Considering multifetal pregnancy reduction in triplet pregnancies: do we forget the emotional impact on fathers? A qualitative study from The Netherlands.

STUDY QUESTION: What factors influence the decision-making process of fathers regarding multifetal pregnancy reduction or maintaining a triplet pregnancy, and how do these decisions impact their psychological well-being? SUMMARY ANSWER: For fathers, the emotional impact of multifetal pregnancy reduction or caring for triplets is extensive and requires careful consideration. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Multifetal pregnancy reduction is a medical procedure with the purpose to reduce the number of fetuses to improve chances of a healthy outcome for both the remaining fetus(es) and the mother, either for medical reasons or social considerations. Aspects of the decision whether to perform multifetal pregnancy reduction have been rarely investigated, and the impact on fathers is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Qualitative study with semi-structured interviews between October 2021 and February 2023. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Fathers either after multifetal pregnancy reduction from triplet to twin or singleton pregnancy or ongoing triplet pregnancies 1-6 years after the decision were included. The interview schedule was designed to explore key aspects related to (i) the decision-making process whether to perform multifetal pregnancy reduction and (ii) the emotional aspects and psychological impact of the decision. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and trends in the father's data. The process involved familiarization with the data, defining and naming themes, and producing a final report. This study was a collaboration between a regional secondary hospital (OLVG) and a tertiary care hospital (Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC), both situated in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Data saturation was achieved after 12 interviews. Five main themes were identified: (i) initial responses and emotional complexity, (ii) experiencing disparities in counselling quality and post-decision care, (iii) personal influences on the decision journey, (iv) navigating parenthood: choices, challenges, and emotional adaptation, and (v) shared wisdom and lessons. For fathers, the decision whether to maintain or reduce a triplet pregnancy is complex, in which medical, psychological but mainly social factors play an important role. In terms of psychological consequences after the decision, this study found that fathers after multifetal pregnancy reduction often struggled with difficult emotions towards the decision; some expressed feelings of doubt or regret and were still processing these emotions. Several fathers after an ongoing triplet had experienced a period of severe stress in the first years after the pregnancy, with major consequences for their mental health. Help in emotional processing was not offered to any of the fathers after the decision or birth. LIMITATION, REASONS FOR CAUTION: While our study focuses on the multifetal pregnancy reduction process in the Amsterdam region, we recognize the importance of further investigation into how this process may vary across different regions in The Netherlands and internationally. We acknowledge the potential of selection bias, as fathers with more positive experiences might have been more willing to participate. Caution is needed in interpreting the role of the mother in the recruitment process. Additionally, the time span of 1-6 years between the decision and the interviews may have influenced emotional processing and introduced potential reporting bias. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The emotional impact of multifetal pregnancy reduction or caring for triplets is significant, emphasizing the need for awareness among caregivers regarding the emotional challenges faced by fathers. A guided trajectory might optimize the decision-making and primarily facilitate the provision of appropriate care thereafter to optimize outcomes around decisions with potential traumatic implications. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study received no funding. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

The barriers and needs of transgender men in pregnancy and childbirth: A qualitative interview study.

OBJECTIVE: Transgender and gender diverse individuals are individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The discordance between gender identity and sex assignment may cause significant psychological distress: gender dysphoria. Transgender individuals may choose to undergo gender-affirming hormone treatment or surgery, but some decide to (temporarily) refrain from surgery and gender affirming hormone treatment and hence retain the possibility to become pregnant. Pregnancy may enhance feelings of gender dysphoria and isolation. To improve perinatal care for transgender individuals and their health care providers, we conducted interviews to explore the needs and barriers of transgender men in family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium and perinatal care. DESIGN: In this qualitative study five in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dutch transgender men who had given birth while identifying on the transmasculine spectrum. The interviews were conducted online through a video remote-conferencing software program (n=4) or live (n=1). Interviews were transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was used to find patterns and collect data from the participants' narratives and constant comparative method was adapted in analysing the interviews. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: The experiences of transgender men regarding the preconception period, pregnancy and puerperium and with perinatal care varied widely. Though all participants expressed overall positive experiences, their narratives emphasized they had to overcome substantial hurdles pursuing pregnancy. For instance the necessity to prioritise becoming pregnant over gender transitioning, lack of support by healthcare providers and increased gender dysphoria and isolation during pregnancy KEY CONCLUSIONS: Since pregnancy in transgender men enhances feelings of gender dysphoria, transgender men comprise a vulnerable group in perinatal care. Health care providers are perceived as feeling unaccustomed for the care of transgender patients, as they are perceived to often lack the right tools and knowledge to provide adequate care. Our findings help strengthen the foundation of insight in the needs and hurdles of transgender men pursuing pregnancy and therefore may guide health care providers to provide equitable perinatal care, and emphasize the necessity of patient-centred gender-inclusive perinatal care. A guideline including the option for consultation of an expertise center is advised to facilitate patient-centered gender-inclusive perinatal care.

