Outcomes following Placement and Removal of Transvaginal Cerclage in at Risk Pregnancies: A Single Center Experience.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the time between removal of cerclage and delivery, stratified by indication for cerclage placement (elective or non-elective). Additionally, delivery within 72 hours after cerclage removal was compared between elective and non-elective cerclage placement, as well as between ultrasound-indicated and physical examination-indicated cerclage placement. Design: A single-center retrospective cohort study. Participants/Materials, Setting, and Methods. Clinical information of 72 pregnant women who underwent transvaginal cerclage over a 4-year period was obtained. Comparisons were made between elective (history-indicated) and non-elective (ultrasound or physical examination-indicated) cerclage placement. Comparisons were also made between physical examination-indicated and ultrasound-indicated cerclage. Results: Compared to those who had a non-elective cerclage, women undergoing elective cerclage were more likely to have history of cervical treatment (44% vs. 15%, p = 0.02), and spontaneous preterm delivery (92% vs. 61%, p = 0.003). There was no difference in the rate of delivery ≤72 hours following cerclage removal between women who had elective cerclage and those who had non-elective cerclage (46% vs. 58%, p = 0.47). Women who had an elective cerclage were more likely to have elective cerclage removal ≥36 weeks (71.8% vs. 39.4%, p = 0.01), compared to those who had undergone non-elective cerclage. The rate of delivery ≤72 hours following removal of cerclage was greater in women who had a physical examination-indicated cerclage compared to women who had ultrasound-indicated cerclage (80% vs. 39%, p = 0.04). Among women who had an elective cerclage, there was no difference in the rate of delivery at ≤72 hours between those who had elective cerclage removal at 36 weeks compared to those electively removed at 37 weeks (31% vs. 58%, p = 0.30). No complications such as fetal demise, iatrogenic amniotic membrane rupture, hemorrhage, or cervical laceration were reported within this cohort. Conclusion: Cerclage indication should be considered prior to scheduling elective cerclage removal. Women who had an elective cerclage are most likely to get it electively removed at 36 weeks compared to their counterparts who had a non-elective cerclage. Furthermore, women who had a physical examination-indicated cerclage are most likely to deliver within 72 hours of cerclage removal.

Spontaneous septostomy in a monochorionic-diamniotic twin gestation.

Monochorionic twin gestations are associated with a greater incidence of neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared with their dichorionic counterparts. In turn, monochorionic-monoamniotic (MCMA) gestations carry greater risks compared with monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) gestations. While the true incidence of spontaneous septostomy of the dividing membranes (SSDM) in MCDA twins is unknown, SSDM has been demonstrated to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality, due to functional transition from a MCDA gestation to a MCMA gestation. We report a case of SSDM in a mid-trimester MCDA gestation, review the literature, and describe how to identify and manage this complication.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of annual Trichomonas vaginalis screening and treatment in HIV-positive women to prevent HIV transmission.

BACKGROUND: Because of a high incidence of Trichomonas infection among HIV-positive women, annual screening and treatment are recommended. Trichomonas infection is associated with a 2-fold risk of HIV transmission. The objective of this study was to determine if annual screening is cost-effective for the prevention of new HIV cases in susceptible male partners secondary to Trichomonas infection in HIV-positive women. METHODS: A decision tree analysis was constructed to model the costs of Trichomonas screening, treatment, and follow-up. 200 women cycled through the model for a period of 12 months. One hundred women were unscreened and 100 were screened and treated per recommendations. RESULTS: Annual Trichomonas screening and treatment saves US $553 (US $475- US $645) per woman in the prevention of HIV transmission to male partners. The cost-effectiveness of this strategy was maintained across all assumptions in a sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Trichomonas screening and treatment for the purpose of decreasing new HIV infections is not only cost-effective but also cost saving in HIV-positive women. If Centers for Disease Control and Prevention treatment guidelines were followed in all HIV-positive women living in the United States, the lifetime cost of new HIV infections prevented would approximate US $159,264,000 and could potentially prevent new HIV cases secondary to female-to-male transmissions.

The cost of Medicaid savings: the potential detrimental public health impact of neonatal circumcision defunding.

OBJECTIVE: To project the increased incidence of HIV and subsequent costs resulting from the expected decreased rate of circumcision due to Medicaid defunding in one southeastern state. METHODS: Using 2009 South Carolina (SC) Medicaid birth cohort (n = 29, 316), we calculated expected heterosexually acquired HIV cases at current circumcision rates. To calculate age/race/gender specific HIV incidence rates, we used 2009 South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported gender and race specific HIV cases, CDC reported age distribution of HIV cases, and 2009 S.C. population data. Accounting for current circumcision rates, we calculated the change in incidence of heterosexually acquired HIV assuming circumcision provides 60% protection against HIV transmission to males and 46% protection against male to female transmission. Published lifetime cost of HIV was used to calculate the cost of additional HIV cases. RESULTS: Assuming Medicaid circumcision rates decrease from current nationally reported levels to zero secondary to defunding, we project an additional 55 male cases of HIV and 47 female cases of HIV among this birth cohort. The total cost discounted to time of infection of these additional HIV cases is $20,924,400 for male cases and $17,711,400 for female cases. The cost to circumcise males in this birth cohort at currently reported rates is $4,856,000. CONCLUSIONS: For every year of decreased circumcision rates due to Medicaid defunding, we project over 100 additional HIV cases and $30,000,000 in net medical costs.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of anal cancer screening in HIV-positive women.

