Validation of an automated software (Smartpelvic™) in assessing hiatal area from three dimensional transperineal pelvic volumes of pregnant women: comparison with manual analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the agreement between a manual and an automatic technique in assessing levator hiatus area (LHA) during pregnancy from three-dimensional (3D) pelvic floor volumes obtained by trans-perineal ultrasound (TPUS). METHODS: 3D volumes were acquired during rest, maximum pelvic floor contraction and Valsalva maneuver from 66 pregnant women. Manual selection of LHA and automatic software (Smart Pelvic™) were applied on TPUS volume starting from a C-plane view. To evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability measurements of LHA were performed twice by the same operator and once by a second sonographer. Reference hiatal contours obtained manually by the first operator were compared with the automated ones. Reproducibility was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: LHA measurement, using automatic software, achieved excellent intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility in pregnant women both at rest and after dynamic analysis (ICC>0.9). Further, an excellent agreement resulted between manual selection of the LHA and automatic imaging (ICC>0.9). The average time taken to obtain LHA manually was significantly longer when compared to the automatic analysis (p≤0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Smart pelvic software resulted from a reliable method for automatically measuring the LHA, showing high reproducibility and accuracy.

Role of Cerebroplacental Ratio in Predicting the Outcome of Pregnancies Complicated by Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the strength of association and diagnostic performance of cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in predicting the outcome of pregnancies complicated by pre- and gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were pregnancies complicated by gestational or pregestational diabetes undergoing ultrasound assessment of CPR. The primary outcome was a composite score of perinatal mortality and morbidity as defined by the original publication. The secondary outcomes included preterm birth gestational age (GA) at birth, mode of delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR) or small for GA (SGA) newborn, neonatal birthweight, perinatal death (PND), Apgar score <7 at 5 min, abnormal acid-base status, neonatal hypoglycemia, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Furthermore, we aimed to perform a number of sub-group analyses according to the type of diabetes (gestational and pregestational), management adopted (diet insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents), metabolic control (controlled vs. non-controlled diabetes), and fetal weight (FGR, normally grown, and large for GA fetuses). Head-to-head meta-analyses were used to directly compare the risk of each of the explored outcomes. For those outcomes found to be significant, computation of diagnostic performance of CPR was assessed using bivariate model. RESULTS: Six studies (2,743 pregnancies) were included. The association between low CPR and adverse composite perinatal outcome was not statistically significant (p = 0.096). This result did not change when stratifying the analysis using CPR cut-off below 10th (p = 0.079) and 5th (p = 0.545) centiles. In pregnancies complicated by GDM, fetuses with a low CPR had a significantly higher risk of birthweight <10th percentile (OR: 5.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98-17.12) and this association remains significant when using a CPR <10th centile (p < 0.001). Fetuses with low CPR had also a significantly higher risk of PND (OR: 6.15, 95% CI 1.01-37.23, p < 0.001) and admission to NICU (OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.21-4.49, p < 0.001), but not of respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.752), Apgar score <7 at 5 min (p = 0.920), abnormal acid-base status (p = 0.522), or neonatal hypoglycemia (p = 0.005). These results were confirmed when stratifying the analysis including only studies with CPR <10th centile as a cut-off to define abnormal CPR. However, CPR showed a low diagnostic accuracy for detecting perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: CPR is associated but not predictive of adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes. The findings from this systematic review do not support the use of CPR as a universal screening for pregnancy complication in women with diabetes.

Umbilical Cord Diseases Affecting Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: (1) The aim of this article is to describe the physiopathology underlying umbilical cord diseases and their relationship with obstetric and perinatal outcomes. (2) Methods: Multicenter case series of umbilical cord diseases with illustrations from contributing institutions are presented. (3) Results: Clinical presentations of prenatal ultrasound findings, clinical prenatal features and postnatal outcomes are described. (4) Conclusions: Analysis of our series presents and discusses how umbilical cord diseases are associated with a wide variety of obstetric complications leading to a higher risk of poor perinatal outcomes in pregnancies. Knowing the physiopathology, prenatal clinical presentations and outcomes related to umbilical diseases allow for better prenatal counseling and management to potentially avoid severe obstetric and perinatal complications.

