Psychological sequelae following second-trimester termination of pregnancy: A longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: The decision to terminate a pregnancy due to fetal anomalies can have a significant emotional impact, especially in second-trimester terminations. Previous studies on the psychological consequences of pregnancy termination have had limitations, and little is known about the outcomes for partners and the impact of fetal donation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the psychological effects of second-trimester pregnancy termination and identify factors associated with outcomes in both women and men, including donation of fetal remains to science. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at the Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands, involving women and partners who underwent termination at or before 23 weeks and 6 days of gestation. Questionnaires were administered at termination, 6 weeks, and 4 months after. We utilized validated questionnaires to assess psychological morbidity (grief, post-traumatic stress and postnatal depression and quality of life [QoL]), and factors that could potentially influence outcomes. RESULTS: Of 241 participants, women displayed more pronounced psychological distress than men, though both groups improved over time. Four months after termination, 27.4% of women and 9.1% of men showed signs of pathological grief. Scores indicative for postnatal depression occurred in 19.8% women and 4.1% of men. A prior psychiatric history was a consistent predictor of poorer outcomes. Fetal donation to the Dutch Fetal Biobank was associated with reduced likelihood of symptoms of complicated grief four months after termination. CONCLUSIONS: Second-trimester termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies can lead to psychological morbidity, particularly in women. However, there is a notable improvement over time for both groups. Individuals with prior psychiatric history appear more vulnerable post-termination. Also, fetal donation to science did not have a negative impact on psychological well-being.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine Dipsticks for Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosis during Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent the most prevalent infections among pregnant women. Many pregnant women experience frequent voiding or lower abdominal pain during pregnancy due to physiologic changes. Due to the possible consequences of a UTI in pregnancy, pregnant women are more often tested for UTIs. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of dipsticks in diagnosing UTIs in pregnant women while using the urine culture as the reference standard. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study, conducted at two academic hospitals in the Netherlands among pregnant women. Pseudonymized data were collected from patient files. The results of the urine dipstick and the urine culture in pregnant women were linked. Additionally, nitrofurantoin prescriptions were linked to culture results. A positive urine culture was considered the reference test for a UTI. RESULTS: Between 1 January 2017 and 28 February 2021, a total of 718 urine samples with leukocyte esterase dipstick results within 24 h of the urine culture were analyzed. Of these samples, a nitrite dipstick result was also available in 337 cases. Only 6.8% of the 718 urine samples yielded positive cultures. The sensitivity and specificity of leukocyte esterase were 75.5% and 40.4%, respectively; for nitrite, 72.0% sensitivity and 73.4% specificity were found. When at least one of the two tests was positive, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.0% and 27.9%, respectively. When both tests were positive, the sensitivity and specificity were 52.0% and 82.7%, respectively. In only 16.8% of the women to whom nitrofurantoin was prescribed, the urine cultures returned positive using a cut-off of 105 colony forming units/mL. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of leukocyte esterase, nitrite, or their combination in clinical practice is lower than previously reported in study settings among pregnant women. A significant proportion of women treated with nitrofurantoin were found to have no UTI, suggesting potential over-prescription based on dipstick test results. Healthcare providers should be aware of this reduced performance in clinical practice and carefully weigh the risks of antibiotic treatment by suspicion of a UTI against the possibility of delayed treatment awaiting culture results in individual patients.

Study protocol for two randomised controlled trials evaluating the effects of Cerclage in the reduction of extreme preterm birth and perinatal mortality in twin pregnancies with a short cervix or dilatation: the TWIN Cerclage studies.