Association between COVID-19 lockdown measures and the incidence of iatrogenic versus spontaneous very preterm births in the Netherlands: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to regional or nationwide lockdowns as part of risk mitigation measurements in many countries worldwide. Recent studies suggest an unexpected and unprecedented decrease in preterm births during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in the first half of 2020. The objective of the current study was to assess the effects of the two months of the initial national COVID-19 lockdown period on the incidence of very and extremely preterm birth in the Netherlands, stratified by either spontaneous or iatrogenic onset of delivery, in both singleton and multiple pregnancies. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using data from all 10 perinatal centers in the Netherlands on very and extremely preterm births during the initial COVID-19 lockdown from March 15 to May 15, 2020. Incidences of very and extremely preterm birth were calculated using an estimate of the total number of births in the Netherlands in this period. As reference, we used data from the corresponding calendar period in 2015-2018 from the national perinatal registry (Perined). We differentiated between spontaneous versus iatrogenic onset of delivery and between singleton versus multiple pregnancies. RESULTS: The incidence of total preterm birth < 32 weeks in singleton pregnancies was 6.1‰ in the study period in 2020 versus 6.5‰ in the corresponding period in 2015-2018. The decrease in preterm births in singletons was solely due to a significant decrease in iatrogenic preterm births, both < 32 weeks (OR 0.71; 95%CI 0.53 to 0.95) and < 28 weeks (OR 0.53; 95%CI 0.29 to 0.97). For multiple pregnancies, an increase in preterm births < 28 weeks was observed (OR 2.43; 95%CI 1.35 to 4.39). CONCLUSION: This study shows a decrease in iatrogenic preterm births during the initial COVID-19-related lockdown in the Netherlands in singletons. Future studies should focus on the mechanism of action of lockdown measures and reduction of preterm birth and the effects of perinatal outcome.

Stress, anxiety and depression in 1466 pregnant women during and before the COVID-19 pandemic: a Dutch cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected many people's mental health with increased symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in the general population. Anxiety and depression can have negative effects on pregnant women and result in poor neonatal outcomes. Therefore, we analyzed stress, anxiety and depression in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cohort study of pregnant women during COVID-19 compared to pregnant women before COVID-19. Pregnant women were recruited through social media platforms from 21 May 2020 to 22 June 2020. Pregnant women ≥ 18 years of age, who master the Dutch language were included. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) were analyzed. Demographic features were summarized using descriptive statistics. Possible differences in demographic variables between groups were compared using Mann Whitney U test and Chi-squared test. Significant demographic differences between groups were controlled for using logistical regression analysis or an independent one-way analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Thousand hundred and two pregnant women completed the questionnaires during COVID-19, and 364 pregnant women before COVID-19. We found no differences in clinically high levels of anxiety (HADS-A ≥ 8) and depression (HADS-D ≥ 8) in women during COVID-19 (19.5% and 13.2%, respectively) and women before COVID-19 (23.1% and 15.7%, respectively). A question was implemented whether participants related their stress level to COVID-19. Women who related their stress to the COVID-19 pandemic reported significantly higher overall stress levels on the PSS-10 compared to women with stress unrelated to COVID-19 (mean, 15.62; standard deviation [SD], 6.44 vs. mean, 10.28; SD, 5.48; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous studies, COVID-19 did not increase anxiety and depression levels in Dutch pregnant women. Women who related their perceived stress to the COVID-19 pandemic experienced higher stress levels than women who did not relate their stress to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that interventions that specifically aim to reduce COVID-19 stress, may help to reduce overall stress levels in pregnant women during the pandemic.

