Low-dose aspirin to prevent preeclampsia and growth restriction in nulliparous women identified by uterine artery Doppler as at high risk of preeclampsia: A double blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: This trial evaluates whether daily low-dose aspirin initiated before 16 weeks of gestation can reduce preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in nulliparous women identified by first-trimester uterine artery Dopplers as at high risk of preeclampsia. METHODS: This randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial took place in 17 French obstetric departments providing antenatal care. Pregnant nulliparous women aged ≥ 18 years with a singleton pregnancy at a gestational age < 16 weeks of gestation with a lowest pulsatility index ≥ 1.7 or a bilateral protodiastolic notching for both uterine arteries on an ultrasound performed between 11+0 and 13+6 weeks by a certified sonographer were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to 160 mg of low-dose aspirin or to placebo to be taken daily from inclusion to their 34th week of gestation. The main outcome was preeclampsia or a birthweight ≤ 5th percentile. Other outcomes included preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, preterm preeclampsia, preterm delivery before 34 weeks, mode of delivery, type of anesthesia, birthweight ≤ 5th percentile and perinatal death. RESULTS: The trial was interrupted due to recruiting difficulties. Between June 2012 and June 2016, 1104 women were randomized, two withdrew consent, and two had terminations of pregnancies. Preeclampsia or a birthweight ≤ 5th percentile occurred in 88 (16.0%) women in the low-dose aspirin group and in 79 (14.4%) in the placebo group (proportion difference 1.6 [-2.6; 5.9] p = 0.45). The two groups did not differ significantly for the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSION: Low-dose aspirin was not associated with a lower rate of either preeclampsia or birthweight ≤ 5th percentile in women identified by their first-trimester uterine artery Doppler as at high risk of preeclampsia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (NCT0172946).

Pre-eclampsia is a valuable opportunity to diagnose chronic kidney disease: a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia (PE) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are known to be associated. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of CKD in a large multicentre cohort of women without acknowledged CKD who experienced a PE episode. METHODS: The setting for the study was France (Le Mans, Central France) and Italy (Cagliari, Sardinia). The study participants were patients who experienced PE in 2018-19, identified from the obstetric charts. Patients with known-acknowledged CKD were excluded. Only singletons were considered. Persistent (micro)albuminuria was defined as present and confirmed at least 3 months after delivery. CKD was defined according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines; urinary alterations or low eGFR confirmed at a distance of at least 3 months, or morphologic changes. Patients were divided into four groups: evidence of CKD; no evidence of CKD; unclear diagnosis-ongoing work-up; or persistent microalbuminuria. The outcome 'diagnosis of CKD' was analysed by simple and multiple logistic regressions. Temporal series (week of delivery) were analysed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox analysis. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-two PE pregnancies were analysed (Le Mans: 162; Cagliari: 120). The incidence of CKD diagnosis was identical (Le Mans: 19.1%; Cagliari: 19.2%); no significant difference was found in unclear-ongoing diagnosis (6.2%; 5.8%) and microalbuminuria (10.5%; 5.8%). Glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy were more frequent in Cagliari (higher age and diabetes prevalence), and interstitial diseases in Le Mans. In the multivariate logistic regression, CKD diagnosis was associated with preterm delivery (adjusted P = 0.035). Gestation was 1 week shorter in patients diagnosed with CKD (Kaplan-Meier P = 0.007). In Cox analysis, CKD remained associated with shorter gestation after adjustment for age and parity. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of newly diagnosed CKD is high after PE (19% versus expected 3% in women of childbearing age), supporting a systematic nephrology work-up after PE.

Management of fetal goiters: 6-year retrospective observational study in three prenatal diagnosis and treatment centers of the Pays De Loire Perinatal Network.