Modeling fetal cavum septum pellucidi width by quantile regression at 18-34 weeks of gestation: A prospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Develop charts for cavum septum pellucidi (CSP) following a standardized methodology and using quantile regression. The secondary objective was to assess the influence of fetal gender on the generated reference curves. METHODS: In a cross-sectional prospective study 453 low-risk singleton pregnancies were evaluated at a gestational age interval between 18 and 34 weeks. The width of CSP were measured on ultrasound images using a standardized technique and their changes were evaluated by quantile regression as a function of gestational age (GA) interval or head circumference (HC). Differences between sex were evaluated. RESULTS: The measurement of CSP significantly increased with gestation and HC. Linear models better described the changes of CSP with GA and HC. The fits of CSP width with GA and HC were not significantly different. Male fetuses showed significantly higher CSP width when compared to female fetuses (u = 2.973; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: We generated prospective nomograms of fetal CSP development using quantile regression and following a strict standardized methodology. These new charts may be useful to better identify abnormal cases at higher risk of associated anomalies. Further our findings underline the potential effect of gender in developing fetal brain.

Validation of an automatic software in assessing fetal brain volume from three dimensional ultrasonographic volumes: Comparison with manual analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to test the agreement between a manual and an automatic technique in measuring fetal brain volume (FBV) from three-dimensional (3D) fetal head datasets. METHODS: FBV were acquired independently by two operators from low risk singleton pregnancies at a gestational age between 19 and 34 weeks. FBV measurements were obtained using an automatic software (Smart ICV™) and manually by Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL™). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to assess reliability, while bias and agreement were evaluate by examining Bland-Altman plots. The time spent in measuring volumes was calculated and values obtained compared. RESULTS: Sixty-three volumes were considered for the study. In all the included volumes successful volume analysis were obtained with both techniques. Smart ICV™ showed a high intra-observer (0.996; 95% CI 0.994-0.998) and inter-observer (ICC 0.995; 95% CI 0.991-0.997). An excellent degree of reliability was found when the two techniques were compared (ICC 0.995; 95% CI 0.987-0.998). The time required to perform FBV was significantly lower for Smart ICV™ than VOCAL™ (8.2 ± 4.5 vs. 121.3 ± 19.0 s; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of FBV is feasible with both manual and automatic techniques. Smart ICV™ showed an excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability associated with a valuable agreement with volume measurements obtained manually with VOCAL™. Volumes may be measured significantly faster with smart ICV™ than manually and this automatic software has the potential to become the preferred methods for the assessment of FBV.

Placental Volume and Uterine Artery Doppler in Pregnancy Following In Vitro Fertilization: A Comprehensive Literature Review.

The number of pregnancies achieved using in vitro fertilization (IVF) is rapidly increasing around the world. The chance of obtaining a successful pregnancy is also significantly improved due to technological advances and improvement in infertility treatment. Despite this success, there is evidence that pregnancy conceived by IVF has an increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcome mainly represented by the development of hypertensive diseases, pre-eclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. Although different cofactors may play a role in the genesis of these diseases, the development of the placenta has a pivotal function in determining pregnancy outcomes. Advances in ultrasound technology already allows for evaluation in the first trimester, the impedance to flow in the uterine artery, and the placental volume using Doppler and three-dimensional techniques. This review article aims to describe the modification occurring in placental volume and hemodynamics after IVF and to summarize the differences present according to the type of IVF (fresh vs. frozen-thawed embryos).

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging at 36 weeks predicts neonatal macrosomia: the PREMACRO study.

