Mercury speciation in prenatal exposure in Slovenian and Croatian population - PHIME study.

In recent years, several studies have addressed the issue of prenatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg); however, few have actually analysed MeHg blood concentrations. Our study population included mothers and their new-borns from Slovenia (central region; N = 584) and Croatia (coastal region; N = 234). We have measurements of total Hg (THg) and MeHg in maternal hair, maternal peripheral blood, and cord blood. Cord blood Hg concentrations were low to moderate (median THg = 1.84 ng/g and MeHg = 1.69 ng/g). The proportion of THg as MeHg (%MeHg) in maternal and cord blood varied between 4% and 100% (coefficient of variation, CV = 32%) and between 8% and 100% (CV = 20%), respectively. Our data shows that variability of %MeHg was higher at lower blood THg levels. Concentrations of MeHg in maternal blood and cord blood were highly correlated (Rs = 0.943), in the case of inorganic Hg correlation was significant but weaker (Rs = 0.198). MeHg levels in maternal blood and cord blood were positively associated with seafood intake, maternal age, and negatively associated with pre-pregnancy BMI. Additionally, MeHg in maternal blood was positively associated with plasma selenium levels, and cord blood MeHg was negatively associated with parity. The results of multiple linear regression models showed that speciation analysis provides more defined estimation of prenatal exposure in association modelling. Associations between Hg exposure and cognitive performance of children (assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler development) adjusted for maternal or child Apolipoprotein E genotypes showed higher model R2 and lower p-values when adjusted for MeHg compared to THg. This study demonstrates that Hg speciation improves the association between exposure and possible negative health effects.

Prenatal mercury exposure, neurodevelopment and apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to mercury (Hg) and neurodevelopment of the child, taking into account genetic polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (Apoe) and other relevant confounders. Six hundred and one mother-child pairs were recruited from the central Slovenia region and 243 from Rijeka, on the Croatian coast of the northern Adriatic. The total Hg in cord blood, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) assessment at 18 months of age and Apoe genotyping was performed on 361 children; 237 of them were from Slovenia and 124 from Croatia. The results showed negative association between low-to-moderate Hg exposure in children with normal neurodevelopmental outcome and cognitive and fine motor scores at 18 months of age as assessed by Bayley III. The Hg-related decrease in cognitive score was observed only in children carrying at least one Apoe ε4 allele, while the decrease in fine motor scores was independent of the Apoe genotype. Adjusting for selenium (Se) and lead (Pb) levels, a positive association between Se and the language score and a negative association between Pb and the motor score was observed, but not in the subgroup of children carrying the ε4 allele.

A critical appraisal and potentially new conceptual approach to screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

The aim of this article was a critical appraisal of current GDM screening and diagnosis status as well as a presentation of a potentially new approach to this perinatologic and public health problem of increasing clinical significance. Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched. Most professional organisations recommend universal screening at 24-28 weeks of gestation, while some of them state that selective screening could also be recommended. Expert opinions regarding GDM diagnosis significantly differ throughout the world. Authors call for an open and broad professional and scientific discussion and suggest a combination of screening and diagnosis procedures in a form of one-step 1-h screening method, creation of regional GDM diagnostic criteria and standardisation of outcome-based randomised control trials. They also advise introduction of a conceptually new approach, where the risk of hyperglycaemia rather than insisting on GDM diagnosis itself should be detected.

[THE INCIDENCE OF PERIPARTUM HYSTERECTOMY IN FIVE CROATIAN HOSPITALS DURING A SIXTEEN-YEAR PERIOD]. / UCESTALOST PERIPARTALNIH HISTEREKTOMIJA U PET HRVATSKIH BOLNICA TIJEKOM SESNAESTOGODISNJEG RAZDOBLJA.

INTRODUCTION: Peripartal hysterectomy (PPH) is a life saving surgical procedure that is performed when conservative measures fail to control bleeding. According to literature data there is an increase in incidence among developed countries. AIM: To define the rate of PPH during two eight-year periods in five Croatian hospitals in respect to mode of delivery. METHODS: Patients data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of the five Croatian hospitals. We analyzed data from 1998 to 2013, and divided them in two eight-year periods. RESULTS: In 70 cases out of 153,302 deliveries urgent PPH was performed. PPH after vaginal deliveries was found in 0.21%o and 0.16%o and PPH after caesarean section was 1.91 %o and 2.04%o in the first and second period, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There is no increase of PPH rate in the two analyzed periods, although there is a statistically significant increase of caesarean section rate. Caesarean section presents higher risk for PPH.

