Longitudinal patterns of urine biomarkers in infants across gestational ages.

BACKGROUND: Urinary biomarkers may be indicators of acute kidney injury (AKI), although little is known of their developmental characteristics in healthy neonates across a full range of gestational age (GA). The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of urinary biomarkers across GA groups from birth to 3 months of age. METHODS: Fifty-two infants ranging from 24 to 41 weeks' GA had urine assayed from birth through 3 months of age for 7 biomarkers including albumin (ALB), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), cystatin-C (CysC), epidermal growth factor (EGF), neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), osteopontin (OPN), and uromodulin (UMOD). RESULTS: Of the seven urinary biomarkers, EGF and UMOD increased while others decreased with advancing GA. By 3 months of age, EGF and UMOD had increased in preterm infants to levels similar to those of term infants. UMOD/ml and EGF/ml appeared to be predominantly developmental biomarkers distinguishing estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 ml/min/1.73 m(2) with receiver operator characteristic area under the curve (ROC-AUC) of 0.82; p = 0.002. When factored by urine creatinine CysC/cr + ALB/cr were the most significant functional markers with AUC = 0.79; p = 0.004; sensitivity 96 %; specificity 58 %. CONCLUSIONS: Among healthy neonates, urinary biomarkers vary with GA. These data support the use of urinary biomarkers in the assessment of normal kidney development in the absence of injury.

Neonatal kidney size and function in preterm infants: what is a true estimate of glomerular filtration rate?

OBJECTIVES: To distinguish between cystatin C (CysC) and creatinine (Cr) as markers of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in preterm infants and to correlate eGFR with total kidney volume (TKV) as a surrogate of nephron mass. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty preterm (<37 weeks' gestational age [GA]) and 40 term infants were enrolled at birth. Serum Cr and CysC levels were assessed during the first week of life. Renal ultrasounds were performed to assess kidney dimensions with calculation of the TKV as a surrogate of nephron mass. Six equations derived from reference inulin, iohexol, and iothalamate clearance studies were used to calculate eGFR. Multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the relative impact of neonatal measures on eGFR, including TKV, GA, and mean arterial pressure (MAP). RESULTS: Renal lengths correlated with GA and were within the reference values for intrauterine measurements. Estimation equations for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on Cr, CysC, and combined CysC + Cr demonstrated that Cr-based equations consistently underestimated GFR, whereas CysC and combined equations were more consistent with referenced inulin clearance studies. Term infants demonstrated significantly better eGFR than preterm infants. TKV, GA, and MAP correlated positively with eGFR, although only MAP and GA remained significant when adjusted for other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Primary determinants of eGFR in preterm infants are GA and MAP. The CysC level is a superior biomarker to serum Cr in the assessment of GFR in premature infants.

Fetal assessment for anesthesiologists: are you evaluating the other patient?

Suboptimal communication between anesthesiologists and obstetricians can be associated with unintended poor maternal and neonatal outcomes, especially for emergency cesarean deliveries. Obstetricians use the results of antepartum and intrapartum fetal assessments to assess fetal well-being and to make decisions about the timing and method of delivery. Because abnormal results may lead to the need for urgent or emergency cesarean deliveries, these decisions may directly impact anesthetic care. Lack of familiarity with fetal assessments and the significance of the results may thus hinder the communication necessary for optimal patient care. In this review article, we discuss the current antepartum and intrapartum fetal assessment modalities, including the nonstress test, biophysical profile, Doppler velocimetry, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring, fetal electrocardiogram (STAN-ST waveform analysis), and fetal pulse oximetry. The physiologic basis behind these modalities and the available evidence regarding their utility in clinical practice are also reviewed. The 2008 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development workshop report on electronic fetal monitoring categories, which are incorporated into the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines for intrapartum care, is examined. The implications of test interpretation to the practice of obstetric anesthesiology is also discussed. Anesthesia provider understanding of fetal assessment modalities is essential in improving communication with obstetricians and improving the planning of cesarean deliveries for high-risk obstetric patients.

Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation During Cesarean Delivery in a Patient With D-Transposition of the Great Vessels, Years Following Mustard Operation.

Patients with surgically repaired complex congenital cardiac anomalies present unique characteristics that can make the implementation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support especially challenging. Very few series have reported the outcomes of ECMO support during pregnancy and peripartum. We report a case of successful extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation during cesarean delivery in a patient with surgically repaired d-transposition of the great arteries, and we discuss particular aspects that contributed to successful implementation of ECMO support and hospital discharge.

Implementing CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care for Minority Women Living with HIV at an Urban University Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women with HIV require sustained education and support throughout pregnancy to achieve healthy perinatal outcomes. To enhance prenatal care for women with HIV, the Prenatal Immunology Service at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine adapted the Centering Healthcare Institute's CenteringPregnancy curriculum to include HIV content. Nurse-midwives introduced the curriculum in a pilot project to learn if women would enroll in group prenatal care. A retrospective record review was conducted to evaluate perinatal outcomes among women with HIV who received prenatal care in a group setting. METHODS: Data were collected from the electronic health records of women with HIV who received either CenteringPregnancy-HIV group prenatal care or traditional prenatal care between March 2015 and July 2016. Sociodemographic factors, HIV immune markers, and pregnancy and birth outcomes were reviewed. Univariate and bivariate statistics and multiple regression models assessed differences between women in CenteringPregnancy-HIV group prenatal care compared with women with HIV in traditional care. RESULTS: Among women with HIV who received prenatal care during the pilot project, 128 met eligibility criteria for review. Perinatal outcomes were analyzed for 117 women who had a live birth; of these, 14 participated in CenteringPregnancy-HIV group prenatal care, and 103 received traditional care. Demographic profiles were similar in both groups. No significant differences in perinatal outcomes were observed among women in CenteringPregnancy-HIV group prenatal care compared with women with HIV in traditional prenatal care. DISCUSSION: Women with HIV can often feel stigmatized and isolated. Group prenatal care can foster patient engagement, self-management, and social support to improve adherence to antiretroviral and other health regimens that promote healthy outcomes for both woman and newborn. Although results of this pilot study were not statistically significant, they show that CenteringPregnancy-HIV group prenatal care may be an option for women with HIV, but the benefits need further exploration in larger studies.