Progesterone for prevention of preterm birth in women with short cervical length: 2-year infant outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of children born to women with a short cervix and otherwise low risk for preterm birth, after antenatal exposure to vaginal progesterone vs placebo. METHODS: This was a follow-up study of the Triple P trial, which randomized 80 low-risk women with a short cervix (≤ 30 mm) at 18-22 weeks' gestation to progesterone (n = 41) or placebo (n = 39). At 2 years of corrected age, children were invited for a neurodevelopmental assessment, using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (BSID-III), and a neurological and physical examination by an assessor blinded to the allocated treatment. Parents filled out the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a general-health questionnaire. The main outcome of interest was mean BSID-III cognitive and motor scores. Additionally, a composite score of mortality and abnormal developmental outcome, including BSID-III ≤-1 SD, CBCL score in the clinical range and/or parental reported physical problems (at least two operations or at least two hospital admissions in the previous 2 years), was evaluated. Our sample size, dictated by the original sample of the Triple P trial, provided 80% power to detect a mean difference (MD) of 15 points (1 SD) between groups for the BSID-III tests. RESULTS: Of the 80 children born to the randomized women, one in the progesterone group and two in the placebo group died in the neonatal period. Follow-up data were obtained for 59/77 (77%) children and BSID-III outcomes in 57 children (n = 28 in the progesterone group and n = 29 in the placebo group) born at a median gestational age of 38 + 6 weeks (interquartile range (IQR), 37 + 3 to 40 + 1 weeks) with a median birth weight of 3240 g (IQR, 2785-3620 g). In the progesterone vs placebo groups, mean BSID-III cognitive development scores were 101.6 vs 105.0 (MD, -3.4 (95% CI, -9.3 to 2.6); P = 0.29) while mean motor scores were 102.4 vs 107.3 (MD, -4.9 (95% CI, -11.2 to 1.4); P = 0.13). No differences were seen between the two groups in physical (including genital and neurological examination), behavioral and health-related outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this sample of children born to low-risk women with a short cervix at screening, no relevant differences in neurodevelopmental, behavioral, health-related and physical outcomes were found between offspring exposed to vaginal progesterone and those exposed to placebo. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Cardiovascular risk after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women with and without inheritable Thrombophilia.

Aim of this study was to compare cardiovascular risk in women with and without inheritable thrombophilia after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Blood pressure, anthropometrics and blood samples were measured 9-13 years after early-onset (<34 weeks) HDP. Amongst the 114 women included, no differences in hypertension (31.1% vs. 33.7%, OR 0.90 95% CI (0.29-2.79)), body mass index > 25 kg/m2 (43.8% vs. 53.1%, OR 0.69 95% CI (0.24-2.00)) or metabolic syndrome (18.8% vs. 13.3%, OR 1.51 95% CI (0.38-6.02)) were found. These data show similar cardiovascular risk profile in women with and without inheritable thrombophilia.

Feasibility study for performing uterus transplantation in the Netherlands.

