Prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant women and its impact on childbirth in March 2021: Data from the French National Perinatal Survey.

BACKGROUND: Several series reported obstetric complications among pregnant women hospitalized for COVID. These data, because they focused on women with the most severe presentations or with specific immunosuppression, were likely to overestimate the risks associated with the infection at a global level. To date, population-based studies, most of which collected data from registers of women hospitalized during pregnancy for COVID-19, remain sparse. Neither the prevalence of COVID-19 in pregnant women nor the overall extent of obstetric complications worldwide, compared with uninfected pregnant women is clear. The impact of COVID-19 on perinatal care and obstetric management is thus difficult to evaluate. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 diagnosis during pregnancy and assess related obstetric practices and perinatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Used data collected at childbirth in France from women included in the 2021 national perinatal survey, we compared women with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis (for sociodemographic characteristics) and then women with no COVID-19 diagnosis during pregnancy, women diagnosed more than 15 days preceding childbirth, and those diagnosed within those 15 days for outcomes. RESULTS: The COVID-19 prevalence during pregnancy was 5.7 % (95 %CI 5.3-6.1) (678/11 930). The aOR for COVID-19 diagnosis associated with non-French nationality was 1.27 (95 %CI 1.03-1.58), with non-smoking 0.63 (95 %CI 0.55-0.81) and with multiparity 1.21 (95 %CI 1.02-1.45). Diagnosis occurred in the third trimester for 49 % -28.5 % in the 15 days before childbirth. Women with COVID-19 diagnosed during pregnancy had preterm births more often (9.6 %) than women without this diagnosis (6.9 %) (P = 0.007). Women with COVID-19 diagnosed within the 15 days preceding childbirth had more cesarean deliveries (28.3 %) than those diagnosed earlier (17.4 %) (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 diagnosis during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Obstetric outcomes were poorer in women with a COVID-19 diagnosis in the 15 days preceding childbirth.

Usefulness of early morphological ultrasound in association with cell-free DNA testing in case of atypical serum markers in first trimester of pregnancy: A retrospective study over 5 years.

BACKGROUND: Early morphologic ultrasound, generally carried out in case of atypical first trimester serum markers (PAPP-A and/or free hCGß <0.30 MoM), has not been re-evaluated since the possibility of performing a cell-free fetal DNA analysis in this indication. Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of early morphological ultrasound in case of atypical profile of serum markers performed in association with Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study in a tertiary maternity. Between January 2017 and December 2021, women with an atypical first trimester serum markers and low/intermediate risk for trisomy 21 (<1/50) were included. The clinical data, results of first trimester serum markers, NIPT, early morphological ultrasound and subsequent ultrasounds and other investigations (amniocentesis, pregnancy outcomes) were analyzed. RESULTS: After exclusion of women with high-risk of trisomy 21 and lost to follow-up, 163 women were included. In 72 % of cases (117/163), women had a low risk of trisomy 21, and 39 % (59/163) had an early morphological ultrasound. Early morphological ultrasound was useful to detect severe IUGR leading to the suspicion of triploidy (3/163, 1.8 %). In all other situations, it did not allow earlier management. After analysis of the 3 triploidy cases, a collapsed profile for both serum markers was demonstrated (<0.25 MoM). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic early morphological ultrasound in case of an atypical serum marker profile seems useless considering the performance of NIPT. An ultrasound restricted to women with both markers below 0.25 MoM would allow the early detection of triploidy.