INTRODUCTION: Twin pregnancies have a high risk of extreme preterm birth (PTB) at less than 28 weeks of gestation, which is associated with increased risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Currently there is a lack of effective treatments for women with a twin pregnancy and a short cervix or cervical dilatation. A possible effective surgical method to reduce extreme PTB in twin pregnancies with an asymptomatic short cervix or dilatation at midpregnancy is the placement of a vaginal cerclage. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We designed two multicentre randomised trials involving eight hospitals in the Netherlands (sites in other countries may be added at a later date). Women older than 16 years with a twin pregnancy at <24 weeks of gestation and an asymptomatic short cervix of ≤25 mm or cervical dilatation will be randomly allocated (1:1) to both trials on vaginal cerclage and standard treatment according to the current Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology guideline (no cerclage). Permuted blocks sized 2 and 4 will be used to minimise the risk of disbalance. The primary outcome measure is PTB of <28 weeks. Analyses will be by intention to treat. The first trial is to demonstrate a risk reduction from 25% to 10% in the short cervix group, for which 194 patients need to be recruited. The second trial is to demonstrate a risk reduction from 80% to 35% in the dilatation group and will recruit 44 women. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committees in the Netherlands on 3/30/2023. Participants will be required to sign an informed consent form. The results will be presented at conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Participants will be informed about the results. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05968794.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound screening for fetal structural abnormalities during the first and second trimester of pregnancy in low-risk and unselected populations.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal ultrasound is widely used to screen for structural anomalies before birth. While this is traditionally done in the second trimester, there is an increasing use of first-trimester ultrasound for early detection of lethal and certain severe structural anomalies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in detecting fetal structural anomalies before 14 and 24 weeks' gestation in low-risk and unselected pregnant women and to compare the current two main prenatal screening approaches: a single second-trimester scan (single-stage screening) and a first- and second-trimester scan combined (two-stage screening) in terms of anomaly detection before 24 weeks' gestation. SEARCH METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), Arts & Humanities Citation Index and Emerging Sources Citation Index (Web of Science) from 1 January 1997 to 22 July 2022. We limited our search to studies published after 1997 and excluded animal studies, reviews and case reports. No further restrictions were applied. We also screened reference lists and citing articles of each of the included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies were eligible if they included low-risk or unselected pregnant women undergoing a first- and/or second-trimester fetal anomaly scan, conducted at 11 to 14 or 18 to 24 weeks' gestation, respectively. The reference standard was detection of anomalies at birth or postmortem. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently undertook study selection, quality assessment (QUADAS-2), data extraction and evaluation of the certainty of evidence (GRADE approach). We used univariate random-effects logistic regression models for the meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity. MAIN RESULTS: Eighty-seven studies covering 7,057,859 fetuses (including 25,202 with structural anomalies) were included. No study was deemed low risk across all QUADAS-2 domains. Main methodological concerns included risk of bias in the reference standard domain and risk of partial verification. Applicability concerns were common in studies evaluating first-trimester scans and two-stage screening in terms of patient selection due to frequent recruitment from single tertiary centres without exclusion of referrals. We reported ultrasound accuracy for fetal structural anomalies overall, by severity, affected organ system and for 46 specific anomalies. Detection rates varied widely across categories, with the highest estimates of sensitivity for thoracic and abdominal wall anomalies and the lowest for gastrointestinal anomalies across all tests. The summary sensitivity of a first-trimester scan was 37.5% for detection of structural anomalies overall (95% confidence interval (CI) 31.1 to 44.3; low-certainty evidence) and 91.3% for lethal anomalies (95% CI 83.9 to 95.5; moderate-certainty evidence), with an overall specificity of 99.9% (95% CI 99.9 to 100; low-certainty evidence). Two-stage screening had a combined sensitivity of 83.8% (95% CI 74.7 to 90.1; low-certainty evidence), while single-stage screening had a sensitivity of 50.5% (95% CI 38.5 to 62.4; very low-certainty evidence). The specificity of two-stage screening was 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 100; low-certainty evidence) and for single-stage screening, it was 99.8% (95% CI 99.2 to 100; moderate-certainty evidence). Indirect comparisons suggested superiority of two-stage screening across all analyses regarding sensitivity, with no significant difference in specificity. However, the certainty of the evidence is very low due to the absence of direct comparisons. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: A first-trimester scan has the potential to detect lethal and certain severe anomalies with high accuracy before 14 weeks' gestation, despite its limited overall sensitivity. Conversely, two-stage screening shows high accuracy in detecting most fetal structural anomalies before 24 weeks' gestation with high sensitivity and specificity. In a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 fetuses, the first-trimester scan is expected to correctly identify 113 out of 124 fetuses with lethal anomalies (91.3%) and 665 out of 1776 fetuses with any anomaly (37.5%). However, 79 false-positive diagnoses are anticipated among 98,224 fetuses (0.08%). Two-stage screening is expected to correctly identify 1448 out of 1776 cases of structural anomalies overall (83.8%), with 118 false positives (0.1%). In contrast, single-stage screening is expected to correctly identify 896 out of 1776 cases before 24 weeks' gestation (50.5%), with 205 false-positive diagnoses (0.2%). This represents a difference of 592 fewer correct identifications and 88 more false positives compared to two-stage screening. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the additional benefits of two-stage versus single-stage screening, as there are no studies directly comparing them. Moreover, the evidence supporting the accuracy of first-trimester ultrasound and two-stage screening approaches primarily originates from studies conducted in single tertiary care facilities, which restricts the generalisability of the results of this meta-analysis to the broader population.