STUDY QUESTION: Is it feasible to perform uterus transplantations (UTx) in a tertiary centre in the Netherlands? SUMMARY ANSWER: Considering all ethical principles, surgical risks and financial aspects, we have concluded that at this time, it is not feasible to establish the UTx procedure at our hospital. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: UTx is a promising treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. It is currently being investigated within several clinical trials worldwide and has resulted in the live birth of 19 children so far. Most UTx procedures are performed in women with the Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a congenital disorder characterized by absence of the uterus. In the Netherlands, the only possible option for these women for having children is adoption or surrogacy. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: We performed a feasibility study to search for ethical, medical and financial support for performing UTx at the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: For this feasibility study, we created a special interest group, including gynaecologists, transplant surgeons, researchers and a financial advisor. Also, in collaboration with the patients' association for women with MRKH, a questionnaire study was performed to research the decision-making in possible recipients. In this paper, we present an overview of current practices and literature on UTx and discuss the results of our feasibility study. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: A high level of interest from the possible recipients became apparent from our questionnaire amongst women with MRKH. The majority (64.8%) positively considered UTx with a live donor, with 69.6% having a potential donor available. However, this 'non-life-saving transplantation' requires careful balancing of risks and benefits. The UTx procedure includes two complex surgeries and unknown consequences for the unborn child. The costs for one UTx are calculated to be around €100 000 and will not be compensated by medical insurance. The Clinical Ethics Committee places great emphasis on the principle of non-maleficence and the 'fair distribution of health services'. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: In the Netherlands, alternatives for having children are available and future collaboration with experienced foreign clinics that offer the procedure is a possibility not yet investigated. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The final assessment of this feasibility study is that that there are not enough grounds to support this procedure at our hospital at this point in time. We will closely follow the developments and will re-evaluate the feasibility in the future. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This feasibility study was funded by the VU Medical Center (Innovation grant 2017). No conflicts of interest have been reported relevant to the subject of all authors. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: n.a.

Single- versus double-layer closure of the caesarean (uterine) scar in the prevention of gynaecological symptoms in relation to niche development - the 2Close study: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Double-layer compared to single-layer closure of the uterus after a caesarean section (CS) leads to a thicker myometrial layer at the site of the CS scar, also called residual myometrium thickness (RMT). It possibly decreases the development of a niche, which is an interruption of the myometrium at the site of the uterine scar. Thin RMT and a niche are associated with gynaecological symptoms, obstetric complications in a subsequent pregnancy and delivery and possibly with subfertility. METHODS: Women undergoing a first CS regardless of the gestational age will be asked to participate in this multicentre, double blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT). They will be randomised to single-layer closure or double-layer closure of the uterine incision. Single-layer closure (control group) is performed with a continuous running, unlocked suture, with or without endometrial saving technique. Double-layer closure (intervention group) is performed with the first layer in a continuous unlocked suture including the endometrial layer and the second layer is also continuous unlocked and imbricates the first. The primary outcome is the reported number of days with postmenstrual spotting during one menstrual cycle nine months after CS. Secondary outcomes include surgical data, ultrasound evaluation at three months, menstrual pattern, dysmenorrhea, quality of life, and sexual function at nine months. Structured transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) evaluation is performed to assess the uterine scar and if necessary saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) or gel instillation sonohysterography (GIS) will be added to the examination. Women and ultrasound examiners will be blinded for allocation. Reproductive outcomes at three years follow-up including fertility, mode of delivery and complications in subsequent deliveries will be studied as well. Analyses will be performed by intention to treat. 2290 women have to be randomised to show a reduction of 15% in the mean number of spotting days. Additionally, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed from a societal perspective. DISCUSSION: This RCT will provide insight in the outcomes of single- compared to double-layer closure technique after CS, including postmenstrual spotting and subfertility in relation to niche development measured by ultrasound. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register ( NTR5480 ). Registered 29 October 2015.

Endothelial dysfunction as a long-term effect of late onset hypertensive pregnancy disorders: High BMI is key.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy increase cardiovascular risk later in life by 2 to 9-fold. Endothelial activation is one of the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular risk. Therefore, we decided to investigate endothelial activation in primiparous women, 2.5 years after a hypertensive pregnancy disorder. STUDY DESIGN: Plasma samples were taken from women 2.5 years after gestational hypertension (GH) or late onset preeclampsia (cases) and from women 2.5 years after a normotensive pregnancy (controls). We studied the effects of patient plasma on the endothelial barrier function of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) and we measured levels of endothelial activation markers soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and soluble endothelial selectin (sE-selectin) in the plasma samples of patients. RESULTS: Plasma from primiparous women with a history of late onset preeclampsia disrupted the endothelial barrier more than plasma from women with a history of GH. Endothelial resistance was reduced by 22% in samples taken after preeclampsia, 16% after normotensive pregnancy and 3% after GH (p ≤ 0.0001 GH versus preeclampsia and p = 0.0003 versus normotensive pregnancy). We did not find differences in the levels of soluble endothelial activation markers (sICAM-1 p = 0.326 and sE-selectin p = 0.978). However, the BMI ≥25 showed a strong correlation with increased levels of sICAM-1 (p = 0.046) and sE-selectin (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that GH and late onset preeclampsia are distinct disease entities with a different pathogenic mechanism underlying their cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, this study supports the hypothesis that these two diseases are early manifestations of cardiovascular vulnerability due to an unfavorable risk profile, and that obesity plays a main role. Our results suggest that this high-risk female population would be eligible for preventive care.