Introduction: The incidence of fetal goiters is reported to be around 1 per 40,000 births. The risk of complications is first of all obstetric, directly related to goiter size, but it may also affect longer term fetal and child development, depending on whether the goiter is due to hypo- or hyperthyroidism. Management is multidisciplinary, but not yet consensual and not always optimal by either endocrinologists or obstetricians.Objectives: The principal objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the data that enabled the physicians to assess whether the goiter was hypo- or hyperthyroid and then to analyze the obstetric practices used in the Pays de Loire network to describe in detail the tools used to diagnose and characterize the goiters and the management chosen in these cases. The secondary objectives are to assess, in our small cohort, the effectiveness of the in utero treatments provided, based on the examination of the children at birth and their outcome at 6 months of life, and to suggest a strategy for monitoring these women at risk that takes current guidelines into consideration.Materials and methods: This multicenter retrospective study covers a 6-year period and focused on the prenatal diagnosis centers (CPDPN) of the Pays de Loire perinatal network: in Nantes, Angers, and Le Mans. The network is responsible for around 42,000 births a year, and the study included 17 women, for a prevalence of 1 per 15,000 births.Results: Ten of the 17 fetuses had a hypothyroid goiter, 4 a hyperthyroid goiter, and 3 normal thyroid findings on fetal blood sample (FBS). For four women, these goiters were secondary to fetal dyshormonogenesis, for 9 more to Graves disease with TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), and for four women to thyrotoxicosis at the start of pregnancy, managed by synthetic antithyroid drugs. Two newborns had severe complications associated with maternal transmission of Graves disease (TRAb positive at birth): one with exophthalmos and one with neonatal tachycardia. The other 14 had normal psychomotor development at 6 months, based on a clinical examination by a pediatric endocrinologist; only one child was lost to follow-up.Conclusion: Together, ultrasound and multidisciplinary expertise (of an endocrinologist and an obstetrician experienced with this disease) remain the best means for avoiding, or otherwise for accurately characterizing fetal goiter. An ultrasound diagnostic score, of the type proposed by Luton et al. in 2009, may make it possible to homogenize practices and thus to defer or delay the - currently too common - performance of invasive FBS procedures, which must remain rare in this management to limit comorbidities. A threshold TRAb value (>5 IU/l) makes it possible to define this group of women as at risk of fetal and neonatal hyperthyroidism and thus requiring close monitoring. The value of prenatal intra-amniotic thyroxine treatment for hypothyroid goiters (including dyshormonogenesis) remains to be demonstrated.

Chronic kidney disease in preeclamptic patients: not found unless searched for-Is a nephrology evaluation useful after an episode of preeclampsia?

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are linked by an only partially known cause-effect relationship. Knowledge on prevalence of CKD in PE patients is needed for evaluating the diagnostic yield of nephrology work-up after PE. METHODS: The study was undertaken in the Centre Hospitalier Le Mans (CHM), setting of tertiary level obstetric service (about 3500 deliveries/year). PE was identified on hospital's discharge codes; after review, the study included 99 patients, 36 of which were also evaluated in Nephrology. A descriptive analysis was performed as appropriate. Logistic multiple regression tested the outcome "CKD diagnosis"; covariates that emerged as significant were selected; only singletons were included. Analysis was performed in SPSS. The ethics committee of the CHM approved the study. RESULTS: Prevalence of CKD was 14%; CKD was in stage 1 in 8/14 (57%); 5 patients were in stage 2 (36%), 1 in stage 3 (7%). CKD was known or acknowledged in 1 case only. Diagnoses included reflux nephropathy-other malformations (5 cases), kidney stones-chronic pyelonephritis (3), PKD (1), interstitial nephropathy (2), diabetic nephropathy (1), albuminuria in metabolic syndrome (2). At the logistic regression analysis, preterm delivery [OR 7.849 (1.667-36.968)] and a baby normal for gestational age [> 10th centile; OR 6.193 (1.400-27.394)] were significantly correlated with the diagnosis of CKD. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of a single-center study, our data quantify CKD as common in PE women and suggest the presence of a "CKD phenotype" characterised by preterm delivery and adequate growth, implying that CKD is compatible with good placental function up to the last phase of pregnancy.

