The effects of adjuvant insulin therapy among pregnant women with IGT who failed to achieve the desired glycemia levels by diet and moderate physical activity.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of adjuvant insulin therapy effects on glycemic control, perinatal outcome and postpuerperal glucose tolerance in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) pregnant women who failed to achieve desired glycemic control by dietary regime. METHODS: A total of 280 participants were classified in two groups: Group A patients continued with dietary regime and Group B patients were treated with adjuvant insulin therapy. Glycemic control was assessed by laboratory and ultrasonograph means. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated by prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), high birth weight, neonatal hypoglycemia and caesarean section rates. Postpuerperal glucose tolerance was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT). RESULTS: All laboratory and ultrasound indicators of glycemic control had significantly lower values in Group B. Group A women were more likely to develop the EPH (Edema, Proteinuria, Hypertension) syndrome, 20% versus 7.86% (p = 0.003). High birth weight occurred more frequently in Group A, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.197). Higher rate of caesarean delivery was in Group A than in Group B, 16.43% versus 26.43% (p = 0.041). The difference in neonatal hypoglycemia was not significant (p = 0.478). Pathological oGTT results were observed in 73 Group A patients and in 15 Group B patients. CONCLUSION: Lower caesarean section rates and the EPH syndrome incidence are the benefits of adjuvant insulin therapy in IGT patients.

[Spontaneous intra-abdominal bleeding in twin pregnancy--case report].

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous rupture of utero-ovarian vessels is a rare cause of haemoperitoneum in pregnancy, leading to significant maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Aetiopathogenesis of this condition is still unclear. Establishing clinical diagnosis of this condition is difficult, but very important. Clinical symptoms are nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually made at laparotomy. CASE OUTLINE: We report a case of spontaneous haematoperitoneum in the third trimester of twin pregnancy. Differential diagnosis included uterine rupture and placental abruption. Due to the deteriorated condition of the patient, it was decided to perform laparotomy which established the diagnosis of ruptured venous varices on the posterior uterine wall. Delivery was performed by caesarean section. The postoperative period was uneventful. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of spontaneous rupture of utero-ovarian blood vessels is not specific and clinical examination and ultrasonographic scanning may be insufficient for diagnosis. Once the diagnosis of spontaneous haematoperitoneum in pregnancy is established, emergency laparotomy is indicated. Following caesarean delivery, it is necessary to establish surgical haemostasis. There are some authors who suggest leaving the pregnancy intact in cases when the foetus is not viable, although one must have in mind the possibility of recurrent bleeding. The safety of this procedure requires further investigation. It is necessary to have in mind the possibility of blood vessel rupture in all cases of abdominal pain and hypotension of unknown origin during pregnancy.

[Uterine torsion in term pregnancy].

INTRODUCTION: Uterine torsion has been defined as a rotation of more than 45 degrees of the uterus around its long axis that occurs at the junction between the cervix and the corpus. The extent of the rotation is usually 180 degrees, although cases with torsion from 60 to 720 degrees have been reported. Aetiopathogenesis of this condition is still unclear. Establishing clinical diagnosis of this condition is difficult, but very important for reducing maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. Clinical symptoms are either absent or nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually made at laparotomy. CASE OUTLINE: A 31-year-old patient was admitted to the Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, as an emergency, seven days upon the established intrauterine foetal demise in the 40th gestation week. On uterine examination, the cervical length of 1.5 cm and dilatation of 3 cm were determined, as well as a palpable soft tissue formation, not resembling placenta praevia. Ultrasound examination confirmed foetal demise and exclusion of the presence of placenta praevia. The labour was completed by caesarean section. During surgery, uterine torsion of 180 degrees to the right was diagnosed. There was a stillborn male baby, and the cause of death was intrauterine asphyxia. A fibrosing and calcified accessory lobe 9 x 6 x 2.5 cm in size was observed on placental examination, which is a possible sign of initial gemellary pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentation of uterine torsion is variable and clinical examination and ultrasonographic scanning may be insufficient for diagnosis. The method of choice for establishing the diagnosis is magnetic resonance imaging. Once the diagnosis of uterine torsion in pregnancy is established, emergency laparotomy is indicated. Following caesarean delivery, it is necessary to surgically remove all the anatomical causes of torsion, and rotate the uterus back to its normal position. There are some authors who suggest bilateral plication of the round ligaments as a preventive procedure for repeated torsion in puerperium and following pregnancies. The effectiveness of this method requires further investigation. It is necessary to have in mind the possibility of uterine torsion in all cases of abdominal pain during pregnancy and dystocia.

Comparison of two therapeutic protocols in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and recurrent miscarriages.

AIM: To compare the effects of two therapeutic protocols for the patients with recurrent miscarriages associated with the presence of antiphospholipid (anticardiolipin) antibodies. METHODS: A prospective observational study included 20 patients with antiphospholipid antibodies in the first group who received low-molecular heparin and aspirin. The second group of 20 patients, in addition to this therapy, received immunotherapy (intravenous immunoglobulin). Aspirin was administered at the time of a positive pregnancy test, and low-molecular heparin not before the fetal heart activity registration by ultrasound. Intravenous immunoglobulin was given prior to the conception or at the beginning of the pregnancy. We compared these groups according to the pregnancy outcomes and the occurrence of complications during pregnancy, using standard statistical tests. RESULTS: The rate of positive gestational outcome in the patients treated with aspirin and low-molecular heparin was 85% (17/20), and in the second group it was 90% (18/20). There was no significant difference in pregnancy outcomes between these groups (p > 0.05), except for the occurence of preeclampsia and thrombocytopenia, which were recorded only in the aspirin and low-molecular heparin group, but with no statistical significance (p > 0.05) compared to the second group, which received immunoglobulin additionally. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in pregnancy outcomes between the two studied therapeutic protocols, but the therapy with aspirin and low-molecular heparin was cheaper and easier to apply than the therapy with immunoglobulins. The results of our study confirmed that the final pathogenic mechanisms in recurrent fetal miscarriages were inflammation and thrombosis of the uteroplacental blood vessels.