Prognostic accuracy of cerebroplacental ratio and middle cerebral artery Doppler for adverse perinatal outcome: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) is widely used as an adjunct to umbilical artery (UA) Doppler to identify fetuses at risk of adverse perinatal outcome. However, reported estimates of its accuracy vary considerably. The aim of this study was to review systematically the prognostic accuracies of CPR and MCA Doppler in predicting adverse perinatal outcome, and to compare these with UA Doppler, in order to identify whether CPR and MCA Doppler evaluation are of added value to UA Doppler. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched, from inception to June 2016, for studies on the prognostic accuracy of UA Doppler compared with CPR and/or MCA Doppler in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in women with a singleton pregnancy of any risk profile. Risk of bias and concerns about applicability were assessed using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) tool. Meta-analysis was performed for multiple adverse perinatal outcomes. Using hierarchal summary receiver-operating characteristics meta-regression models, the prognostic accuracy of CPR vs MCA Doppler was compared indirectly, and CPR and MCA Doppler vs UA Doppler compared directly. RESULTS: The search identified 4693 articles, of which 128 studies (involving 47 748 women) were included. Risk of bias or suboptimal reporting was detected in 120/128 studies (94%) and substantial heterogeneity was found, which limited subgroup analyses for fetal growth and gestational age. A large variation was observed in reported sensitivities and specificities, and in thresholds used. CPR outperformed UA Doppler in the prediction of composite adverse outcome (as defined in the included studies) (P < 0.001) and emergency delivery for fetal distress (P = 0.003), but was comparable to UA Doppler for the other outcomes. MCA Doppler performed significantly worse than did UA Doppler in the prediction of low Apgar score (P = 0.017) and emergency delivery for fetal distress (P = 0.034). CPR outperformed MCA Doppler in the prediction of composite adverse outcome (P < 0.001) and emergency delivery for fetal distress (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Calculating the CPR with MCA Doppler can add value to UA Doppler assessment in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in women with a singleton pregnancy. However, it is unclear to which subgroup of pregnant women this applies. The effectiveness of the CPR in guiding clinical management needs to be evaluated in clinical trials. © 2017 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Assessment of novel cardiovascular biomarkers in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.

OBJECTIVES: A history of recurrent miscarriage is associated with future cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine novel cardiovascular biomarkers in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage as this might lead to a better understanding of the association. STUDY DESIGN: Women who visited the recurrent miscarriage clinic at Leiden University Medical Centre (between 2000 and 2010), and had three consecutive miscarriages ≤30 years were invited to participate in this follow-up study (between 2012 and 2014). The reference group consisted of women with at least one uncomplicated pregnancy and a history of no miscarriage, matched on zip code, age, and date of pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiovascular biomarkers were determined, classified into; inflammation (HsCRP, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2), thrombosis (homocysteine, folate, anti-cardiolipin antibodies and anti-ß-2-glycoprotein antibodies), lipid metabolism (lipoprotein(a)), renal function (creatinine, microalbuminuria), myocardial damage (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, high sensitive TroponineT) and multiple mechanisms (albumin, vitamin D). RESULTS: In both groups, 36 women were included. Women with recurrent miscarriage had a significantly higher median HsCRP (1.49 mg/L) compared to women with no miscarriage (1.01 mg/L, p = 0.03) and a significantly lower mean albumin (46.0 vs 47.6g/L, p = 0.004) and vitamin D (55.6 vs 75.4nmol/L, p = 0.007), respectively. Differences remained after adjustments for classic cardiovascular risk factors (BMI, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a proinflammatory state in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, which suggests a less optimal health, compared to women with no miscarriage. More research (observational and intervention) is warranted to investigate the association with vitamin D.