Predictors of failed intrauterine balloon tamponade for persistent postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the predictors of intrauterine balloon tamponade (IUBT) failure for persistent postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal delivery. DESIGN: Retrospective case-series in five maternity units in a perinatal network. SETTING: All women who underwent IUBT for persistent PPH after vaginal delivery from January 2011 to December 2015 in these hospitals. METHODS: All maternity apply the same management policy for PPH. IUBT, using a Bakri balloon, was used as a second line therapy for persistent PPH after failure of bimanual uterine massage and uterotonics to stop bleeding after vaginal delivery. Women who required another second line therapy (embolization or surgical procedures) to stop bleeding after IUBT were defined as cases, and women whom IUBT stopped bleeding were defined as control group. We determined independent predictors for failed IUBT using multiple regression and adjusting for demographics with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: During the study period, there were 91,880 deliveries in the five hospitals and IUBT was used in 108 women to control bleeding. The success rate was 74.1% (80/108). In 28 women, invasive procedures were required (19 embolization and 9 surgical procedures with 5 peripartum hysterectomies). Women with failed IUBT were more often obese (25.9% vs. 8.1%; p = 0.03), duration of labor was shorter (363.9 min vs. 549.7min; p = 0.04), and major PPH (≥1,500 mL) before IUBT was more frequent (64% vs. 40%; p = 0.04). Obesity was a predictive factor of failed IUBT (aOR 4.40, 95% CI 1.06-18.31). Major PPH before IUBT seemed to be another predictor of failure (aOR 1.001, 95% CI 1.000-1.002), but our result did not reach statistical significativity. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine balloon tamponade is an effective second line therapy for persistent primary PPH after vaginal delivery. Pre-pregnancy obesity is a risk factor of IUBT failure.

Maternal outcomes after uterine balloon tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate maternal outcomes following uterine balloon tamponade in the management of postpartum hemorrhage. DESIGN: Retrospective case-series. SETTING: Two French hospitals, a level 3 university referral center and a level 2 private hospital. POPULATION: All women who underwent balloon tamponade treatment for primary postpartum hemorrhage. METHODS: Uterine tamponade was used after standard treatment of postpartum hemorrhage had failed. The study population was divided into two groups, successful cases where the bleeding stopped after the balloon tamponade, and failures requiring subsequent surgery or embolization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Success rates. RESULTS: Uterine tamponade was used in 49 women: 30 (61%) after vaginal delivery and 19 (39%) after cesarean section. Uterine atony was the main cause of hemorrhage (86%). The overall success rate was 65%. Of 17 failures, surgery was required in 16 cases, including hysterectomy in 11, and uterine artery embolization in one case. Demographic and obstetric characteristics did not differ significantly between the success and failure groups. No complications were directly attributed to the balloon tamponade in the postpartum period. Two women had a subsequent full-term pregnancy without recurrence of postpartum hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: Balloon tamponade is an effective, safe and readily available method for treating primary postpartum hemorrhage and could reduce the need for invasive procedures.

Diagnosis of white coat hypertension in pregnant women with teletransmitted home blood pressure.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnosis and prognosis of white coat hypertension (WCH) as detected by home blood pressure (HBP) monitoring measured telemetrically in pregnant women with recently discovered hypertension. METHODS: 57 women evaluated using HBP monitoring. RESULTS: The prevalence of WCH was high (76%). Telemetry was necessary as obstetricians were alerted for 8.8% of women. Birth weight was higher in infants born to women with WCH (3571 g vs. 3045 g, p = 0.05). Ninety-eight percent of HBP results were validated. 92% of the women found HBP monitoring to be very easy. CONCLUSION: In this population, WCH is very common and benign. HBP monitoring is feasible and well accepted. However, teletransmission is necessary for safety.