How should we screen for gestational diabetes?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Regarding the various aspects of screening strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to express important conclusions, the recent literature in the field is reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: There are no randomized controlled trials examining the effects of different screening methods on health outcomes. Only few studies investigated the new screening strategies. There is an agreement that universal GDM screening is cost-effective. Several professional societies changed their own guidelines recommending universal GDM screening. Currently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and the U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommend routine risk-factor-based screening, whereas the Canadian Diabetes Association, Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and ATLANTIC Diabetes in Pregnancy recommend that all asymptomatic women should be screened at 24-28 weeks' gestation. The American Diabetes Association recommends screening all women with a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT). The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups recommend no glucose challenge test, but proposed new screening criteria introducing fasting glucose levels less than 5.1 mmol/l. SUMMARY: There is more and more evidence in the recent literature that GDM screening should be universally performed at 24-28 gestational weeks and followed by definitive testing in women who are labeled as high-risk population. Logically, the best strategy would be connecting the screening with diagnosing GDM in the same procedure using a 75-g oGTT, which should be evaluated. General consensus is about measuring plasma glucose to detect pregestational diabetes in high-risk populations by early testing before 20 weeks of gestation.

[Do we need to differentiate between complication and malpractice?]. / Treba li odlucivati izmedu komplikacije i strucne pogreseke?

The paper discusses the issue of justifiability and practical value of deciding between a medical complication and a medical error, the subject which has recently been frequently debated among doctors, at court trials and in media. The authors clearly define the meaning of the terms of medical complication and medical error, pointing out that they belong to an entirely different class of terms and further stating that it is not realistic to decide between them in practice. They go on to emphasise that they should be viewed exclusively as obligatory dependent variables. Medical complication may be declared to be a direct consequence of medical error only when forensic and medical expert reports have established a causal relationship between the two. The paper proposes possible causes and circumstances in which medical complications may occur. Special emphasis is given to the fact that not every adverse event or harmful outcome should be automatically identified as medical error. In order to make such identification, all circumstances leading to an adverse outcome need to be clearly established through expert medical expertise. Instead of conclusion, the authors advocate abandonment of existing erroneous concept of deciding between complication and error and the introduction of a new and better concept that views complication as generally undesirable, adverse and harmful consequence while, in order to decide on the occurrence of medical error and possible link with the resulting complication, an objective and thorough forensic and medical expertise on the mechanism(s) and/or causes of the complication is required.

Lamellar body count as a diagnostic test in predicting neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

AIM: To determine the lamellar body count (LBC) cutoff value for fetal lung maturity and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of LBC in predicting the severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from 2002 until 2010. LBC was estimated in uncentrifugated amniotic fluid samples using Cell-Dyn 1800 analyzer. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by amniocentesis or by puncturing embryonic membranes during cesarean section. The presence of mild, moderate, and severe RDS was assessed by neonatologist. RESULTS: A total of 313 patients with singleton pregnancies (24-41 weeks) were included in the study and 294 met the inclusion criteria. RDS was diagnosed in 28 neonates - mild in 8, moderate in 10, and severe in 10. In premature neonates (<37 gestational weeks), significant differences in LBC were only found between the subgroup without RDS and the group with moderate and the group with severe RDS (P<0.001). In all neonates, significant differences were found between neonates without RDS and neonates with RDS. Using LBC cutoff value of ≥20,000/µL, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of LBC in determining mature fetal lungs were 96%, 88%, 45.6%, and 99.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that LBC cutoff value of ≥20,000/µL can predict pulmonary maturity and reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Vaginal delivery and continuous epidural analgesia: should we change our clinical approach?

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of continuous epidural analgesia (EA) on the course of vaginal delivery with an emphasis on duration of labor and instrumental interventions. In a prospective 2-year trial, the study group included singleton vaginal births between 35 and 41 gestational weeks with a vertex fetus, in which continuous EA with bupivacaine or chirocaine in concentration of 0.125% combined with 2-4 microg of fentanyl or 0.5 microg of sufenta was used. The control group was created randomly from laboring patients with singleton pregnancies but without EA. The groups were adjusted for epidemiological characteristics and compared regarding the obstetric data and perinatal outcome. Student t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test were performed for normally and non-normally distributed results, respectively. Out of 1284 patients, 551 pregnant women were included in the study group and 733 in the control group. The statistically significant differences between the groups related to duration of the first and second stage of labor, frequency of premature rupture of membranes, intrapartal complications, and incidence of operative deliveries were found. Both stages of labor were significantly protracted and the incidence of operative deliveries was higher in the study group of patients compared with controls. There is a need for an active obstetric approach and management of vaginal deliveries of women who receive continuous EA, particularly if it is medically indicated.