BACKGROUND: Large-for-gestational-age fetuses are at increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Magnetic resonance imaging seems to be more accurate than ultrasound in the prediction of macrosomia; however, there is no well-powered study comparing magnetic resonance imaging with ultrasound in routine pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to prospectively compare estimates of fetal weight based on 2-dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging with actual birthweights in routine pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: From May 2016 to February 2019, women received counseling at the 36-week clinic. Written informed consent was obtained for this Ethics Committee-approved study. In this prospective, single-center, blinded study, pregnant women with singleton pregnancies between 36 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks' gestation underwent both standard evaluation of estimated fetal weight with ultrasound according to Hadlock et al and magnetic resonance imaging according to the formula developed by Baker et al, based on the measurement of the fetal body volume. Participants and clinicians were aware of the results of the ultrasound but blinded to the magnetic resonance imaging estimates. Birthweight percentile was considered as the gold standard for the ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging-derived percentiles. The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of large-for-gestation-age neonates with birthweights of ≥95th percentile. Secondary outcomes included the comparative prediction of large-for-gestation-age neonates with birthweights of ≥90th, 97th, and 99th percentiles and small-for-gestational-age neonates with birthweights of ≤10th, 5th, and 3rd percentiles for gestational age and maternal and perinatal complications. RESULTS: Of 2914 women who were initially approached, results from 2378 were available for analysis. Total fetal body volume measurements were possible for all fetuses, and the time required to perform the planimetric measurements by magnetic resonance imaging was 3.0 minutes (range, 1.3-5.6). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of a birthweight of ≥95th percentile was 0.985 using prenatal magnetic resonance imaging and 0.900 using ultrasound (difference=0.085, P<.001; standard error, 0.020). For a fixed false-positive rate of 5%, magnetic resonance imaging for the estimation of fetal weight detected 80.0% (71.1-87.2) of birthweight of ≥95th percentile, whereas ultrasound for the estimation of fetal weight detected 59.1% (49.0-68.5) of birthweight of ≥95th percentile. The positive predictive value was 42.6% (37.8-47.7) for the estimation of fetal weight using magnetic resonance imaging and 35.4% (30.1-41.1) for the estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound, and the negative predictive value was 99.0% (98.6-99.3) for the estimation of fetal weight using magnetic resonance imaging and 98.0% (97.6-98.4) for the estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound. For a fixed false-positive rate of 10%, magnetic resonance imaging for the estimation of fetal weight detected 92.4% (85.5-96.7) of birthweight of ≥95th percentile, whereas ultrasound for the estimation of fetal weight detected 76.2% (66.9-84.0) of birthweight of ≥95th percentile. The positive predictive value was 29.9% (27.2-32.8) for the estimation of fetal weight using magnetic resonance imaging and 26.2% (23.2-29.4) for the estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound, and the negative predictive value was 99.6 (99.2-99.8) for the estimation of fetal weight using magnetic resonance imaging and 98.8 (98.4-99.2) for the estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the prediction of large-for-gestational-age neonates with birthweights of ≥90th, 97th, and 99th percentiles and small-for-gestational-age neonates with birthweights of ≤10th, 5th, and 3rd percentiles was significantly larger in prenatal magnetic resonance imaging than in ultrasound (P<.05 for all). CONCLUSION: At 36 weeks' gestation, magnetic resonance imaging for the estimation of fetal weight performed significantly better than ultrasound for the estimation of fetal weight in the prediction of large-for-gestational-age neonates with birthweights of ≥95th percentile for gestational age and all other recognized cutoffs for large-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age neonates (P<.05 for all).

Impact of the delay between fetal death and delivery on the success of postmortem ultrasound following termination of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the delay between fetal death and delivery on the nondiagnostic rates of post-mortem ultrasound (PM-US), following the termination of pregnancy (TOP). METHODS: We reviewed 204 cases of fetal two-dimensional PM-US performed in our center as part of a post-mortem imaging research program, over the last 5 years. Informed consent was obtained from the parents for all cases. PM-US was performed and reported according to a prespecified template with operators blinded to the prenatal diagnosis. In order to calculate the precise delay between the fetal death and the delivery, we included 107 fetal TOP's ≥ 20 weeks of gestational age (GA), where feticide was performed using an injection of lidocaine 2% prior to induction of labor. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of delay between fetal death and delivery (in hours), the GA at TOP (in weeks) and the method of feticide (intracardiac versus intraumbilical injection) on the PMUS nondiagnostic rates. RESULTS: The delay between fetal death and delivery increased the nondiagnostic rate of PM-US for cerebral examinations (OR: 1.04, IC 95%: 1.01-1.08, p < .05). For PM-US cardiac examination, the delay did not influence the nondiagnostic rate. However, GA (OR: 1.25, IC 95%: 1.10-1.46, p < .01) and feticide with intracardiac injection (OR: 4.29, IC 95%: 1.68-12.02, p < .01) were associated with higher nondiagnostic rates. For noncardiac thoracic and abdominal examinations, none of the studied variables influenced the nondiagnostic rate. CONCLUSION: The success rate of cerebral PM-US was influenced by the delay between fetal death and delivery, suggesting a possible advantage of performing the feticide closer to the delivery where the examination of the brain is planned. For cardiac abnormalities, feticide by intraumbilical, rather than intracardiac injection improves diagnostic rates of cardiac PM-US.