Are international guideline recommendations for the management of placenta accreta spectrum applicable in low- and middle-income countries?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how obstetricians-gynecologists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can apply current international clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in limited resource settings. METHODS: This was an observational, survey-based study. Clinicians with expertise in managing patients with PAS in LMICs were contacted for their evaluation of the recommendations included in four PAS clinical practice guidelines. RESULTS: Out of the 158 clinicians contacted, we obtained responses from 65 (41.1%), representing 27 middle income countries (MICs). The results of this survey suggest that the care of PAS patients in middle income countries is very different from what is recommended by international CPGs. Participants in the survey identified that their practice was limited by insufficient availability of hospital infrastructure, low resources of local health systems and lack of trained multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and this did not enable them to follow CPG recommendations. Two-thirds of the participants surveyed describe the absence of centers of excellence in their country. In over half of the referral hospitals with expertise in managing PAS, there are no MDTs. One-third of patients with intraoperative findings of PAS are managed by the team initially performing the surgery (without additional assistance). CONCLUSION: The care of patients with PAS in middle income countries frequently deviates from established CPG recommendations largely due to limitations in local resources and infrastructure. New practical guidelines and training programs designed for low resource settings are needed.

Is telehealth useful in the management of placenta accreta spectrum in low-resource settings? Results of an exploratory survey.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) requires the participation of multidisciplinary teams that are often not locally available in low-resource settings. Telehealth has been increasingly used to manage complex obstetric conditions. Few studies have explored the use of telehealth for PAS management, and we aimed evaluate the usage of telehealth in the management of PAS patients in low-resource settings. METHODS: Between March and April 2023, an observational, survey-based study was conducted, and obstetricians-gynecologists with expertise in PAS management in low- and middle-income countries were contacted to share their opinion on the potential use of telehealth for the diagnosis and management of patients at high-risk of PAS at birth. Participants were identified based on their authorship of at least one published clinical study on PAS in the last 5 years and contacted by email. This is a secondary analysis of the results of that survey. RESULTS: From 158 authors contacted we obtained 65 responses from participants in 27 middle-income countries. A third of the participants reported the use of telehealth during the management obstetric emergencies (38.5%, n = 25) and PAS (36.9%, n = 24). Over 70% of those surveyed indicated that they had used "informal" telemedicine (phone call, email, or text message) during PAS management. Fifty-nine participants (90.8%) reported that recommendations given remotely by expert colleagues were useful for management of patients with PAS in their setting. CONCLUSION: Telehealth has been successfully used for the management of PAS in middle-income countries, and our survey indicates that it could support the development of specialist care in other low resource settings.

Cervical pessary versus vaginal progesterone in women with a singleton pregnancy, a short cervix, and no history of spontaneous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks' gestation: open label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of cervical pessary and vaginal progesterone in the prevention of adverse perinatal outcomes and preterm birth in pregnant women of singletons with no prior spontaneous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks' gestation and who have a short cervix of 35 mm or less. DESIGN: Open label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. SETTING: 20 hospitals and five obstetric ultrasound practices in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Women with a healthy singleton pregnancy and an asymptomatic short cervix of 35 mm or less between 18 and 22 weeks' gestation were eligible. Exclusion criteria were prior spontaneous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks, a cerclage in situ, maternal age of younger than 18 years, major congenital abnormalities, prior participation in this trial, vaginal blood loss, contractions, cervical length of less than 2 mm or cervical dilatation of 3 cm or more. Sample size was set at 628 participants. INTERVENTIONS: 1:1 randomisation to an Arabin cervical pessary or vaginal progesterone 200 mg daily up to 36 weeks' of gestation or earlier in case of ruptured membranes, signs of infection, or preterm labour besides routine obstetric care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was a composite adverse perinatal outcome. Secondary outcomes were rates of (spontaneous) preterm birth at less than 28, 32, 34, and 37 weeks. A predefined subgroup analysis was planned for cervical length of 25 mm or less. RESULTS: From 1 July 2014 to 31 March 2022, 635 participants were randomly assigned to pessary (n=315) or to progesterone (n=320). 612 were included in the intention to treat analysis. The composite adverse perinatal outcome occurred in 19 (6%) of 303 participants with a pessary versus 17 (6%) of 309 in the progesterone group (crude relative risk 1.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60 to 2.2)). The rates of spontaneous preterm birth were not significantly different between groups. In the subgroup of cervical length of 25 mm or less, spontaneous preterm birth at less than 28 weeks occurred more often after pessary than after progesterone (10/62 (16%) v 3/69 (4%), relative risk 3.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 12.9)) and adverse perinatal outcomes seemed more frequent in the pessary group (15/62 (24%) v 8/69 (12%), relative risk 2.1 (0.95 to 4.6)). CONCLUSIONS: In women with a singleton pregnancy with no prior spontaneous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks' gestation and with a midtrimester short cervix of 35 mm or less, pessary is not better than vaginal progesterone. In the subgroup of a cervical length of 25 mm or less, a pessary seemed less effective in preventing adverse outcomes. Overall, for women with single baby pregnancies, a short cervix, and no prior spontaneous preterm birth less than 34 weeks' gestation, superiority of a cervical pessary compared with vaginal progesterone to prevent preterm birth and consecutive adverse outcomes could not be proven. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP, EUCTR2013-002884-24-NL).