Nutrient Intake during Pregnancy and Adherence to Dietary Recommendations: The Mediterranean PHIME Cohort.

Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy.

Stress and anxiety in relation to amniocentesis: do women who perceive their partners to be more involved in pregnancy feel less stressed and anxious?

AIM: To assess whether imminent amniocentesis is associated with the perception of increased stress and state anxiety in women and their partners and whether greater partner's involvement during pregnancy alleviates women's stress and anxiety. METHODS: Two hundred twenty women awaiting amniocentesis and 90 male partners participated in the study. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Partner's Involvement in Pregnancy Scale were administered. Statistical analysis was performed using t test, one way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS: Imminent amniocentesis caused increased stress (17.6 +/- 6.8; t = 7.32, P < 0.001) and anxiety (42.0 +/- 11.9; t = 8.51, P < 0.001) in pregnant women, but not their partners (stress: 14.3 +/- 6.1; t = 0.17, P = 0.862; anxiety: 36.4 +/- 10.40; t = 0.66, P = 0.510). Stress was even more pronounced in women who experienced another stressor, like unplanned pregnancy, prenatal-related nausea and vomiting, or chromosomal aberration in a previous pregnancy. Significant negative correlation was found for women's stress and their perception of their partner's involvement during pregnancy (r = -0.23; P = 0.001); the same was not found for women's anxiety. CONCLUSION: Greater partner's involvement during pregnancy could diminish women's stress, but elevated state anxiety just before amniocentesis could not be alleviated in the same way. Thus, health care professionals must pay greater attention to the psychological status of women undergoing amniocentesis to help them better cope with the situation.

Trace elements and APOE polymorphisms in pregnant women and their new-borns.

We investigated the relationship between lipid binding glycoprotein apolipoprotein E (apoE; gene APOE) polymorphisms (ε4 allele carriers versus no carriers = Îµ4+/ε4-) and trace elements (TEs) (e.g., (methyl)mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc) in mothers (N = 223) and their new-borns (N = 213) exposed to potentially toxic metal(loid)s from seafood consumption. The apoE isoform encoded by the ε4 allele is believed to have beneficial effects in early life but represents a risk factor for age-associated diseases. Under certain conditions ε4 carriers are more susceptible to oxidative stress and metal(loid) toxicity. DNA from Croatian pregnant women (N = 223, third trimester) and their new-borns (N = 176), was genotyped for APOE by TaqMan® SNP assay - rs429358 and rs7412. Seafood intake data and TE levels in maternal urine, milk, hair, peripheral venous blood, mixed cord blood, and new-borns' urine were available from previous studies. We compared TEs between ε4+ and ε4- carriers using Mann-Whitney U tests and applied multiple linear regression models to analyse the TE's dependence on the presence of allele ε4 (genotypes ε3/ε4, ε4/ε4) in combination with other explanatory variables. We identified 17% (n = 37) and 20% (n = 35) ε4 allele carriers in mothers and new-borns, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that mothers with the ε4 allele had significantly higher mean levels of (methyl)mercury in peripheral venous blood, cord blood, and hair; arsenic in urine and cord blood; and selenium in peripheral venous blood and plasma. However, taking confounders into account, only the maternal plasma selenium remained statistically significant in the linear regression models (ε4 carriers vs non-carriers: 62.6 vs 54.9 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Literature suggestions of possible ε4 allele impact on Hg levels were not observed, while superior selenium status observed in healthy pregnant women carrying allele ε4 could be linked to the proposed APOE ε4 beneficial effects early in life.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a 5-year analysis of the wartime and postwar period in South-Western region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hypertensive disorders are among the most common complications in pregnancy and a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors and adverse perinatal outcomes of pregnancies in mothers with hypertensive disorders, as well as the adequacy of prenatal care during the wartime and postwar period in South-Western region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study included a total of 542 pregnancies with hypertensive disorders during 5-year study period (1995-1999) and 1559 randomly selected controls. Data on risk factors, adverse perinatal outcomes (for singleton pregnancies only) and prenatal care on pregnant women were extracted from the medical records and compared with controls. Chi-square test and crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used in statistical analysis. The average five-year incidence of hypertensive pregnancy disorders was 6.5% and it was significantly higher in 1995, the last year of the war, than in the postwar period (1996-1999) (p = 0.02). Factors significantly associated with hypertensive pregnancy disorders were maternal age > 34, nulliparity, multifetal gestation and male newborn (p < 0.001; except p = 0.002 for male newborn). Severe forms of hypertensive disorders were significantly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes: preterm birth (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.08-6.3), cesarean delivery (OR 9.2, 95% CI 5.4-15.6), fetal growth restriction (OR 63.8, 95% CI 34.8-117.0), and stillbirth (OR 5.5, 95% CI 2.1-14.1). Women with hypertensive pregnancy disorders had significantly lower number of prenatal care visits than controls (p < 0.001). There was a high proportion of normally formed macerated stillbirths in the study (27 out of 30 or 90%) and in the control group (10 out of 12 or 83%). In conclusion, severity of the disorder and adequacy of prenatal care are strongly associated with adverse perinatal outcome related to hypertensive pregnancy disorders.