Prenatal diagnosis of isolated bilateral clubfoot: Is amniocentesis indicated?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of cytogenetic testing by amniocentesis after an ultrasound diagnosis of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter observational retrospective study includes all prenatally diagnosed cases of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus in five fetal medicine centers from 2012 through 2021. Ultrasound data, amniocentesis results, biochemical analyses of amniotic fluid and parental blood samples to test neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy outcomes, and postnatal outcomes were collected for each patient. RESULTS: In all, 214 fetuses with isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus were analyzed. A first-degree family history of talipes equinovarus existed in 9.8% (21/214) of our cohort. Amniocentesis was proposed to 86.0% (184/214) and performed in 70.1% (129/184) of cases. Of the 184 karyotypes performed, two (1.6%) were abnormal (one trisomy 21 and one triple X syndrome). Of the 103 microarrays performed, two (1.9%) revealed a pathogenic copy number variation (one with a de novo 18p deletion and one with a de novo 22q11.2 deletion) (DiGeorge syndrome). Neuromuscular diseases (spinal muscular amyotrophy, myasthenia gravis, and Steinert disease) were tested for in 56 fetuses (27.6%); all were negative. Overall, 97.6% (165/169) of fetuses were live-born, and the diagnosis of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus was confirmed for 98.6% (139/141). Three medical terminations of pregnancy were performed (for the fetuses diagnosed with Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and the 18p deletion). Telephone calls (at a mean follow-up age of 4.5 years) were made to all parents to collect medium-term and long-term follow-up information, and 70 (33.0%) families were successfully contacted. Two reported a rare genetic disease diagnosed postnatally (one primary microcephaly and one infantile glycine encephalopathy). Parents did not report any noticeably abnormal psychomotor development among the other children during this data collection. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low rate of pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities diagnosed prenatally after this ultrasound diagnosis, the risk of chromosomal aberration exceeds the risks of amniocentesis. These data may be helpful in prenatal counseling situations.

Biochemical Screening for Fetal Trisomy 21: Pathophysiology of Maternal Serum Markers and Involvement of the Placenta.

It is now well established that maternal serum markers are often abnormal in fetal trisomy 21. Their determination is recommended for prenatal screening and pregnancy follow-up. However, mechanisms leading to abnormal maternal serum levels of such markers are still debated. Our objective was to help clinicians and scientists unravel the pathophysiology of these markers via a review of the main studies published in this field, both in vivo and in vitro, focusing on the six most widely used markers (hCG, its free subunit hCGß, PAPP-A, AFP, uE3, and inhibin A) as well as cell-free feto-placental DNA. Analysis of the literature shows that mechanisms underlying each marker's regulation are multiple and not necessarily directly linked with the supernumerary chromosome 21. The crucial involvement of the placenta is also highlighted, which could be defective in one or several of its functions (turnover and apoptosis, endocrine production, and feto-maternal exchanges and transfer). These defects were neither constant nor specific for trisomy 21, and might be more or less pronounced, reflecting a high variability in placental immaturity and alteration. This explains why maternal serum markers can lack both specificity and sensitivity, and are thus restricted to screening.

Perinatal survival among very preterm singletons born after detection of early-onset fetal growth restriction with or without maternal hypertensive disorders: A population-based study in France.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the management and survival of very preterm singletons born because of fetal growth restriction (FGR) with or without maternal hypertensive disorders in France. STUDY DESIGN: From a population-based cohort of very preterm births between 22 and 31 weeks in France in 2011, the study population included all non-anomalous singleton pregnancies delivered because of detected FGR with or without maternal hypertensive disorders. Antenatal detection of FGR was defined as an estimated fetal weight <10th percentile with or without fetal Doppler abnormalities or growth arrest. All fetuses were alive at the time of detection of FGR. Indicators of active perinatal management (antenatal steroids, pre-labor cesarean and birth in level 3 maternity unit) and fetal/neonatal outcomes (terminations of pregnancy (TOP), stillbirths, neonatal deaths and survival to discharge) were compared by gestational age between FGR associated with maternal hypertensive disorders and isolated FGR. RESULTS: Overall, 398 pregnancies delivered before 32 weeks for FGR associated with hypertensive disorders and 234 for isolated FGR. Active perinatal care was rare before 26 weeks in both groups and about one in five cases associated with maternal hypertensive disorders received steroids and was born by prelabor cesarean compared to none for isolated FGR. Before 25 weeks of gestation age, more pregnancies resulted in TOP when FGR was associated with hypertensive disorders compared to isolated FGR (respectively, 76.2 % vs 28.0 % at 22-23 weeks, P = 0.002 and 57.9 % vs 21.1 % at 24 weeks, P = 0.028) whereas stillbirths were more common among isolated FGR (respectively, 23.8 % vs 72.0 % at 22-23 weeks, P = 0.002 and 36.8 % vs 73.7 % at 24 weeks, P = 0.030). Survival to discharge was higher at any gestational age when the cause of birth was FGR associated with hypertensive disorders compared to isolated FGR. CONCLUSION: The management and pregnancy outcomes differed when FGR was associated with maternal hypertensive disorders or isolated. The proportion of TOP was higher when FGR was associated with hypertensive disorders and the proportion of stillbirths was higher in isolated FGR.