Prognostic model for chronic hypertension in women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy disorders at term.

INTRODUCTION: The association between hypertensive pregnancy disorders and cardiovascular disease later in life is well described. In this study we aim to develop a prognostic model from patients characteristics known before, early in, during and after pregnancy to identify women at increased risk of cardiovascular disease e.g. chronic hypertension years after pregnancy complicated by hypertension at term. METHODS: We included women with a history of singleton pregnancy complicated by hypertension at term. Women using antihypertensive medication before pregnancy were excluded. We measured hypertension in these women more than 2years postpartum. Different patients characteristics before, early in, during and after pregnancy were considered to develop a prognostic model of chronic hypertension at 2-years. These included amongst others maternal age, blood pressure at pregnancy intake and blood pressure six weeks post-partum. Univariable analyses followed by a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which combination of predictors best predicted chronic hypertension. Model performance was assessed by calibration (graphical plot) and discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC)). RESULTS: Of the 305 women in who blood pressure 2.5years after pregnancy was assessed, 105 women (34%) had chronic hypertension. The following patient characteristics were significant associated with chronic hypertension: higher maternal age, lower education, negative family history on hypertensive pregnancy disorders, higher BMI at booking, higher diastolic blood pressure at pregnancy intake, higher systolic blood pressure during pregnancy and higher diastolic blood pressure at six weeks post-partum. These characteristics were included in the prognostic model for chronic hypertension. Model performance was good as indicated by good calibration and good discrimination (AUC; 0.83 (95% CI 0.75 - 0.92). CONCLUSION: Chronic hypertension can be expected from patient characteristics before, early in, during and after pregnancy. These data underline the importance and awareness of detectable risk factors both for increased risk of complicated pregnancy as well as increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

Effect of interpregnancy interval on the success rate of trial of labor after cesarean.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between interpregnancy interval and success of vaginal birth after cesarean. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective 10-year cohort study of pregnant women with one prior cesarean, who opted for trial of labor (n=36 653). Interpregnancy interval is the time between cesarean and next conception. Vaginal birth success rates were compared between six interval groups. Analysis was performed pooled as well as stratified for induction of labor. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated. RESULTS: Success rate in the reference group (12 to 24 months) was 72%. Success rates were similar among those with an interval of less than 24 months. Intervals of 24 months or more showed a decrease in success rate; 70% in 24- to 35-month intervals (adjusted odds ratio 0.92 (0.87 to 0.98)), 67% in 36- to 59-month intervals (adjusted odds ratio 0.87 (0.81 to 0.94)) and 62% in intervals of more than 60 months (adjusted odds ratio 0.77 (0.67 to 0.88)). CONCLUSION: An interpregnancy interval of <24 months is not associated with a decreased success of vaginal birth after cesarean. Success rates decrease when interval increases.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with severe early onset pre-eclampsia before 26 weeks of gestation, a case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the maternal and neonatal outcomes and prolongation of pregnancies with severe early onset pre-eclampsia before 26 weeks of gestation. DESIGN: Nationwide case series. SETTING: All Dutch tertiary perinatal care centres. POPULATION: All women diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia who delivered between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation in a tertiary perinatal care centre in the Netherlands, between 2008 and 2014. METHODS: Women were identified through computerised hospital databases. Data were collected from medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal complications [HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet levels) syndrome, eclampsia, pulmonary oedema, cerebrovascular incidents, hepatic capsular rupture, placenta abruption, renal failure, and maternal death], neonatal survival and complications (intraventricular haemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotising enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and sepsis), and outcome of subsequent pregnancies (recurrent pre-eclampsia, premature delivery, and neonatal survival). RESULTS: We studied 133 women, delivering 140 children. Maternal complications occurred frequently (54%). Deterioration of HELLP syndrome during expectant care occurred in 48%, after 4 days. Median prolongation was 5 days (range: 0-25 days). Neonatal survival was poor (19%), and was worse (6.6%) if the mother was admitted before 24 weeks of gestation. Complications occurred frequently among survivors (84%). After active support, neonatal survival was comparable with the survival of spontaneous premature neonates (54%). Pre-eclampsia recurred in 31%, at a mean gestational age of 32 weeks and 6 days. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the limits of prolongation, women need to be counselled carefully, weighing the high risk for maternal complications versus limited neonatal survival and/or extreme prematurity and its sequelae. The positive prospects regarding maternal and neonatal outcome in future pregnancies can supplement counselling. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Severe early onset pre-eclampsia comes with high maternal complication rates and poor neonatal survival.

