Blocked atrial bi/trigeminy in utero evolving in supraventricular tachycardia after birth.

Transient episodes of fetal bradycardia (heart rate less than 110 bpm) are usually benign and typically result from increased vagal stimulation in the fetus. Causes of sustained fetal bradycardia include sinus bradycardia, blocked atrial bigeminy/trigeminy, high-degree atrioventricular block, and long QT syndrome. We present the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian patient referred to our department for "blocked atrial bigeminy with pseudobradycardia" detected elsewhere at 33 weeks of gestation. A fetal echocardiography showed during all the examination a blocked atrial trigeminy with a mean fetal heart rate of 100 bpm. After birth three subsequent ECGs until day 3 showed no evidence of atrial extrasystoles, confirming the well-known frequent regression of this kind of fetal benign arrhythmia, but on day 11 recurrence of supraventricular trigeminy and development of episodes of paroxystic supraventricular tachycardia were observed. On the basis of this observation, we recommend that fetuses with complex atrial ectopic beats should be closely monitored before and after birth for evidence of new arrhythmias.

Efficacy of three different antithrombotic regimens on pregnancy outcome in pregnant women affected by recurrent pregnancy loss.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common health problem affecting 1-5% of women at reproductive age. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of three different antithrombotic treatments in women with antecedent of RPL, comparing the results in negative and positive to thrombophilic screening pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 361 women with an antecedent of two or more pregnancy losses. From this group, 167 women became pregnant and considered for the study. The evaluated pregnant women were divided as negative/positive to thrombofilic screening: (a) 80 (48%) with negative thrombophilic screening, (b) 87 (52%) positive to thrombophilic screening. Pregnant women included in the study and considered negative or positive for thrombophilic screening, were randomized into three different therapy groups: (a) group 1: Acetil salicylic acid (ASA) 100 mg daily until third month of pregnancy, (b) group 2: low molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) - enoxaparine 40 mg daily until third month of pregnancy, (c) group 3: ASA 100 mg plus LMWH 40 mg daily until third month of pregnancy. RESULTS: In 80 negative to thrombophilic screening pregnant women, the comparison of efficacy of the three treatments, shows that all three treatment regimens were significantly effective comparing live births against fetal losses. In 87 positive to thrombophilic screening pregnant women, the comparison of efficacy for the three regimens, shows that the therapy with LMWH or LMWH plus ASA are significantly protective against fetal losses with respect to ASA, which showed a high number of fetal losses (11 live births, 18 fetal losses). COMMENT: We suggest that thromboprophylaxis is indicated in women with RPL independently from positiveness to thrombophilic markers.

Mean platelet volume: association with adverse neonatal outcome.

The aim of the study was to investigate on a possible association between maternal mean platelet volume (MPV) and oxygen-metabolic changes in pregnancies affected by altered maternal-fetal Doppler velocimetry. We considered the altered maternal-fetal Doppler velocimetry group (n = 57) pregnant women admitted to our Institution for a pregnancy complication associated to the event Pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), with altered Doppler velocimetry in the umbilical artery ( UA) (high pulsatility index, absence or reverse end diastolic flow (ARED), blood flow cephalisation) and/or bilateral increased resistance in uterine arteries. Out of these cases, 25 pregnancies were complicated by PE and 32 pregnancies were complicated by IUGR. We included 145 normotensive third trimester pregnant women as a normal maternal-fetal Doppler velocimetry control group. From all women, 20 ml of whole venous blood was obtained from the antecubital vein soon after Doppler velocimetry evaluation. MPV was significantly higher in women with abnormal Doppler velocimetry compared to those with normal Doppler velocimetry (8.0 fl [7.0-8.7] vs. 9.1 fl [8.0-10.6], <0.001. Values are median [interquartiles]). We performed a ROC curve in order to find an MPV cut-off able to predict an uneventful event in Doppler velocimetry compromised fetuses (neonatal O(2) support > 48 hrs or intubation and/or pH < 7.2 at umbilical blood gas analysis (UBGA)). An MPV > or = 10 fl was significantly related to the former diagnostic endpoints compared to that of non-compromised fetuses (sensitivity: 45%, specificity: 89.7%, 95 CI: 18.8-66, p < 0.01). Our study suggests that pregnancies affected by Doppler velocimetry alterations, an MPV value > or = 10 fl may be associated with severe oxygen support and/or low UA ph at birth.

Nuchal translucency as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome.

