of nine patients with unsuccessful hemostasis, surgical hemostatic interventions were performed after UAE, and hemostasis was achieved in seven patients. UAE using NBCA showed no significant intergroup differences in complete hemostasis according to the presence or absence of DIC based on obstetrical DIC score (70% versus 62.5%, P = 1.000) or ISTH DIC score (54.5% versus 76.5%, P = 0.409). UAE using NBCA may be a useful first-choice treatment for PPH with DIC.

Hygroscopic dilators vs balloon catheter ripening of the cervix for induction of labor in nulliparous women at term: Retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of hygroscopic dilators and balloon catheters for ripening of the cervix in induction of labor. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective, observational study used data from the Successive Pregnancy Birth Registry System of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2012 to 2014. Nulliparous women in whom labor was induced by mechanical methods of cervical ripening at term were enrolled. The eligible women were divided into dilator, balloon <40 mL, balloon ≧40 mL, and overlapping groups. RESULTS: The groups included 4645, 4100, 6615, and 1992 women, respectively. In the overlapping group, which included the women in whom delivery was most difficult, the vaginal delivery rate was lower and the intrauterine infection and neonatal mortality rates were higher than those in the dilator group. No difference in the vaginal delivery rate was observed among the dilator, balloon <40 mL, and balloon ≧40 mL groups (74.6%, 72.3%, and 73.8%, respectively; p>0.05). The vaginal instrumental delivery rate was higher in the two-balloon groups than in the dilator group. The volume of intrapartum hemorrhage was lowest in the dilator group. No significant difference in the frequencies of uterine rupture and intrauterine infection were observed among the dilator and two-balloon groups. With regard to neonatal outcomes, the frequency of a low Apgar score was statistically significantly lower in the dilator group than in the two-balloon groups. Moreover, the frequency of neonatal death tended to be lower in the dilator group than in the two-balloon groups. CONCLUSION: With regard to cervical ripening for labor induction in nulliparous women at term, the vaginal delivery rate on using a dilator and on using a balloon seems to be equivalent. Concerning maternal complications and neonatal outcomes, cervical ripening with hygroscopic dilators in labor induction might be safer.