Second trimester marginal cord insertion is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility in visualizing placental cord insertion (PCI) during second-trimester fetal anatomical survey and the association between marginal cord insertion (MCI) and preterm delivery (PTD) and low birth weight (LBW). Our secondary objectives were to evaluate the association of MCI with adverse composite obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed over a 28-month period. Women with singleton pregnancies presenting for routine anatomical survey between 18 and 22 weeks' gestation were included. PCI site was visualized on 2D grayscale and color Doppler and the shortest distance from the sagittal and transverse planes to the placental edge were recorded. MCI was diagnosed when any of measured distances was ≤2 cm. Correlations were assessed via bivariate chi-squared, independent t-test analyses and Fisher's exact tests. Regression models evaluated associations between MCI and adverse composite outcomes. Results: Three hundred one women were included and PCI was feasible in all cases. The incidence of MCI was 11.3% (n = 34). Baseline characteristics between those with and without MCI were similar, except for story of prior PTD, which was greater among those with MCI (17.65 versus 7.17%, p = .04). MCI was associated with increased likelihood of LBW (RR four; 95%CI, 1.46-10.99) and PTD (RR 3.2; 95%CI, 1.53-6.68); in multivariate analysis, we found associations between MCI and composite adverse obstetrical (RR 2.33; 95%CI, 1.30-4.19) and neonatal (RR 2.46; 95%CI, 1.26-4.81) outcomes. Conclusions: Evaluation of PCI is feasible in all cases. Second-trimester MCI is associated with increased likelihood for LBW, PTD, and composite adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.

Optimal weight gain in triplet pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To identify appropriate weight gain in triplet gestations, which may aid in reducing the risk of perinatal morbidity within this high-risk cohort. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated all non-anomalous triplet pregnancies between 23 and 40 weeks' gestation resulting in live births at five tertiary-care medical centers between 1991 and 2011. Subjects were divided by pre-pregnancy BMI into underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups, and then stratified by low (<0.5 lb/week), moderate (0.5-1.49 lbs/week), or excess weight gain (≥1.5 lbs/week). Primary outcomes included spontaneous preterm birth and preeclampsia. RESULTS: We included 116 mothers and 348 corresponding neonates for final analysis. The incidence of preeclampsia and preterm delivery less than 32 weeks' gestation was 37% and 41%, respectively. The incidence of preeclampsia increased with weight gain per week, but was not statistically different from subjects who gained less weight. We found no statistical correlation between weight gain per week and preterm delivery. CONCLUSION: We found no association between preeclampsia or preterm delivery and increasing weight gain in triplet pregnancies. The association with increased risk for preeclampsia was predominantly due to BMI effect. Based on the current study, recommendations for optimal weight gain in mothers with triplet gestations could not be defined.

Does early second-trimester sonography predict adverse perinatal outcomes in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies?

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether intertwin discordant abdominal circumference, femur length, head circumference, and estimated fetal weight sonographic measurements in early second-trimester monochorionic diamniotic twins predict adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study involving 9 regional perinatal centers in the United States. We examined the records of all monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies with two live fetuses at the 16- to 18-week sonographic examination who had serial follow-up sonography until delivery. The intertwin discordance in abdominal circumference, femur length, head circumference, and estimated fetal weight was calculated as the difference between the two fetuses, expressed as a percentage of the larger using the 16- to 18-week sonographic measurements. An adverse composite obstetric outcome was defined as the occurrence of 1 or more of the following in either fetus: intrauterine growth restriction, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, intrauterine fetal death, abnormal growth discordance (≥20% difference), and very preterm birth at or before 28 weeks. An adverse composite neonatal outcome was defined as the occurrence of 1 or more of the following: respiratory distress syndrome, any stage of intraventricular hemorrhage, 5-minute Apgar score less than 7, necrotizing enterocolitis, culture-proven early-onset sepsis, and neonatal death. Receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression-with-generalized estimating equation analyses were constructed. RESULTS: Among the 177 monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies analyzed, intertwin abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight discordances were only predictive of adverse composite obstetric outcomes (areas under the curve, 79% and 80%, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that intertwin discordances in abdominal circumference, femur length, head circumference, and estimated fetal weight were not acceptable predictors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome or adverse neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort, only second-trimester abdominal circumference and estimated fetal weight discordances in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies were predictive of adverse composite obstetric outcomes. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome and adverse neonatal outcomes were not predicted by any of the intertwin discordances measured.