Isolated fetal umbilical vein varix and the association with intrauterine fetal death and fetal growth restriction: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and nested retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in fetuses with an isolated fetal intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix (i-FIUVV). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study combined with a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was performed. In the retrospective cohort study, all singleton fetuses with an i-FIUVV in the fetal medicine units of the Amsterdam UMC (between 2007 and 2023) were analyzed. The primary outcome measures were IUFD and FGR. The sample proportions of IUFD and FGR were depicted as risk percentages. The IUFD proportion was compared to the regional reference population and the FGR proportion was compared to the reported proportions in Europe. The secondary outcome measures were gestational age at diagnosis, initial and maximal FIUVV diameter, fetal monitoring in pregnancy, turbulent flow in the varix, thrombus formation in the varix, induction of labor, gestational age at birth, and birthweight centile. The proportion of fetuses with a birthweight below the 10th centile was compared with that of the regional reference population. The systematic review included all cases from eligible literature published between 2007 and 2023 supplemented by the data of our retrospective cohort study. In the systematic review and meta-analysis, the pooled proportions of IUFD and FGR were assessed in fetuses with i-FIUVV. RESULTS: The retrospective cohort included 43 singletons with an i-FIUVV. The IUFD risk was 0% [Confidence Interval, CI: 0%-8.2%], which did not differ significantly from 0.3% in the reference population, p = 1.0. The risk of FGR was 16.3% [CI: 6.8%-30.7%] in the studied population, which is higher than the reported incidence of FGR in Europe ranging from 5%-10%. The proportion of fetuses with birthweights below the 10th centile was higher in our cohort compared with the reference population (23.3 vs. 9.9%, p < 0.01). The systematic review included 12 articles, three abstracts, and our current cohort. In total, 513 cases with an i-FIUVV were included. The pooled risk was 0.4% [CI: 0.1%-1.7%] for IUFD and 5.2% [CI: 1.1%-21.3%] for FGR. The mean gestational age at birth did not exceed 39 weeks in neither the cohort (38.7 weeks) nor the pooled literature (37.6 weeks). CONCLUSION: An i-FIUVV in singletons is not associated with an increased IUFD risk up to 39 weeks of gestation but is possibly associated with FGR. The incidence of FGR in our cohort was higher than in the pooled literature (16.3% vs. 5%) but FGR definitions in the included studies varied. The proportion of birthweights below the 10th percentile in our cohort was significantly higher than in the reference group. Thus, based on these findings, we suggest conducting sonographic growth assessments while simultaneously assessing the i-FIUVV. No further monitoring and follow-up are indicated up to 39 weeks of gestation. After 39 weeks of gestation, data on fetuses with i-FIUVV and their outcomes are lacking.