Neuropathological hallmarks of antenatal mitochondrial diseases with a corpus callosum defect.

Corpus callosum defects are frequent congenital cerebral disorders caused by mutations in more than 300 genes. These include genes implicated in corpus callosum development or function, as well as genes essential for mitochondrial physiology. However, in utero corpus callosum anomalies rarely raise a suspicion of mitochondrial disease and are characterized by a very large clinical heterogeneity. Here, we report a detailed pathological and neuro-histopathological investigation of nine foetuses from four unrelated families with prenatal onset of corpus callosum anomalies, sometimes associated with other cerebral or extra-cerebral defects. Next generation sequencing allowed the identification of novel pathogenic variants in three different nuclear genes previously reported in mitochondrial diseases: TIMMDC1, encoding a Complex I assembly factor never involved before in corpus callosum defect; MRPS22, a protein of the small mitoribosomal subunit; and EARS2, the mitochondrial tRNA-glutamyl synthetase. The present report describes the antenatal histopathological findings in mitochondrial diseases and expands the genetic spectrum of antenatal corpus callosum anomalies establishing OXPHOS function as an important factor for corpus callosum biogenesis. We propose that, when observed, antenatal corpus callosum anomalies should raise suspicion of mitochondrial disease and prenatal genetic counselling should be considered.

Diagnostic value of fetal autopsy after early termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies.

BACKGROUND: In early terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA) without identified cytogenetic abnormality, a fetal autopsy is recommended for diagnostic purposes, to guide genetic counseling. Medical induction, which allows analysis of a complete fetus, is generally preferred over surgical vacuum aspiration. Our objective was to assess the diagnostic value of fetal autopsies in these early terminations, relative to the first-trimester ultrasound, overall and by termination method. MATERIALS: For this retrospective study at the Port Royal Maternity Hospital, we identified all TOPFA performed from 11 weeks to 16 weeks diagnosed at the first-trimester ultrasound in cases with a normal karyotype. The principal endpoint was the additional value of the autopsy over /compared to the ultrasound and its impact on genetic counseling, globally and by termination method. The secondary objective was to compare the complication rate by method of termination. RESULTS: The study included 79 women during period of 2013-2017: 42 with terminations by medical induction and 37 by aspiration. Fetal autopsy found additional abnormalities in 54.4% of cases, more frequently after medical induction (77.5%) than after aspiration (21.4%, p < .01). Genetic counseling was modified in 20.6% of cases, more often after induction (32.5% vs 3.6%, p < .01). The length of stay was significantly longer and a secondary aspiration was required in 16,7% of case in the medical induction group (p < .01). CONCLUSION: Medically induced vaginal expulsion appears preferable and can change genetic counseling for subsequent pregnancies.

