Comparison of the efficacy of the immediate-release and osmotic push-pull system formulations of nifedipine for tocolysis.

AIM: To compare the immediate-release (IR) and osmotic push-pull system formulations of nifedipine used for tocolysis in prolonging pregnancy, neonatal outcomes and maternal-fetal adverse effects. METHODS: We evaluated 140 pregnant women who received the IR (n = 72) and osmotic push-pull system (n = 68) formulations of nifedipine for tocolysis due to threatened preterm labor between 240/7 and 336/7 weeks of gestation. Groups were compared in terms of efficacy of tocolysis in prolonging pregnancy for more than 48 h, 7 days and up to 37 weeks of gestation, total number of days gained for prolonging pregnancy, delivery weeks, maternal-fetal adverse effects and neonatal outcomes including ventilation support, need for intubation or surfactant, intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal death, Apgar scores at the 1st and 5th minutes. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in prolonging pregnancy for more than 48 h or 7 days, total number of days gained after tocolysis initiation, delivery weeks, the number of births at 340/7 -366/7 weeks or after 37 weeks of gestation (P > 0.05). Maternal-fetal adverse effects and neonatal outcomes were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The efficacy of IR and osmotic push-pull system formulations of nifedipine have similar effects in terms of tocolysis and neonatal outcomes, adverse effects. Osmotic push-pull system formulation of nifedipine may be an alternative medication in tocolytic therapy due to its ease of use and the absence of loading dose necessity.

Unusual facio-upper arm band of a fetus mimicking amniotic band syndrome.

Amniotic band syndrome can lead to a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities including orofacial and visceral defects. It is associated with malformations in truncal, craniofacial regions and the limbs, whereas it sometimes may imitate some genetic disorders. Here, we present an atypical case mimicking amniotic band syndrome with a facio-upper arm band that was having multiple fetal structural abnormalities including scoliosis, bilateral cleft lip and palate, upper limb abnormality, unilateral anophthalmia with contralateral microphthalmia, left hypertrophic kidney and severe ventriculomegaly.

Effects of betamethasone on fetoplacental and maternal hemodynamics in preterm pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible effects of prenatal steroid administration on Doppler parameters of the umbilical artery, uterine artery, middle cerebral artery, and ductus venosus, the cerebroplacental ratio, and the amniotic fluid index in preterm fetuses. METHODS: The present prospective observational study was performed at the Perinatology Department of Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey, between June 1, 2015, and September 1, 2016. It included patients with healthy singleton pregnancies who had received betamethasone at 24-34 weeks of pregnancy. Doppler parameters were measured before (0 hours) and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the administration of betamethasone (two intramuscular doses of 12 mg each, administered 24 hours apart). RESULTS: There were 68 patients included. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated that, at 72 hours after betamethasone administration, the umbilical artery resistance index (P=0.038), the middle cerebral artery systolic/diastolic velocity ratio (P=0.007), and the amniotic fluid index (P=0.017) were reduced, whereas the end-diastolic velocity of the middle cerebral artery was increased (P=0.012), compared with baseline values. CONCLUSION: Betamethasone had favorable effects on fetal cerebral circulation, with increased end-diastolic velocity in the middle cerebral artery; this could represent a positive effect on cerebral blood circulation and decreased flow resistance in the umbilical artery.

Relationship between second-trimester amniotic fluid levels of Prokineticin-1 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 with adverse pregnancy outcome.

To investigate the levels of Prokineticin-1 (PROK1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in second-trimester amniotic fluid (AF). AF samples were investigated in 81 patients. AF-PROK1 and AF-MMP-2 were not significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, spontaneous preterm birth, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension). AF-PROK1 levels in patients with abnormal first-trimester screening were significantly higher than those who underwent amniocentesis due to abnormal second-trimester screening tests (p = .04). AF-PROK1 or AF-MMP-2 do not have a role in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.