Increased Pulmonary-Aortic Interspace in Fetal Right Aortic Arch: A Matched Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: The prenatal detection rate of a right aortic arch (RAA) has increased with the implementation of the three-vessel view (3VV) to the second-trimester anomaly scan formed by the pulmonary artery (PA), aorta (Ao), and superior vena cava (SVC). We examined the value of measuring the distance between PA and Ao in the 3VV in cases with an RAA. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in which fetuses with an isolated RAA were matched to 3 healthy controls. Using 3VV images, the distances between PA, Ao, and SVC were measured and the ratio between PA to Ao (PAAo) distance and Ao to SVC (AoSVC) distance was calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-four RAA cases and 162 matched controls were included. The mean absolute distance PAAo was 3.1 mm in cases and 1.8 mm in controls (p < 0.001), and the mean PAAo/AoSVC ratio was 2.9 and 1.4, respectively (p < 0.001). The ROC curve of PAAo/AoSVC ratio showed a cut-off point of 1.9 with sensitivity and specificity over 87% for the diagnosis of RAA. CONCLUSIONS: The pulmonary-aortic interspace and the PAAo/AoSVC ratio were significantly larger for RAA cases as compared to controls. If an increased pulmonary-aortic interspace is observed, a PAAo/AoSVC of ≥1.9 can be helpful in the diagnosis of an RAA.

Human embryonic and fetal biobanking: Establishing the Dutch Fetal Biobank and a framework for standardization.

Recent studies of human embryos and fetuses have advanced our understanding not only of basic biology but also of health and disease, through a combination of detailed three-dimensional (3D) morphology and processes such as gene expression, cellular decision-making and differentiation, and epigenetics during the various phases of human development and growth. Large-scale research initiatives focusing on these topics have been initiated during the last decade, all of which depend on biobanks that provide high-quality images of human embryonic and fetal morphology, as well as on high-quality collections of tissue samples that are obtained and stored appropriately. In this perspective, we describe our experience in establishing the Dutch Fetal Biobank to present the framework and workflow of the biobank, provide a brief discussion of the main legal and ethical aspects involved in establishing a pre-natal tissue bank, and present the preliminary data on the first 329 donated specimens.

Prognostic accuracy of factors associated with poor outcome in prenatally diagnosed sacrococcygeal teratoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several factors associated with poor outcome in patients with prenatally diagnosed sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) have been found. However, the prognostic accuracy of these factors has not been well established. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the prognostic accuracy of factors associated with poor outcome in these patients. We queried Search Premier, COCHRANE Library, EMCARE, EMBASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases to identify studies regarding patients with prenatally diagnosed SCT. Poor outcome was defined as termination of pregnancy (TOP), intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), or perinatal death. We estimated the odds ratio of factors associated with poor outcome. Eleven studies (447 patients) were included. Overall mortality, including TOP, was 34.9%. Factors associated with poor outcome in fetuses with prenatally diagnosed SCT were cardiomegaly, hypervascular tumor, solid tumor morphology, fetal hydrops, and placentomegaly. A tumor volume to fetal weight ratio (TFR) of >0.12 before a gestational age of 24 weeks is predictive of poor outcome. The prognostic accuracy of factors associated with poor outcome in fetuses prenatally diagnosed with SCT seems promising. Factors associated with cardiac failure such as cardiomegaly, hypervascular tumor, solid tumor morphology, fetal hydrops, placentomegaly, and TFR >0.12 were found to be predictive of poor outcome.

Assessment of cervical softening and the prediction of preterm birth (STIPP): protocol for a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm birth (PTB) is among the leading causes of perinatal and childhood morbidity and mortality. Therefore, accurate identification of pregnant women at high risk of PTB is key to enable obstetric healthcare professionals to apply interventions that improve perinatal and childhood outcomes. Serial transvaginal cervical length measurement is used to screen asymptomatic pregnant women with a history of PTB and identify those at high risk for a recurrent PTB. Cervical length measurement, fetal fibronectin test or a combination of both can be used to identify women at high risk of PTB presenting with symptoms of threatened PTB. The predictive capacity of these methods can be improved. Cervical softening is a precursor of cervical shortening, effacement and dilatation and could be a new marker to identify women a high risk of PTB. However, the predictive value of cervical softening to predict spontaneous PTB still needs to be determined. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a single-centre, prospective cohort study, conducted at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers in the Netherlands. Cervical softening will be investigated with a non-invasive CE-marked device called the Pregnolia System. This device has been developed to evaluate consistency of the cervix based on tissue elasticity. Two different cohorts will be investigated. The first cohort includes women with a history of spontaneous PTB <34 weeks. These women undergo biweekly measurements between 14 and 24 weeks of gestation. The second cohort includes women with symptoms of threatened PTB. These women will receive the measurement once at presentation between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome is spontaneous PTB before 34 weeks for women with a history of PTB and delivery within 7 days for women with threatened PTB. The minimum sample size required to analyse the primary outcome is 227 women in the cohort of women with a history of PTB and 163 women in the cohort of women with symptoms of threatened PTB. Once this number is achieved, the study will be continued to investigate secondary objectives. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Amsterdam UMC (METC2022.0226). All patients will give oral and written informed consent prior to study entry. Results will be disseminated via a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05477381.