The use of magnetic resonance imaging in the prediction of birthweight.

Extremes of fetal growth can increase adverse pregnancy outcomes, and this is equally applicable to single and multiple gestations. Traditionally, these cases have been identified using simple two-dimensional ultrasound which is quite limited by its low precision. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has now been used for many years in obstetrics, mainly as an adjunct to ultrasound for congenital abnormalities and increasingly as part of the post-mortem examination. However, MRI can also be used to accurately assess fetal weight as first demonstrated by Baker et al in 1994, using body volumes rather than standard biometric measurements. This publication was followed by several others, all of which confirmed the superiority of MRI; however, despite this initial promise, the technique has never been successfully integrated into clinical practice. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature, detail the various techniques and formulas currently available, discuss the applicability to specific high-risk groups and present our vision for the future of MRI within clinical obstetrics.

Cell-Free DNA Analysis in Maternal Blood: Differences in Estimates between Laboratories with Different Methodologies Using a Propensity Score Approach.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the failure rate and performance of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, mainly in terms of detection rates for trisomy 21, performed by 2 laboratories using different analytical methods. METHODS: cfDNA testing was performed on 2,870 pregnancies with the HarmonyTM Prenatal Test using the targeted digital analysis of selected regions (DANSR) method, and on 2,635 pregnancies with the "Cerba test" using the genome-wide massively parallel sequencing (GW-MPS) method, with available outcomes. Propensity score analysis was used to match patients between the 2 groups. A comparison of the detection rates for trisomy 21 between the 2 laboratories was made. RESULTS: In all, 2,811 patients in the Harmony group and 2,530 patients in the Cerba group had no trisomy 21, 18, or 13. Postmatched comparisons of the patient characteristics indicated a higher no-result rate in the Harmony group (1.30%) than in the Cerba group (0.75%; p = 0.039). All 41 cases of trisomy 21 in the Harmony group and 93 cases in the Cerba group were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods of cfDNA testing showed low no-result rates and a comparable performance in detecting trisomy 21; yet GW-MPS had a slightly lower no-result rate than the DANSR method.

Magnetic resonance imaging for prenatal estimation of birthweight in pregnancy: review of available data, techniques, and future perspectives.