Cervical Dilators Used Concurrently With Misoprostol to Shorten Labor in Second-Trimester Termination of Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of cervical dilators concurrently with misoprostol to shorten labor in second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of cervical dilators inserted concurrently with misoprostol with that of misoprostol, alone, to shorten labor for women undergoing termination of pregnancy between 15 0/7 and 27 6/7 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was the proportion of women with a duration of labor exceeding 12 hours. Secondary outcomes included median duration of labor, time to amniotomy, side effects, complications, NPRS (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) score, and women's distress as measured by the IES-R (Impact of Event Scale-Revised). These outcomes also were studied separately in the nulliparous subgroup. To demonstrate a reduction of 50% of the proportion of women with a duration of labor exceeding 12 hours in the dilator group, with a power of 80% and a 2-sided 0.05 significance level, a sample of 268 women (134 in each group) was required. RESULTS: Between December 2017 and September 2019, this study enrolled and analyzed 347 women: 174 in the dilator group and 173 in the control group, including 87 and 93 nulliparous patients, respectively. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics were similar between groups. The proportion of women with labor exceeding 12 hours was not different between groups (49/174 [28.2%] in the dilator group vs 53/173 [30.6%] in the control group [ P =.61] for the whole population, and 37/87 [42.5%] vs 42/93 [45.2%] [ P =.72], respectively, among nulliparous patients). Median duration of labor was 8.5 hours in the dilator group compared with 9.2 hours in the control group ( P =.65) for the whole population, and 10.5 hours compared with 11.8 hours, respectively, among nulliparous patients ( P =.33). Median time to amniotomy was 3.6 hours in the dilator group compared with 5.0 hours in the control group ( P =.08) for the whole population, and 3.5 hours compared with 6.7 hours, respectively, among nulliparous patients ( P =.003). Side effects, complications, NPRS score, and IES-R score were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Cervical dilators inserted concurrently with misoprostol did not reduce the proportion of women whose labor exceeded 12 hours compared with misoprostol alone. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03194230.

Pregnant women's perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine: A French survey.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnant women are at increased risk for COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccine is the most promising solution to overcome the current pandemic. This study was conducted to evaluate pregnant women's perceptions and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. MATERIALS & METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 18 to April 5 2021. An anonymous survey was distributed in 7 French obstetrics departments to all pregnant women before a prenatal visit. All pregnant women attending a follow-up consultation were asked to participate in the study. An anonymous web survey was available through a QR code and participants were asked whether or not they would agree to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, and why. The questionnaire included questions on the patients' demographics and their knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. RESULTS: Of the 664 pregnant women who completed the questionnaire, 29.5% (95% CI 27.7; 31.3) indicated they would agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The main reason for not agreeing was being more afraid of potential side effects of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on the fetus than of COVID-19. Factors influencing acceptance of vaccination were: being slightly older, multiparity, having discussed it with a caregiver and acceptance of the influenza vaccine. DISCUSSION: Nearly one-third of pregnant women in this population would be willing to be vaccinated. In addition to studies establishing fetal safety, public health agencies and healthcare professionals should provide accurate information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Implicit biases and differential perinatal care for migrant women: Methodological framework and study protocol of the BiP study part 3✰,✰✰.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of disparities in maternal and perinatal health between migrant and native women are multiple and remain poorly understood. Access to and quality of care are likely to participate in these mechanisms, and one hypothesis is the existence of implicit biases among caregivers through which ethno-racial belonging can influence medical decisions and consequently engender healthcare disparities. Their existence and their role in the generation of non-medically justified differential care have been documented in the United States apart from perinatal care, but remain largely unexplored in Europe. In this article, we present the study protocol and theoretical framework of a study that aims to test and quantify the existence of implicit bias toward African Sub-Saharan migrant women among caregivers working in the perinatal field, and to explore the association between implicit bias and differential care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is based on an online survey to which French obstetricians, midwives, and anesthetists were invited to take part. The potential existence of implicit biases toward African Sub-Saharan migrant will be quantified through a validated tool, the Implicit Association Test. Then we will assess how implicit biases are likely to influence clinical decisions and lead to differential care using clinical vignettes designed by an experts group. DISCUSSION: Implicit bias and differential care are concept that are tricky to capture and interpret. This research program opens up in France a field of research on certain forms of health discriminations and sheds new light on the issue of social inequalities in perinatal health. STUDY REGISTRATION: Registration in the Open Science Framework portal: https://osf.io/djva7/?view_only=c6012ace3fe94165a65b05c2dc6aff9e.