Brain structure, executive function and appetitive traits in adolescent obesity.

BACKGROUND: Children with obesity show differences in brain structure, executive function and appetitive traits when compared with lean peers. Little is known on the relationship between brain structure and these traits. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between differences in brain structure and executive function and appetitive traits, in obese and lean adolescents. METHODS: MRI was used to measure cortical thickness and subcortical volumes. Executive function was measured by a Stop Signal-and a Choice Delay Task. Appetitive traits were measured using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. RESULTS: Adolescents with obesity had greater volumes of the pallidum; 1.78 mL (SE 0.03, p=0.014), when compared with controls; 1.65 mL (SE 0.02). In the group with obesity, greater pallidum volume was positively associated with the ability to delay reward in the Choice Delay Task (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: The association between pallidum volumes and Choice Delay Task in obese adolescents supports the hypothesis that the pallidum plays an important role in executive dysfunction in obese children.

Influence of cut-off value on prevalence of short cervical length.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the distribution of cervical length (CL) in a large cohort of asymptomatic low-risk women with singleton pregnancy and no previous preterm birth and to explain the low prevalence of short CL ≤ 30 mm in this cohort. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter cohort study with an embedded randomized controlled trial (Triple P trial; NTR-2078) on the prevention of preterm birth with progesterone. In the cohort study, CL was measured in asymptomatic low-risk women with singleton pregnancy to investigate its predictive capacity to identify those at increased risk for preterm birth. A short CL was defined by a cut-off value of ≤ 30 mm, based on existing literature. Women with a short CL were subsequently included in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of progesterone, compared with placebo, on preterm birth. In total, 57 centers and 20 234 women participated in the study. Normal distributions for CL were simulated based on the mean and SD of the original data. The distribution of CL was assessed for each individual center and measurements were compared between levels of care: primary (29 ultrasound centers), secondary (21 general hospitals) and tertiary (seven university medical centers) care institutions. Comparison was also performed between centers with low, intermediate and high volume of CL measurements. CL distributions before (n = 12 284 women) and after (n = 7950 women) a national symposium, at which the prevalence of short CL measurements was addressed publicly, were analyzed. RESULTS: Between November 2009 and August 2013, 20 234 women had CL measurements, of whom 367 (1.8%) had a short CL. Mean ± SD CL was 44.2 ± 7.8 mm. A 'dip' in the distribution of CL measurements between 20 and 30 mm was observed, defined by a ratio of < 50% when comparing the number of measurements in observed and simulated normal distributions. The dip was present in 89% of participating centers. All centers showed a dip in the distribution of measurements ≤ 30 mm when analyzed according to the level of care and volume of measurements. A significant difference was found when comparing the distribution before and after publicly addressing the low prevalence of short CL (1.7% vs 2.0% of measurements were ≤ 30 mm, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A cut-off value of 30 mm for CL was used to include women in a randomized clinical trial that was embedded in a cohort study. We suggest that the use of a predefined cut-off value for a short cervix influences the distribution of the CL measurements. Since the measurement is not blinded, preference of assessors for the control or intervention arms may have introduced selection bias. This might have resulted in fewer measurements around the cut-off value. Other trials using similar designs could benefit from this observation and take precautions to avoid selection bias. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Outcome of Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction in Women with a Dichorionic Triamniotic Triplet Pregnancy to a Singleton Pregnancy: A Retrospective Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the pregnancy outcomes of women with a dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy that was reduced to a singleton pregnancy and to review the literature. METHODS: We performed a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We compared time to delivery and perinatal mortality in dichorionic triplet pregnancies reduced to singletons with ongoing dichorionic triplet pregnancies and primary singleton pregnancies. Additionally, we reviewed the literature on the subject. RESULTS: We studied 46 women with a reduced dichorionic triplet pregnancy and 42 women with an ongoing dichorionic triplet pregnancy. Median gestational age at delivery was 38.7 vs. 32.8 weeks, respectively (p < 0.001). Delivery <24 weeks occurred in 9 (19.6%) women with a reduced triplet pregnancy and 4 (9.5%) with an ongoing triplet pregnancy (p = 0.19). Perinatal survival rates between the reduced group and the ongoing triplet group were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Multifetal pregnancy reduction in women with a dichorionic triplet pregnancy to a singleton pregnancy prolongs median gestational age at birth. No statistically significant association was found with miscarriage and perinatal survival rates.