Fetuses at the extremes of growth abnormalities carry a risk of perinatal morbidity and death. Their identification traditionally is done by 2-dimensional ultrasound imaging, the performance of which is not always optimal. Magnetic resonance imaging superbly depicts fetal anatomy and anomalies and has contributed largely to the evaluation of high-risk pregnancies. In 1994, magnetic resonance imaging was introduced for the estimation of fetal weight, which is done by measuring the fetal body volume and converting it through a formula to fetal weight. Approximately 10 studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging is more accurate than 2-dimensional ultrasound imaging in the estimation of fetal weight. Yet, despite its promise, the magnetic resonance imaging technique currently is not implemented clinically. Over the last 5 years, this technique has evolved quite rapidly. Here, we review the literature data, provide details of the various measurement techniques and formulas, consider the application of the magnetic resonance imaging technique in specific populations such as patients with diabetes mellitus and twin pregnancies, and conclude with what we believe could be the future perspectives and clinical application of this challenging technique. The estimation of fetal weight by ultrasound imaging is based mainly on an algorithm that takes into account the measurement of biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, and femur length. The estimation of fetal weight by magnetic resonance imaging is based on one of the 2 formulas: (1) magnetic resonance imaging-the estimation of fetal weight (in kilograms)=1.031×fetal body volume (in liters)+0.12 or (2) magnetic resonance imaging-the estimation of fetal weight (in grams)=1.2083×fetal body volume (in milliliters)ˆ0.9815. Comparison of these 2 formulas for the detection of large-for-gestational age neonates showed similar performance for preterm (P=.479) and for term fetuses (P=1.000). Literature data show that the estimation of fetal weight with magnetic resonance imaging carries a mean or median relative error of 2.6 up to 3.7% when measurements were performed at <1 week from delivery; whereas for the same fetuses, the relative error at 2-dimensional ultrasound imaging varied between 6.3% and 11.4%. Further, in a series of 270 fetuses who were evaluated within 48 hours from birth and for a fixed false-positive rate of 10%, magnetic resonance imaging detected 98% of large-for-gestational age neonates (≥95th percentile for gestation) compared with 67% with ultrasound imaging estimates. For the same series, magnetic resonance imaging applied to the detection of small-for-gestational age neonates ≤10th percentile for gestation, for a fixed 10% false-positive rate, reached a detection rate of 100%, compared with only 78% for ultrasound imaging. Planimetric measurement has been 1 of the main limitations of magnetic resonance imaging for the estimation of fetal weight. Software programs that allow semiautomatic segmentation of the fetus are available from imaging manufacturers or are self-developed. We have shown that all of them perform equally well for the prediction of large-for-gestational age neonates, with the advantage of the semiautomatic methods being less time-consuming. Although many challenges remain for this technique to be generalized, a 2-step strategy after the selection of a group who are at high risk of the extremes of growth abnormalities is the most likely scenario. Results of ongoing studies are awaited (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier # NCT02713568).

Profile of women choosing the Harmony® Prenatal Test.

INTRODUCTION: The Harmony® Prenatal Test, a noninvasive cell-free DNA (cfDNA) method for major trisomies has been available since January 2013 at our unit, and tests were sent to the Ariosa Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) laboratory in California. From July 2017 onward, prenatal cfDNA has been reimbursed in Belgium for all pregnancies; however, since then samples are sent to a local laboratory. Little data are available on patient's profile and choices toward cfDNA and on the performance of local technology transfer centers. Areas covered: The profiles and choices of women regarding this test were evaluated. Further, the performance of cfDNA at the local laboratory was compared to the one in California. Our results showed that women from the Netherlands, as compared to Belgium, were more likely to undergo cfDNA testing for maternal request and would be less likely to undergo karyotyping if cfDNA were unavailable, therefore are better candidates for cfDNA testing, when this is used as first-line screening. Expert commentary: Our findings highlight the importance of conducting these types of studies, before decisions about clinical implementation are made by national governments and ministries of health.

The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Predicting Pain Related to Endometriosis: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sacral nerve root features by the means of magnetic resonance imaging-diffusion tensor imaging (MRI-DTI) tractography in women with endometriosis and/or adenomyosis, and to analyze the correlations among DTI abnormalities, pain symptoms, and endometriotic lesions found at surgery. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Women (n = 76) with clinical suspicion of endometriosis. INTERVENTIONS: Before surgery, dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia, and noncyclic pelvic pain (NCPP) were assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale. MRI enabled a 3-dimensional reconstruction of S1, S2, and S3. Fractional anisotropy was calculated for each root. Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis was performed in 56 patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Our findings revealed correlations among sacral root reconstruction by MRI-DTI, pain symptoms, and laparoscopic findings. DTI of sacral roots revealed a regular and homogeneous appearance in 17 patients (25.8%) and abnormalities in microstructure reconstruction, with fiber irregularities and disorganization and loss of the simple unidirectional course, in 44 patients (66.7%). At laparoscopy, ovarian endometriomas were found in 82.1% of the patients, and deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) were found in 57.1%. Endometriosis was staged according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification. Pathological DTI findings were significantly associated with the severity of dysmenorrhea and NCPP, pain duration, presence of tubo-ovarian and cul-de-sac adhesions, and DIE. CONCLUSION: The presence of pathological DTI findings of the sacral nerve roots correlates with the type of pain, adhesions, and DIE. At present, DTI can be useful for providing a better understanding of pain; however, DTI could become a useful tool in therapeutic planning for patients with endometriosis.