OBJECTIVE: Anal cancer rates have increased in HIV+ patients. The prevalence of anal intraepithelial neoplasias (AINs) and progression to anal cancer in HIV+ men who have sex with men has been well described, and screening is cost-effective. Our objective was to determine whether anal cancer screening in HIV+ women is cost-effective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model analysis of 100 HIV+ women was constructed. All women had a CD4 count less than 200 and were assumed to be on antiretrovirals. Rates of AIN were based on previous studies. Progression rates were extrapolated from previous data on HIV+ men who have sex with men. The 5-year model included 3 screening approaches: none, annual, and biennial. Anoscopy and biopsy were performed after an abnormal cytologic result. Low-grade AIN was followed with repeat cytology, and high-grade AIN was treated surgically. Anal cancer was treated surgically followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Sensitivity analyses (SAs) were performed to account for variable rates of AIN progression, anal cancer mortality, and anal cancer and HIV quality-adjusted life years. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of biennial anal cancer screening compared to no screening was $34,763. Cost-effectiveness was maintained across all assumptions in SA except for decreased progression rate of high-grade AIN to anal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Biennial anal cancer screening in HIV+ women with CD4 counts less than 200 is cost-effective. Annual screening was not cost-effective, likely because of the slow progression of AIN to anal cancer. Further data on rates of AIN progression in HIV+ women based on CD4 count are needed to determine whether screening is cost-effective in women with higher CD4 counts.

Multiple gestations: timing of indicated late preterm and early-term births in uncomplicated dichorionic, monochorionic, and monoamniotic twins.

In this work we review the indications for late preterm and early-term birth in uncomplicated dichorionic, monochorionic, and monoamniotic twin gestations. Uncomplicated dichorionic twins have optimal outcomes when delivered at 38 weeks' gestation. Monochorionic twins, however, are at greater risk for unexpected stillbirth, and a management plan of late preterm delivery (34-37 weeks) after informed consent is reasonable. Monoamniotic twins are at even greater risk for sudden intrauterine fetal demise, and it is recommended that these expectant mothers be managed by inpatient hospitalization with fetal testing 1-3 times per day and delivery between 32 and 34 weeks' gestation. Recommendations are also provided for the circumstance of single intrauterine fetal demise in a twin gestation.

Cost-effectiveness of maternal treatment to prevent perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of maternal lamivudine or hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) treatment, in addition to standard neonatal immunoprophylaxis, for the prevention of perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission. METHODS: A decision-tree model was created to estimate the cost-effectiveness of maternal administration of either lamivudine or HBIG in the third trimester to prevent perinatal hepatitis B transmission compared with no maternal treatment. The model was first estimated for each treatment using overall transmission rates, and then stratified by maternal hepatitis B virus DNA viral load. RESULTS: The model estimated that for each 100 hepatitis B surface antigen positive pregnant women treated with lamivudine, 9.7 cases of chronic hepatitis B virus infections are prevented, with a cost-savings of $5,184 and 1.3 life-years gained per patient treated. For HBIG, 9.5 cases of chronic hepatitis B virus infections are prevented for each 100 pregnant women treated, with a cost-savings of $5,887 and 1.2 life-years gained per patient treated. Under baseline assumptions, lamivudine remains cost-saving unless the reduction in perinatal transmission is less than 18.5%, and HBIG remains cost-saving unless the reduction in perinatal transmission is less than 9.6%. CONCLUSION: In this decision analysis, administration of lamivudine or HBIG to hepatitis B surface antigen positive pregnant women for the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B is cost-savings across a wide range of assumptions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Maternal inflammation in spontaneous term labor.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between peripheral markers of maternal inflammation and the onset of term labor. STUDY DESIGN: A nested case-control study was performed with serum that had been collected at routine visits from a cohort of 607 term nulliparous women. Cases (n = 20) labored spontaneously within 48 hours of enrollment, and control subjects (n = 80) labored spontaneously ≥14 days after enrollment. Maternal serum cytokines were determined with the use of standard multiplex protocols. Median levels of interleukin-1, -4, -6, -8, and -10, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α were compared with the use of the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between cytokine levels and maternal factors were performed (Spearman's rho). RESULTS: Median interleukin-1 and -6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were significantly higher in cases vs control subjects (0.76 vs 0.31 pg/mL [P < .01]; 2.05 vs 0.95 pg/mL [P = .03]; 0.81 vs 0.51 pg/mL [P = .02], respectively). Latency until delivery was inversely correlated with interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α (-0.28 [P < .01]; -0.246 [P = .01]), but not with interleukin-6. CONCLUSION: Maternal proinflammatory markers increase before spontaneous term labor.