Midpregnancy Cervical Length in Nulliparous Women and its Association with Postterm Delivery and Intrapartum Cesarean Delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between midpregnancy cervical length and postterm delivery and cesarean delivery during labor. STUDY DESIGN: In a multicenter cohort study, cervical length was measured in low-risk singleton pregnancies between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation. From this cohort, we identified nulliparous women who delivered beyond 34 weeks and calculated cervical length quartiles. We performed logistic regression to compare the risk of postterm delivery and intrapartum cesarean delivery to cervical length quartiles, using the lowest quartile as a reference. We adjusted for induction of labor, maternal age, ethnicity, cephalic position, preexisting hypertension, and gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: We studied 5,321 nulliparous women. Women with cervical length in the 3rd and 4th quartile were more likely to deliver at 42(+0) to 42(+6) weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-3.79 and aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.06-3.67, respectively). The frequency of intrapartum cesarean delivery increased with cervical length quartile from 9.4% in the 1st to 14.9% in the 4th quartile (p = 0.01). This increase was only present in intrapartum cesarean delivery because of failure to progress and not because of fetal distress. CONCLUSION: The longer the cervix at midtrimester the higher the risk of both postterm delivery and intrapartum cesarean delivery.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects: accuracy and discrepancies in a multicenter cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the accuracy of fetal echocardiography in diagnosing congenital heart disease (CHD) at the fetal medicine units of three tertiary care centers. METHODS: This was a multicenter cohort study of tertiary echocardiography referrals between 2002 and 2012. Prenatal and postnatal diagnoses were compared and the degree of agreement was classified as 'correct' (anatomy correct and the postnatal diagnosis led to a similar outcome as expected), 'discrepant' (anatomical discrepancies present but the severity and prognosis of the defect were diagnosed correctly) or 'no similarity' (the pre- and postnatal diagnoses differed completely). RESULTS: We included 708 cases with CHD for which both prenatal and postnatal data were available. The prenatal diagnosis was correct in 82.1% of cases and discrepancies present were present in 9.9%; however, these did not result in a different outcome. In 8.1% there was no similarity between prenatal and postnatal diagnoses. Disagreement between pre- and postnatal diagnoses occurred significantly more frequently in cases that presented with a normal four-chamber view than in those with an abnormal four-chamber view (5.5% vs 1.9%). Incorrect identification of the outflow tracts and incorrect differentiation between unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect and hypoplastic left heart syndrome were relatively commonly encountered. In many cases with disagreement, trisomy 21, extracardiac anomaly or a high maternal body mass index was present. CONCLUSIONS: The prenatal diagnosis and estimated prognosis of fetal echocardiography in our tertiary referral centers were appropriate in 92% of cases. Some types of CHD remain difficult to diagnose or rule-out prenatally, therefore awareness and education are of considerable importance. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.