Neonatal Morbidity of Monoamniotic Twin Pregnancies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to report the incidence of neonatal morbidity in monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) twin pregnancies according to gestational age at birth and type of management adopted (inpatient or outpatient). STUDY DESIGN: Medline and Embase databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were nonanomalous MCMA twins. The primary outcome was a composite score of neonatal morbidity, defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following outcomes: respiratory morbidity, overall neurological morbidity, severe neurological morbidity, and infectious morbidity, necrotizing enterocolitis at different gestational age windows (24-30, 31-32, 33-34, and 35-36 weeks). Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Subanalysis according to the type of surveillance strategy (inpatient compared with outpatient) was also performed. Random effect meta-analyses were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies including 685 MCMA twin pregnancies without fetal anomalies were included. At 24 to 30, 31 to 32, 33 to 34, and 35 to 36 weeks of gestation, the rate of composite morbidity was 75.4, 65.5, 37.6, and 18.5%, respectively, the rate of respiratory morbidity was 74.2, 59.1, 35.5, and 12.2%, respectively, while overall neurological morbidity occurred in 15.3, 10.2, 4.3, and 0% of the cases, respectively. Infectious morbidity complicated 13, 4.2, 3.1, and 0% of newborns while 92.1, 81.6, 58.7, and 0% of cases required admission to NICU. Morbidity in pregnancies delivered between 35 and 36 weeks of gestation was affected by the very small sample size of cases included. When comparing the occurrence of overall morbidity according to the type of management (inpatient or outpatient), there was no difference between the two surveillance strategies (p = 0.114). CONCLUSION: MCMA pregnancies are at high risk of composite neonatal morbidity, mainly respiratory morbidity that gradually decreases with increasing gestational age at delivery with a significant reduction for pregnancies delivered between 33 and 34 weeks. We found no difference in the occurrence of neonatal morbidity between pregnancies managed as inpatient or outpatient. KEY POINTS: · MCMA pregnancies are at high risk of composite neonatal morbidity, mainly respiratory morbidity.. · Neonatal morbidity gradually decreases with increasing GA at delivery, mostly between 33 and 34 weeks.. · There is no difference in the occurrence of neonatal morbidity between in- or outpatient management..

[Factors Associated with Prolonged Duration of Labor in Medical Termination of Pregnancy in the 2nd and 3rd Trimesters]. / Facteurs associés à une durée de travail prolongée en cas d'interruption médicale de grossesse aux 2e et 3e trimestres.

OBJECTIVE: In the context of a medical termination of pregnancy, prolonged labor may accentuate the difficulty of women's experience and increase the risk of associated complications. The factors associated with prolonged labor are not known. Reducing the duration of labor could limit these complications. Determining the relevant factors associated with prolonged labor defined as a delay between the onset of induction and delivery greater than or equal to 12hours and comparing the complications rates between the two groups. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study at Port Royal Maternity Hospital from 2017 to 2019, including medical terminations of pregnancy by vaginal delivery in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters for fetal or maternal reasons. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were included and divided into two comparative groups based on the duration of labor: labor <12h (n=173) and labor ≥12h (n=54). The mean maternal age was 33.7 years. Forty-four percent of patients were nulliparous, 15.8 % had a history of cesarean section. The average gestational age was 20+2 weeks of gestation. The average duration of labor was 9.7hours. The duration of labor was greater than 24hours in 3% of cases (7/227). Advanced gestational age (22+3 vs. 20+5 p=0,04) and nulliparity (p=0.01) were associated with prolonged labor. Two other intermediate factors, not independent of the duration of labor, were significant: long time to rupture of membranes (239min vs. 427min p<0,01) and an unfavorable Bishop score at rupture (p=0,003). In both groups, the complications were placental retention and the occurrence of fever during labor. CONCLUSION: Two main factors affecting labor duration were identified in this study (term and nulliparity). This knowledge could allow women to be better informed about the expected time of labor and the potential associated risks.