First-trimester sonographic prediction of obstetric and neonatal outcomes in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether discordant nuchal translucency and crown-rump length measurements in monochorionic diamniotic twins are predictive of adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including all monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies with two live fetuses at the 11-week to 13-week 6-day sonographic examination who had serial follow-up sonography until delivery. Isolated nuchal translucency, crown-rump length, and combined discordances were correlated with adverse obstetric outcomes, individually and in composite, including the occurrence of 1 or more of the following in either fetus: intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), growth discordance (≥ 20%), and preterm birth before 28 weeks' gestation. Correlations with adverse composite neonatal outcomes were also studied. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and a logistic regression analysis with a generalized estimating equation were conducted. RESULTS: Fifty-four of the 177 pregnancies included (31%) had an adverse composite obstetric outcome, with TTTS in 19 (11%), IUGR in 21 (12%), discordant growth in 14 (8%), IUFD in 14 (8%), and preterm birth before 28 weeks in 10 (6%). Of the 254 neonates included in the study, 69 (27%) were complicated by adverse composite neonatal outcomes, with respiratory distress syndrome being the most common (n = 59 [23%]). The areas under the curve for the combined discordances to predict composite obstetric and neonatal outcomes were 0.62 (95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.72), and 0.54 (95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.61), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, nuchal translucency, crown-rump length, and combined discordances in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies were not predictive of adverse composite obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Maternal thrombocytopenia in pregnancy: diagnosis and management.

Thrombocytopenia is a common complication encountered in pregnancy, and can have a wide range of prognostic implications, from completely benign to life threatening. It is important for obstetricians to be aware of the various causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, and to be able to diagnose and manage these patients. This article reviews the various causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, highlights clinical and laboratory features of the most common and most severe causes, and provides an overview of management for these disorders.

Prediction of proteinuria and microalbuminuria in diabetic pregnancies with a random single void.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a single urine specimen could effectively replace the 24 hour (24-h) urine collection in screening for microalbuminuria and proteinuria in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 42 pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus were involved in the eventual analysis. Demographic and clinical variables were collected and analyzed. Urinary Protein (P) to Creatinine (Cr) ratio and microalbumin (MA) to Cr ratios were measured for the spot sample, and the total P, total MA, and serum Cr were measured for the 24-h urine sample. Analysis was done using linear regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: Mean maternal age was 30.8 years, and the mean gestational age at collection was 19.8 weeks. A strong correlation exists between the spot MA to Cr value and 24-h MA, with an r = 0.81 (P < 0.0001). The association between the spot P to Cr ratio and 24-h urinary P was not as strong, r = 0.58 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A strong association between spot MA to Cr ratio and 24-h urinary microalbuminuria may suggest a predictive role for random urine assessment of MA in pregnant pregestational diabetic patients. However, based on our data, the spot P to Cr ratio may be inadequate for assessing proteinuria in pregestational diabetic pregnancies.

Pregnancy in a woman with uterine procidentia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Uterine prolapse in pregnancy is rare and can either occur during pregnancy or be present before the pregnancy. We present a case of a successful pregnancy in a patient with preexisting uterine procidentia. CASE: A 44-year-old woman with a history of complete uterine prolapse presented with an unplanned pregnancy. Upon initial presentation at 15 weeks she had uterine prolapse with cervical elongation that protruded 10 cm past the introitus. The prolapse persisted until about 30 weeks, during which it was conservatively managed with bed rest, knee-chest positions and local treatment of the desiccated cervix with emollients. The patient had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery and underwent a vaginal hysterectomy, anterior-posterior repair and a sacrospinous ligament fixation a few months later. CONCLUSION: Uterine prolapse in pregnant women with preexisting prolapse will probably resolve in the third trimester without treatment. An otherwise uncomplicated course and a vaginal delivery can be expected.