BACKGROUND: Thickened nuchal translucency (NT) has been related to fetal genetic syndromes, structural abnormalities, and other diseases. The aim of this research was to evaluate the association of NT with adverse pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: In the period 2002-2004 in 2104 pregnant women between 10+6 and 13+5 weeks' gestation, NT was evaluated as a parameter for aneuploidy screening: out of these, 734 singleton pregnant women that underwent 2nd trimester amniocentesis and whose pregnancy outcome were known were selected. NT was statistically correlated to pregnancy and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Median gestational age (GA) at NT evaluation was 11+2 weeks' gestation. NT median was 1.1 mm (0.9-1.4 mm, 25th-75th centile, range 0.5-4.0 mm). After multiple logistic regressions, the variables significantly associated to NT values were: threatened preterm labor (p<0.008) and preterm labor (p<0.02). The best diagnostic accuracy point was NT>95th centile and >1.5 MoM for the prediction of threatened preterm labor. CONCLUSION: In this series, increased NT values were associated to threatened preterm labor and preterm labor in euploid fetuses: this finding may have clinical consequences in the management of such pregnancies.

Doppler velocimetry alterations related to platelet changes in third trimester pregnancies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between the haematological parameter mean platelet volume and Doppler velocimetry parameters in order to improve clinical management in third trimester complicated pregnancies (pre-eclampsia, PE, and IUGR) affected by altered uterine resistances. Fifty-one patients were included in the abnormal uterine arteries Doppler velocimetry group (25 pregnancies were complicated by PE, 26 pregnancies were complicated by IUGR). Ninety-nine normotensive pregnant women taking no drugs for at least 2 weeks prior to testing and with no difference in gestational age at evaluation, with normal Doppler velocimetry profiles at routine screen, were used as controls. From all pregnant women, 20 mL of whole blood were obtained into citrate tubes after Doppler velocimetry evaluation and analysed for red blood cell counts (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit level (HCT), white blood cells count (WBC), platelet counts (PLT), mean platelets volume (MPV) and other biochemical parameters. From all blood parameters studied, MPV was significantly higher in women with altered uterine artery Doppler velocimetry compared with those with normal Doppler profiles (9.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 8.05 +/- 1.2 fL, P<0.001). In the group with altered uterine artery Doppler velocimetry, pregnancies complicated by PE showed a MPV value higher than pregnancies affected by IUGR (9.5 +/- 1.6 vs. 8.9 +/- 1.1, P<0.001). Finally, mean uterine arteries RI values were significantly related to MPV (fL) in both PE and IUGR groups (P<0.01, r=0.37 and P<0.01, r=0.38, respectively). Our study shows that a periodical monitoring of haematological parameters such as MPV can be associated to Doppler velocimetry in order to improve the management of pregnancies with uterine arteries Doppler velocimetry alterations.

Prediction of persistent vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia in previously hysterectomized women by high-risk HPV DNA detection.

AIM: To estimate the incidence and latency of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) in women previously hysterectomized for benign/malign pathology and to evaluate the role of high risk HPVs in the prediction of persistent or recurrent disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 830 women with prior hysterectomy for benign/malign pathologies followed by cytological scraping and vaginal colposcopy. Forty-four patients presented VAIN lesions confirmed by histopathological diagnosis. HPV DNA test was performed at the time of diagnosis. Patients were treated by Laser CO(2) vaporization and underwent follow-up by cytology, colposcopy for a mean period of 3 years. HPV DNA test was performed at 6 months after treatment and every years. Persistent or relapsed disease was confirmed by histopathology. RESULTS: Incidence of VAIN in women hysterectomized for benign pathologies did not differ significantly from the malign group. VAIN degree was more severe in the hysterectomized patients with cervical malignancy and subsequently radiated respect to non-radiated patients. The HPV DNA test at 6 months after VAIN treatment showed fifteen positive cases: twelve HPV 16 (80%) and three HPV 18 (20%). In five cases HPV DNA test was positive with a persistent negative cytological smear during the years. Positivity to high-risk HPV (either 16 or 18) was significantly higher in the patients with relapse to VAIN (10/44, p<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest to include HPV DNA test in addition to cytology in the follow-up of patients previously treated for VAIN, in order to predict VAIN persistence or progression in vaginal carcinoma before cytology becomes abnormal.

Improvement of uterine artery Doppler velocimetry indices after metroplasty in arcuate uteri.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of metroplasty performed in arcuate uteri on uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. STUDY DESIGN: We performed uterine artery Doppler velocimetry transvaginally before and after metroplasty in 36 women with arcuate uteri. Pulsatility indexes (PI) of uterine arteries were calculated and the presence or absence of a protodiastolic notch was evaluated. RESULTS: Comparing Doppler indexes before and after metroplasty, we found that uterine artery impedance improves as assessed by lower mean PI. We observed that PI after intervention was significantly lower compared with indexes before for mean Doppler index evaluations (mean uterine PI pre: 2.07+/-0.61 and post: 1.49+/-0.24 [p<0.03]). No differences were observed as regards bilateral protodiastolic notch absence or presence. A protodiastolic notch was present in 22 out of 36 women before metroplasty (61%), and a notch was observed in 19 out of 36 (52%) after metroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, metroplasty, as well as making the uterine cavity wider, leads to better uterine perfusion.