Megacystis in the first trimester of pregnancy: Prognostic factors and perinatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether bladder size is associated with an unfavorable neonatal outcome, in the case of first-trimester megacystis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study between 2009 and 2019 in two prenatal diagnosis centers. The inclusion criterion was an enlarged bladder (> 7 mm) diagnosed at the first ultrasound exam between 11 and 13+6 weeks of gestation. The main study endpoint was neonatal outcome based on bladder size. An adverse outcome was defined by the completion of a medical termination of pregnancy, the occurrence of in utero fetal death, or a neonatal death. Neonatal survival was considered as a favorable outcome and was defined by a live birth, with or without normal renal function, and with a normal karyotype. RESULTS: Among 75 cases of first-trimester megacystis referred to prenatal diagnosis centers and included, there were 63 (84%) adverse outcomes and 12 (16%) live births. Fetuses with a bladder diameter of less than 12.5 mm may have a favorable outcome, with or without urological problems, with a high sensitivity (83.3%) and specificity (87.3%), area under the ROC curve = 0.93, 95% CI (0.86-0.99), p< 0.001. Fetal autopsy was performed in 52 (82.5%) cases of adverse outcome. In the 12 cases of favorable outcome, pediatric follow-up was normal and non-pathological in 8 (66.7%). CONCLUSION: Bladder diameter appears to be a predictive marker for neonatal outcome. Fetuses with smaller megacystis (7-10 mm) have a significantly higher chance of progressing to a favorable outcome. Urethral stenosis and atresia are the main diagnoses made when first-trimester megacystis is observed. Karyotyping is important regardless of bladder diameter.

Prenatal care providers' perceptions of the SARS-Cov-2 vaccine for themselves and for pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal care providers will play an important role in the acceptance of SARS-Cov-2 vaccination for pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: To determine the perceptions of French prenatal care providers: midwives, general practitioners (GPs) and obstetricians and gynaecologists (Ob-Gyn) regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: An anonymous online survey was sent to members of French professional societies representing prenatal practitioners. The participants were asked to answer questions on their characteristics and give their opinions of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for themselves and women who are pregnant or willing to become pregnant. RESULTS: Access to the survey was opened from January 11th, 2021, to March 1st, 2021. A total of 1,416 responses were collected from 749 Ob-Gyn, 598 midwives and 69 GPs. Most respondents (86.7% overall, 90.4% for Ob-GYN, 81.1% for GPs and 80.1% for midwives) agreed to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 would be offered to pregnant women by 49.4% 95%CI [48.1-50.8] of the participants. Midwives were less likely to recommend vaccination than GP and Ob-Gyn (37.5%, 50.7% and 58.8%, respectively). The multinomial logistic regression revealed that being an obstetrician, working in a group, usually offering a flu vaccine and wanting to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 were positively associated with considering pregnant women for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. CONCLUSION: Most French prenatal healthcare providers are favourable towards vaccinating pregnant women, but a large minority express reservation. More evidence on safety and involvement by professional organisations will be important to encourage the access of pregnant women to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Does women's place of birth affect their opportunity for an informed choice about Down syndrome screening? A population-based study in France.

BACKGROUND: To examine disparities by maternal place of birth in the opportunity to make an informed choice about Down syndrome screening, in France, where the national guidelines recommend that physicians offer it to all pregnant women. METHODS: We used population-based data from the nationally representative French Perinatal Surveys in 2010 and 2016 (N=24,644 women) to analyze the opportunity for an informed choice for prenatal screening, measured by a composite indicator. RESULTS: Among the 24 644 women in the study, 20 612 (83.6%) were born in France, 861 (3.5%) elsewhere in Europe, 1550 (6.3%) in North Africa, and 960 (3.9%) in sub-Saharan Africa. The probability of screening was lower for women born outside France. After adjustment for survey year, maternal age, parity, education level, and the maternity unit's level of perinatal care, women born outside France had the opportunity to make an informed choice less often than women born in France. This association remained essentially the same even after excluding women without adequate prenatal care. CONCLUSIONS: Women born outside France, including those with adequate prenatal care, had less opportunity than women born in France to make an informed choice about prenatal screening for Down syndrome.