Changes in the Prevalence of Infection in Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

BACKGROUND: During the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, strict mitigation measures and national lockdowns were implemented. Our objective was to investigate to what extent the prevalence of some infections in pregnancy was altered during different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a single centre retrospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands on data collected from electronic patient files of pregnant women from January 2017 to February 2021. We identified three time periods with different strictness of mitigation measures: the first and second lockdown were relatively strict; the inter-lockdown period was less strict. The prevalence of the different infections (Group B Streptococcus (GBS)-carriage, urinary tract infections and Cytomegalovirus infection) during the lockdown was compared to the same time periods in previous years (2017-2019). RESULTS: In the first lockdown, there was a significant decrease in GBS-carriage (19.5% in 2017-2019 vs. 9.1% in 2020; p = 0.02). In the period following the first lockdown and during the second, no differences in prevalence were found. There was a trend towards an increase in positive Cytomegalovirus IgM during the inter-lockdown period (4.9% in 2017-2019 vs. 12.8% in 2020; p = 0.09), but this did not reach statistical significance. The number of positive urine cultures did not significantly change during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: During the first lockdown there was a reduction in GBS-carriage; further studies are warranted to look into the reason why.

PROMPT: Prospective Meta-analysis for Pessary Trials Study Protocol.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of perinatal and infant mortality throughout the world. Preterm birth is also associated with long-term neurological disabilities and other significant health issues in children. A short cervix in the second trimester has been noted to be one of the strongest predictors of subsequent spontaneous preterm birth in both singleton and multiple pregnancies. Some studies have shown that cervical support in the form of an Arabin pessary lowers the risk of preterm birth in women with a singleton gestation and short cervical length; however, other studies have conflicting results. Our objective was to form an international collaborative of planned or ongoing randomized trials of pessary in singleton and twin gestations with a short cervix. STUDY DESIGN: In November 2014, an international group of investigators, who had initiated or were planning randomized trials of pessary for pregnant people with a short cervix and singleton or twin gestation to prevent preterm birth, formed a collaboration to plan a prospective individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of randomized trials (PROspective Meta-analysis of Pessary Trials [PROMPT]). The PROMPT investigators agreed on meta-analysis IPD hypotheses for singletons and twins, eligibility criteria, and a set of core baseline and outcome measures. The primary outcome is a composite of fetal death or preterm delivery before 32 weeks' gestation. Secondary outcomes include maternal and neonatal morbidities. The PROMPT protocol may be viewed as a written agreement among the study investigators who make up the PROMPT consortium (PROSPERO ID# CRD42018067740). RESULTS: Results will be published in phases as the individual participating studies are concluded and published. Results of the first phase of singleton and twin pessary trials are expected to be available in late 2022. Updates are planned as participating trials are completed and published. KEY POINTS: · Short cervical length predicts preterm birth.. · Results of prior cervical pessary trials are mixed.. · Meta-analysis of pessary trials protocol..

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy after multifetal pregnancy reduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) after multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR). METHODS: A comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed. Prospective or retrospective studies reporting on MFPR from triplet or higher-order to twin compared to ongoing (i.e., non-reduced) triplets and/or twins were included. A meta-analysis of the primary outcome HDP was carried out using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses of gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE) were performed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. RESULTS: Thirty studies with a total of 9,811 women were included. MFPR from triplet to twin was associated with a lower risk for HDP compared to ongoing triplets (OR 0.55, 95% CI, 0.37-0.83; p = 0.004). In a subgroup analysis, the decreased risk of HDP was driven by GH, and PE was no longer significant (OR 0.34, 95% CI, 0.17-0.70; p = 0.004 and OR 0.64, 95% CI, 0.38-1.09; p = 0.10, respectively). HDP was also significantly lower after MFPR from all higher-order (including triplets) to twin compared to ongoing triplets (OR 0.55, 95% CI, 0.38-0.79; p = 0.001). In a subgroup analysis, the decreased risk of HDP was driven by PE, and GH was no longer significant (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.92; p = 0.02 and OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.28-1.06; p = 0.08, respectively). No significant differences in HDP were found in MFPR from triplet or higher-order to twin versus ongoing twins. CONCLUSIONS: MFPR in women with triplet and higher-order multifetal pregnancies decreases the risk of HDP. Twelve women should undergo MFPR to prevent one event of HDP. These data can be used in the decision-making process of MFPR, in which the individual risk factors of HDP can be taken into account.