Prenatal mercury exposure and child neurodevelopment outcomes at 18 months: Results from the Mediterranean PHIME cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Neurotoxicity due to acute prenatal exposure to high-dose of mercury (Hg) is well documented. However, the effect of prenatal exposure to low Hg levels on child neurodevelopment and the question about "safety" of fish-eating during pregnancy remain controversial. International comparisons of Hg concentrations in mother-child biological samples and neurodevelopmental scores embedded in birth cohort studies may provide useful evidence to explore this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Mediterranean (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Greece) cohort study included 1308 mother-child pairs enrolled in the Public Health Impact of long-term, low-level, Mixed Element exposure in a susceptible population EU Sixth Framework Programme (PHIME). Maternal hair and venous blood, cord blood and breast milk samples were collected, and total Hg (THg) levels were measured. Demographic and socioeconomic information, lifestyles and nutritional habits were collected through questionnaires at different phases of follow-up. Children at 18 months of age underwent neurodevelopmental testing using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed, for each country, to assess the association between THg and BSID-III scores, obtaining adjusted ß coefficients and odds ratios (ORs). These values were used to conduct a meta-analysis, to explore possible heterogeneity among countries and to obtain combined estimates of the association between THg exposure and BSID-III scores. RESULTS: Median THg (ng/g) was: 704 in maternal hair, 2.4 in maternal blood, 3.6 in cord blood, and 0.6 in breast milk. THg concentrations were highest in Greece and lowest in Slovenia. BSID-III neurodevelopmental scores were higher in Croatia and Slovenia. The meta-analysis of multivariate linear models found an overall positive association between language composite score and receptive communication scaled score and increasing THg in maternal hair (n = 1086; ß = 0.55; 95%CI: 0.05-1.05 and n = 1075; ß = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.02-0.22, respectively). The meta-analysis of logistic regression models showed that the overall adjusted OR between THg in cord blood and suboptimal gross motor score was borderline significant (n = 882; OR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.00-1.07). Heterogeneity was found across the four sub-cohorts for language composite score in maternal blood, and for fine motor scaled score in cord blood and breast milk. Language composite score and THg concentrations in maternal venous blood were positively related (n = 58; ß = 4.29; CI95% (-0.02, 8.60)) in Croatia and an increase of 1 ng/g of THg in maternal venous blood was associated with a reduced risk for children to fall in the lowest quintile of language score by 31% (n = 58; OR = 0.69; CI 95%: 0.37, 1.01). The comparison of ß coefficients obtained by multiple linear regression model showed an inverse association between fine motor score and THg concentrations in cord blood for Croatia (n = 54; ß = -0.53; CI 95%: -1.10, 0.04) and Slovenia (n = 225; ß = -0.25; CI 95%: -0.49, -0.01). In Slovenia THg level in breast milk was associated with suboptimal fine motor performance (n = 195; OR = 5.25; CI 95%: 1.36, 21.10). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an inverse relation between THg levels and developmental motor scores at 18 months, although the evidence was weak and partially internally and externally inconsistent. No evidence of detrimental effects of THg was found for cognitive and language outcomes at these concentrations and age.

[Regionalization of neonatal intensive care. Results and experience at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Rijeka University Hospital]. / Regionalizacija neonatalnog intenzivnog lijecenja. Rezultati i iskustva Klinike za ginekologiju i porodni tvo KBC-a Rijeka.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse mortality of extremely low (ELBW) and very low (VLBW) birth weight nawborns at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Rijeka University Hospital, before, during and after implementing a model of regionalization of perinatal care. In Croatia this model is still not established so the results can help us evaluate whether the suggested model is practicable and whether its appliance decrease newborns' mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared early neonatal mortality (RNM), neonatal mortality (NM) and intrahospital mortality (MOB) of ELBW and VLBW newborns at the pediods before (1997-2000), during (2000-2001) and after (2003-2006) the implemented changes. RESULTS: RNM was significantly lowered for both weight groups, but NM and MOB only for VLBW newborns. CONCLUSION: Our results show that appliance of regionalization of perinatal care is possible and unquestionable on local level, so it should be implemented on national level too.