Cancer during pregnancy: Factors associated with termination of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Cancer during pregnancy is rare (about 1/1000 pregnancies) and its diagnosis raises the question of whether or not to continue the pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of our study was to evaluate associated factors with termination of pregnancy in cases of cancer during pregnancy. Secondary objectives were to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes when pregnancy is continued. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study between January 2009 and December 2019 including 2 groups of patients those who underwent termination of pregnancy and those who continued pregnancy. Patients were distributed in 3 categories breast cancer, blood cancer and other cancers. RESULTS: A total of 71 pregnancies associated with cancer were included. Twenty patients (28.16 %) underwent termination of pregnancy. The median gestational age at diagnosis was significantly earlier in the termination of pregnancy group compared with the ongoing pregnancy group (9 vs 22 weeks, p < 0.01). Blood cancer was more frequent in the termination group 7 (35 %) compared to continuous pregnancy 8 (15.7 %) as other cancers 8 (40 %) in the termination group vs 5 (9,8 %). Conversely breast cancer what was less frequent in the termination group 5 (25 %) vs 38 (74,5 %) (p < 0.01). In the continued pregnancy group, there was a high rate of induced prematurity (35.5 %) and scheduled delivery to optimize maternal oncologic management (78.4 %). CONCLUSION: The rate of termination of pregnancy remains high particularly in case of non-breast cancer and early pregnancy detection. Scheduled preterm birth is frequent when pregnancy is continued in order to optimize of cancer management.

Persistence of group B Streptococcus vaginal colonization and prevalence of hypervirulent CC-17 clone correlate with the country of birth: a prospective 3-month follow-up cohort study.

To identify factors associated with vaginal colonization and persistence by group B Streptococcus (GBS) and by the hypervirulent neonatal CC-17 clone in late pregnancy and after delivery, a multicentre prospective observational cohort with 3-month follow-up was established in two university hospitals, Paris area, France. Pregnant women were recruited when antenatal screening for GBS vaginal colonization at 34-38 weeks of gestational age was positive. Vaginal samples were analysed by conventional culture methods at antenatal screening, delivery, and 21 and 60 days following delivery. Identification of the hypervirulent neonatal GBS CC-17 was performed. Colonization was defined as persistent when all vaginal samples were positive for GBS. A total of 754 women were included. GBS vaginal colonization was persistent in 63% of the cases (95% CI 59%-67%). Persistent colonization was more likely in women born in Sub-Saharan Africa compared with women born in France (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.05-3.52), and GBS CC-17 was overrepresented in women born in Sub-Saharan Africa (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.20-3.57). Women born in Sub-Saharan Africa are at higher risk for GBS vaginal persistence than women born in France. This observation correlates with an increased prevalence of the hypervirulent GBS CC-17 in the former group, which likely reflect variations linked to ethnicity and vaginal community-state types and might account for the increased susceptibility of black neonates to GBS infections.

Lack of consensus in the choice of termination of pregnancy for Turner syndrome in France.

BACKGROUND: The observed rate of termination of pregnancy (TOP) for Turner syndrome varies worldwide and even within countries. In this vignette study we quantified agreement among ten multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis centers in Paris. METHODS: We submitted online three cases of Turner syndrome (increased nuchal translucency, normal ultrasound, aortic coarctation) to fetal medicine experts: one obstetrician, one pediatrician and one geneticist in each of the ten Parisian centers. Each case was presented in the form of a progressive clinical history with conditional links dependent upon responses. The background to each case was provided, along with the medical history of the parents and the counseling they got from medical staff. The experts indicated online whether or not they would accept the parents' request for TOP. We assessed the percentage of agreement for acceptance or refusal of TOP. We also used a multilevel logistic regression model to evaluate differences among obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians and cytogeneticists. RESULTS: Overall agreement among the experts to accept or refuse TOP was, respectively, 25 and 28%. The percentage of disagreement was 47%. The percentage of agreement to accept TOP was 33, 8 and 33% for obstetrician-gynecologists, pediatricians and cytogeneticists, respectively. The respective percentages of agreement to refuse TOP were 19, 47 and 26%. CONCLUSION: Our results show the lack of consensus with regard to decisions related to termination of pregnancy for Turner Syndrome. This lack of consensus in turn underscores the importance of multidisciplinary management of these pregnancies in specialized fetal medicine centers.