Early Detection of Isolated Severe Congenital Heart Defects Is Associated with a Lower Threshold to Terminate the Pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Early detection of isolated severe congenital heart defects (CHDs) allows extra time for chromosomal analysis and informed decision making, resulting in improved perinatal management and patient satisfaction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the value of an additional first-trimester screening scan compared to only a second-trimester scan in fetuses diagnosed with isolated severe CHDs. Prenatal detection rate, time of prenatal diagnosis, and pregnancy outcome were evaluated in the Netherlands after implementation of a national screening program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective geographical cohort study and included 264 pre- and postnatally diagnosed isolated severe CHD cases between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, in the Amsterdam region. Severe CHD was defined as potentially life threatening if intervention within the first year of life was required. Two groups were defined: those with a first- and second-trimester anomaly scan (group 1) and those with a second-trimester anomaly scan only (group 2). A first-trimester scan was defined as a scan between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Overall, the prenatal detection rate for isolated severe CHDs was 65%; 63% were detected before 24 weeks of gestation (97% of all prenatally detected CHDs). Prenatal detection rate was 70.2% in the group with a first- and second-trimester scan (group 1) and 58% in the group with a second-trimester scan only (group 2) (p < 0.05). Median gestational age at detection was 19 + 6 (interquartile range [IQR] 15 + 4 - 20 + 5) in group 1 versus 20 + 3 (IQR: 20 + 0 - 21 + 1) in group 2 (p < 0.001). In group 1, 22% were diagnosed before 18 weeks of gestation. Termination of pregnancy rate in group 1 and group 2 were 48% and 27%, respectively (p < 0.01). Median gestational age at termination did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Prenatal detection rate of isolated severe CHDs and termination of pregnancy rate was higher in the group with both a first- and second-trimester scan. We found no differences between timing of terminations. The additional time after diagnosis allows for additional genetic testing and optimal counseling of expectant parents regarding prognosis and perinatal management, so that well-informed decisions can be made.

The influence of the introduction of a national prenatal screening program on late termination of pregnancy, a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of a national prenatal screening program on category 1 (lethal anomalies) late terminations of pregnancy (LTOP). METHODS: In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we included all category 1 LTOPs from 2004 to 2015 in the Netherlands. The number of LTOPs before and after the introduction of the program was compared as well as the diagnostic process and factors contributing to LTOP. RESULTS: In total, 97 LTOPs were reported. After the introduction of the program, the number of LTOPs decreased from 17 per year to 5 per year on average. The number of cases in which the diagnostic process started with obstetric indications decreased from 55% to 17% (p < 0.01) and the number of cases detected by routine screening increased from 11% to 52% (p < 0.01). Four factors still contributed to LTOP after the introduction of the screening program: diagnostic or parental delay (40%), absence of screening (24%), false negative results of prior screening (14%) and late onset of disease (12%). CONCLUSION: The number of LTOPs decreased after the introduction of the screening program. At present, the diagnostic process is mostly screening driven. Parental- and diagnostic delay is still an important factor that contributes to LTOP.

Financial contribution as reason to opt out of non-invasive prenatal testing.