Are mood and anxiety disorders and alexithymia associated with endometriosis? A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this preliminary study was to determine whether psychiatric disorders, psychopathological symptoms, and alexithymia are associated with endometriosis in an Italian population. STUDY DESIGN: A preliminary study comprising 37 Italian patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 43 controls, without clinical and ultrasound signs of endometriosis, was carried out. Both patients and controls were evaluated for the presence/absence of psychiatric disorders, psychopathological symptoms, alexithymia, and pain symptoms (nonmenstrual pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between cases and controls for prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, malfunctioning on obsessive-compulsive subscale (P < 0.01) and depression subscale (P < 0.05) of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revisited (SCL-90-R), and higher alexithymia levels (P < 0.01). Patients with endometriosis-associated pain showed greater prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to pain-free patients but that difference was not significant. Significant correlation was found between malfunctioning in some SCL-90-R dimensions and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia scores at the visual analog score (VAS). CONCLUSION: Some psychopathological aspects, such as psychoemotional distress and alexithymia, are more frequent in women with endometriosis and might amplify pain symptoms in these patients.

Lack of association between serotonin transporter 5-HTT gene polymorphism and endometriosis in an Italian patient population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT), a key component in the control of the serotonergic system, is associated with endometriosis in an Italian population. FINDINGS: A case-control study, comprising 137 Italian patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 120 healthy controls, was carried out. 5-HTT genotypes (LL, SL and SS) were obtained by polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis analysis. We found no overall difference in genotypic and allelic distributions of the 5-HTT gene between cases and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the 5-HTT L/S promoter polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to endometriosis in the studied Italian patients.

Rupture of Ovarian Pregnancy in a Woman with Low Beta-hCG Levels.

Background. Ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy. It is often difficult to distinguish from tubal pregnancy, and diagnosis and management are frequently a challenge. Case. A 33-year-old nulligravida woman presented with light vaginal bleeding and bilateral lower quadrants abdominal pain. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) level (592 mUI/mL) and clinical and ultrasound (US) findings were suspicious for tubal pregnancy. On the third day, despite beta-hCG decrease (364 mUI/mL), she complained of severe pain in the lower abdomen, and physical examination revealed abdominal rebound tenderness. US showed a large amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Because of the unstable clinical condition, emergency laparoscopy and resection of left ovarian ectopic pregnancy were performed. Histology confirmed ovarian gestation. Conclusion. This case shows that ectopic pregnancy rupture may occur despite low levels of beta-hCG. Hemoperitoneum is not contraindication to laparoscopy.

Glutathione transferase polymorphisms and risk of endometriosis associated with polychlorinated biphenyls exposure in Italian women: a gene-environment interaction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of a gene-environment interaction between glutathione transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTA1) and serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels. This is suggested as possible risk factors for endometriosis, a multifactorial gynecological disease. DESIGN: Case-control study conducted from 2002 to 2005. SETTING: Policlinico Umberto I, "Sapienza" University of Rome and Italian National Institute for Health, Rome. PATIENT(S): Italian women (N = 343), with laparoscopic diagnosis and histologic confirmation of the presence (cases, N = 181) or the absence (controls, N = 162) of endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Genomic DNA extraction, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Determination of serum concentrations of selected PCBs by ion-trap mass spectrometry (subgroup, 63 cases and 63 controls). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endometriosis diagnosis by laparoscopy, GST genotypes, serum PCB levels. RESULT(S): The genotype distributions of GSTM1, GSTA1, and GSTP1 did not show any statistically significant difference between cases and controls. The GSTT1 null genotype was negatively associated with the disease. The GSTP1 wild-type genotype in the presence of medium-high blood levels of PCB153, total PCBs, or of high levels of PCB180 significantly increased the risk of endometriosis, suggesting a multiplicative interaction. CONCLUSION(S): The GSTs polymorphisms per se do not increase the risk of developing endometriosis. However, a gene-environment interaction was observed for GSTP1(Ile/Ile) and GSTM1 null genotypes, modulating the effect of PCB153, PCB180, and of total PCBs on disease risk.