Predictive parameters of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a carbohydrate intolerance recognized in pregnancy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) of all deliveries at the University Hospital Rijeka, Croatia (34 997 deliveries over 10-year period) using 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerant test and to evaluate the impact of GDM on neonatal outcomes and mother's health. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 55 of 128 pregnant women with suspected glucose intolerance. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between fasting plasma glucose, age, family history, body mass index, maternal weight gain, neonatal weight, neonatal head diameter and Apgar score in the gestational diabetes group and in the non-diabetes group. The results indicate that fasting plasma glucose greater than 7.0 mmol/L and maternal overweight are strong predictors for GDM and macrosomia. There was no difference in the mode of delivery, and vitality and metabolic complications among the infants of all analyzed mothers. We concluded that to prevent GDM as well as to reduce the rate of macrosomic infants good glycemic control should be initiated as soon as possible. The 2-hour 75 g OGTT is worth enough to evaluate GDM. Women should be counseled and encouraged to lose weight before or at the beginning of the conception period.

Serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube presented as hematosalpinx: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Compared with their ovarian counterparts, serous borderline tumors of the fallopian tube are uncommon, with limited experience about their clinical behaviour. We present a case of serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube with unusual presentation and summarise all the published cases to date. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube in a 34-year old patient is presented, incidentally found during routine gynecologic examination. At laparoscopy the tumor was unusually presented as hematosalpinx and was treated by salpingectomy. Cell-cycle analysis of the tumor tissue revealed a diploid DNA content and a low S-phase fraction. There was no evidence of the disease during the follow-up period of 4.6 years. CONCLUSION: The current case and review of the literature suggest salpingectomy as the optimal treatment for patients with serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube.

[Epilepsy and pregnancy: antiepileptic drugs effects on pregnancy]. / Epilepsija i trudnoca--primjena antiepileptika u trudnoci.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to analyse the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) usage in pregnant women with epilepsy, and to evaluate possible complications of this therapy during pregnancy and delivery as well as fetal effects of there drugs. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in the University Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia, during the ten-year period (Jan 1, 1993-Dec 31, 2002). The study included 151 pregnant women with epilepsy. Data were entered in a structured form for evaluation of patient general data and data on antiepileptic therapy and neonatal outcome according to the use of AEDs. RESULTS: During the study period, 185 children (male 95) were born. Twenty-four miscarriages were recorded in women with the diagnosis of epilepsy in their medical history. In 117 of women, the onset of epilepsy occurred before the age of 20 years. AEDs were used in 111 of patients, in 77% of them as monotherapy. The most frequently used AEDs were carbamazepine (36.2%), valproate (29.3%), phenobarbitone (24.1%). Folic acid was used in 25 pregnancies only, however, during 2002 folic acid was used in 15 pregnancies (yielding 22 in total). Apgar score was equal or higher than 8/8 in 96% of children. No specific teratogenic effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Study results showed standard AEDs to be most commonly used in the study population, entailing no major birth defects, thus the potential risk probably being rather low. In the study population of pregnant women with epilepsy, the use of folic acid improved in 2002 in comparison to the previous period.

The secular growth acceleration: does it appear during fetal life?

OBJECTIVE: To test if secular growth acceleration occurs during fetal life. METHODS: ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-test have been used for the biometric characteristics comparison of nowadays fetal population with those three decades ago and to test the hypothesis about the existence of secular growth acceleration during fetal life. For this purpose, we first calculated mean values of particular biometric parameters for the whole pregnancy. During the period 2002-2009 biparietal diameter, fetal length and abdominal circumference measurements in singleton uncomplicated pregnancies between 22 and 41 gestational weeks were obtained. Gestational age was estimated according to Naegele's rule and confirmed with an early ultrasound examination. Pregnancies with fetal cromosomopathies and malformations were excluded as well as those resulting in perinatal death. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences of the examined fetal biometric parameters measured by ultrasound between contemporary fetal population and those from 35 years ago. CONCLUSION: Our investigation did not undoubtedly prove that significant changes of fetal biometric parameters occurred in the last three decades. It is possible that secular growth acceleration does not exist in prenatal period but also the observed time period could have been short for this phenomenon to manifest.