EXIT procedure for fetal mediastinal teratoma with large pericardial effusion: a case report with review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Large mediastinal teratomas in the fetus are rare and can present with direct compression of intrathoracic structures as well as pericardial and pleural effusions. Mediastinal fetal teratoma may be detected as a mass in the chest during a routine prenatal ultrasound. Because of the pressure on mediastinal structures it may result in non-immune fetal hydrops (NIFH) and polyhydramnios. The development of hydrops may lead to fetal demise. Timely obstetric and/or surgical intervention is important to improve survival in this patient population. Case review: We report a case of a large mediastinal teratoma in a fetus who presented with a large pericardial effusion at 28 weeks gestation. The fetus developed NIFH at 31 weeks gestation. The fetus was successfully managed with an ex utero intrapartum therapy (EXIT) procedure which involved pericardiocentesis and surgical resection of the large teratoma. Histological examination revealed an encapsulated immature teratoma. DISCUSSION: Mediastinal teratomas are usually detected by routine second- and third-trimester ultrasound. Large teratomas have been described to present with airway compromise and NIFH. Some cases have been managed by postnatal surgery and rare cases by EXIT procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of a fetal mediastinal teratoma and severe pericardial effusion who developed NIFH, in whom EXIT procedure was successfully employed to simultaneously drain the effusion and resect the tumor.

Pharmacokinetics, Antiviral Activity, and Safety of Rilpivirine in Pregnant Women with HIV-1 Infection: Results of a Phase 3b, Multicenter, Open-Label Study.

INTRODUCTION: Physiologic changes during pregnancy may impact the pharmacokinetics of drugs. In addition, efficacy and safety/tolerability concerns have been identified for some antiretroviral agents. METHODS: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected pregnant women (18-26 weeks gestation) receiving the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor rilpivirine 25 mg once daily were enrolled in this phase 3b, open-label study examining the impact of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetics of rilpivirine when it is given in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Blood samples (collected over the 24-h dosing interval) to assess total and unbound rilpivirine plasma concentrations were obtained during the second and third trimesters (24-28 and 34-38 weeks gestation, respectively) and 6-12 weeks postpartum. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived using noncompartmental analysis and compared (pregnancy versus postpartum) using linear mixed effects modeling. Antiviral and immunologic response and safety were assessed. RESULTS: Nineteen women were enrolled; 15 had evaluable pharmacokinetic results. Total rilpivirine exposure was 29-31% lower during pregnancy versus postpartum; differences were less pronounced for unbound (pharmacodynamically active) rilpivirine. At study entry, 12/19 (63.2%) women were virologically suppressed; 10/12 (83.3%) women were suppressed at the postpartum visit. Twelve infants were born to the 12 women who completed the study (7 discontinued); no perinatal viral transmission was observed among 10 infants with available data. Rilpivirine was generally safe and well tolerated in women and infants exposed in utero. CONCLUSION: Despite decreased rilpivirine exposure during pregnancy, treatment was effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission and suppressing HIV-1 RNA in pregnant women. Results suggest that rilpivirine 25 mg once daily, as part of individualized combination antiretroviral therapy, may be an appropriate option for HIV-1-infected pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT00855335.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of stavudine in HIV-infected pregnant women and their infants: Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 332.

This study evaluates the safety, tolerance, and pharmacokinetics of stavudine (d4T) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected zidovudine (ZDV)-intolerant/refusing pregnant women and of single-dose d4T in their infants. Women received d4T and lamivudine (3TC) from enrollment until labor. During labor, women received oral 3TC and either intravenous or oral d4T. Infants received ZDV and 3TC for 6 weeks and a single dose of oral d4T at weeks 1 and 6. Mean maternal antenatal d4T pharmacokinetics (terminal plasma half-life [T1/2], 83.5+/-16.8 min; area under the plasma-concentration time curve [AUC0-infinity), 81.6+/-22.0 microg.min/mL; n=6) were not significantly different from those during labor (T(1/2), 87.3+/-24.7 min; AUC0-infinity, 88.1+/-16.6 microg.min/mL; n=6). Umbilical-cord and maternal plasma concentrations were not significantly different from one another. The oral clearance of d4T in infants was significantly greater at week 6 versus week 1 (6.8+/-1.0 vs. 5.6+/-1.2 mL/min/kg). There were no toxicities, in women or infants, that required discontinuation or modification of the study drug. No infants had positive HIV viral diagnostic tests. d4T with or without 3TC is a potential alternative to ZDV for HIV-infected pregnant women.