OBJECTIVE: First trimester non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) provides pregnant women with a reliable, non-invasive method to screen for fetal aneuploidies. In the Netherlands, there is a nationwide prenatal screening program in which pregnant women and their partners are counseled about their options around 10 weeks of pregnancy. The first trimester and second trimester scan are fully reimbursed but the NIPT has an own financial contribution of €175 per participant, irrespective of type of insurance. The arguments for this own contribution are fear of uncritical use of NIPT or routinization. NIPT has a relatively stable uptake of 51%, against over 95% for second trimester anomaly scan. We aimed to explore the effect of this financial contribution on the decision to opt out of NIPT. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a survey among 350 pregnant women undergoing a second trimester anomaly scan in our center, Amsterdam UMC, between January 2021 and April 2022. All pregnant women who declined NIPT in the first trimester, were asked to participate and answered 11-13 questions about the decision-making process, the reasons to opt out and the financial contribution. RESULTS: Information about NIPT was desired in 92% of women and 96% felt sufficiently informed. Most women took the decision not to perform NIPT with their partner and did not experience difficulties in taking this decision. The most important reason to decline NIPT was: "Every child is welcome" (69%). "The test was too expensive" was answered in 12% and was significantly correlated with lower maternal age. Additionally, one in five women (19%) said they would have done NIPT if it had been for free, which was significantly higher in younger women. CONCLUSIONS: The own financial contribution plays a role in the decision-making to decline NIPT and partly explains the low uptake in the Netherlands. This suggests that there is no equal access to fetal aneuploidy screening. To overcome this inequality, this own contribution should be abandoned. We speculate that this will have a positive effect on the uptake, which will increase to at least 70% and potentially 94%.

Gestational age and socio-demographic factors associated with school performance at the age of 12 years, a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Gestational age is positively associated with cognitive development, but socio-demographic factors also influence school performance. Previous studies suggested possible interaction, putting children with low socio-economic status (SES) at increased risk of the negative effects of prematurity. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between gestational age in weeks, socio-demographic characteristics, and school performance at the age of 12 years among children in regular primary education. METHODS: Population-based cohort study among liveborn singletons (N = 860,332) born in the Netherlands in 1999-2006 at 25-42 weeks' gestation, with school performance from 2011 to 2019. Regression analyses were conducted investigating the association of gestational age and sociodemographic factors with school performance and possible interaction. RESULTS: School performance increased with gestational age up to 40 weeks. This pattern was evident across socio-demographic strata. Children born at 25 weeks had -0.57 SD (95% confidence interval -0.79, -0.35) lower school performance z-scores and lower secondary school level compared to 40 weeks. Low maternal education, low maternal age, and non-European origin were strongly associated with lower school performance. Being born third or later and low socioeconomic status (SES) were also associated with lower school performance, but differences were smaller than among other factors. When born preterm, children from mothers with low education level, low or high age, low SES or children born third or later were at higher risk for lower school performance compared to children of mothers with intermediate education level, aged 25-29 years, with intermediate SES or first borns (evidence of interaction). CONCLUSIONS: Higher gestational age is associated with better school performance at the age of 12 years along the entire spectrum of gestational age, beyond the cut-off of preterm birth and across socio-demographic differences. Children in socially or economically disadvantaged situations might be more vulnerable to the negative impact of preterm birth. Other important factors in school performance are maternal education, maternal age, ethnicity, birth order and SES. Results should be interpreted with caution due to differential loss to follow-up.

Factors related to fetal demise in cases with congenital heart defects.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital anomaly. Despite the increasing survival of these children, there is still an increased incidence of fetal demise, frequently attributed to cardiac failure. Considering that abnormal placental development has been described in congenital heart disease, our hypothesis is that placental insufficiency may contribute to fetal death in congenital heart disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess cases with fetal congenital heart disease and intrauterine demise, and analyze factors that are related to the demise. STUDY DESIGN: All congenital heart disease cases diagnosed prenatally during the period January 2002 to January 2021 were selected from the regional prospective congenital heart disease registry, PRECOR. Multiple pregnancies and pregnancies with fetal trisomy 13 or 18, triploidy, and Turner's syndrome were excluded from the analysis, because fetal demise is attributed to the chromosomal abnormality in these cases. Cases were categorized into 4 groups based on the possible cause of fetal death as follows: cardiac failure, additional (genetic) diagnosis, placental insufficiency, and a group in which no cause was found. A separate analysis was performed for isolated congenital heart disease cases. RESULTS: Of the 4806 cases in the PRECOR registry, 112 had fetal demise, of which 43 were excluded from the analysis (13 multiple pregnancies, 30 genetic). Of these, 47.8% were most likely related to cardiac failure, 42.0% to another (genetic) diagnosis, and 10.1% to placental insufficiency. No cases were allocated to the group with an unknown cause. Only 47.8% of the cases had isolated congenital heart disease, and in this group 21.2% was most likely related to placental insufficiency. CONCLUSION: This study shows that in addition to cardiac failure and other (genetic) diagnoses, placental factors play an important role in fetal demise in congenital heart disease, especially in cases of isolated heart defects. Therefore, these findings support the importance of regular ultrasonographic assessment of fetal growth and placental function in fetal congenital heart disease.