Association between Fetal Cerebral Ventriculomegaly and Platelet Alloimmunisation.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare condition that may lead to intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in the fetus or neonate. Platelet alloimmunisation causing FNAIT has been described in association with fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly (VM), presumably due to subclinical ICH. The objective of this study was to assess the association between fetal VM and platelet alloimmunisation. METHODS: This is a case series of pregnancies with fetal VM screened for platelet alloantibodies from 2003 to 2012. Cases of multiple pregnancies, structural anomalies, aneuploidies, or congenital infection were excluded. RESULTS: Of 45 pregnancies with fetal VM that were screened for platelet alloantibodies, 5 (11%) were positive. There was only one antenatal ICH, with confirmed fetal severe thrombocytopenia before termination of pregnancy. The other cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins without prior fetal blood sampling. No other case of neonatal thrombocytopenia was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of platelet alloimmunisation was high in this series of fetal VM. Prospective large studies are needed to confirm the role of platelet alloimmunisation in fetal VM.

Predicting Perinatal Outcome from Prenatal Ultrasound Characteristics in Pregnancies Complicated by Gastroschisis.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to establish the predictive value of prenatal ultrasound markers for complex gastroschisis (GS) in the first 10 days of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study over 11 years (2000-2011) of 117 GS cases, the following prenatal ultrasound signs were analyzed at the last second- and third-trimester ultrasounds: intrauterine growth restriction, intra-abdominal bowel dilatation (IABD) adjusted for gestational age, extra-abdominal bowel dilatation (EABD) ≥25 mm, stomach dilatation, stomach herniation, perturbed mesenteric circulation, absence of bowel lumen and echogenic dilated bowel loops (EDBL). RESULTS: Among 114 live births, 16 newborns had complex GS (14.0%). Death was seen in 16 cases (13.7%): 3 intrauterine fetal deaths, 9 complex GS and 4 simple GS. Second-trimester markers had limited predictive value. Third-trimester IABD, EABD, EDBL, absence of intestinal lumen and perturbed mesenteric circulation were statistically associated with complex GS and death. IABD was able to predict complex GS with a sensitivity of 50%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 47% and a negative predictive value of 92%. DISCUSSION: Third-trimester IABD adjusted for gestational age appears to be the prenatal ultrasound marker most strongly associated with adverse outcome in GS.

Increased salt sensitivity of ambulatory blood pressure in women with a history of severe preeclampsia.

Cardiovascular diseases are the principal cause of death in women in developed countries and are importantly promoted by hypertension. The salt sensitivity of blood pressure (BP) is considered as an important cardiovascular risk factor at any BP level. Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that arises as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study measured the salt sensitivity of BP in women with a severe preeclampsia compared with women with no pregnancy hypertensive complications. Forty premenopausal women were recruited 10 years after delivery in a case-control study. Salt sensitivity was defined as an increase of >4 mm Hg in 24-hour ambulatory BP on a high-sodium diet. The ambulatory BP response to salt was significantly increased in women with a history of preeclampsia compared with that of controls. The mean (95% confidence interval) daytime systolic/diastolic BP increased significantly from 115 (109-118)/79 (76-82) mm Hg on low-salt diet to 123 (116-130)/80 (76-84) on a high-salt diet in women with preeclampsia, but not in the control group (from 111 [104-119]/77 [72-82] to 111 [106-116]/75 [72-79], respectively, P<0.05). The sodium sensitivity index (SSI=Δmean arterial pressure/Δurinary Na excretion×1000) was 51.2 (19.1-66.2) in women with preeclampsia and 6.6 (5.8-18.1) mm Hg/mol per day in controls (P=0.015). The nocturnal dip was blunted on a high-salt diet in women with preeclampsia. Our study shows that women who have developed preeclampsia are salt sensitive before their menopause, a finding that may contribute to their increased cardiovascular risk. Women with a history of severe preeclampsia should be targeted at an early stage for preventive measures of cardiovascular diseases.

Long QT syndrome in pregnancy: are vaginal delivery and use of oxytocin permitted? A case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) are at increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia, particularly during labour and the puerperium. CASE: A 28-year-old primigravida with known LQTS underwent induction of labour at 41 weeks' gestation using a Foley catheter balloon and IV oxytocin. Vaginal delivery with passive second stage and outlet forceps was undertaken with early epidural analgesia to prevent tachycardia and psychological stress. The patient gave birth to a healthy female, and had an uncomplicated postpartum period under continuous electrocardiogram monitoring. CONCLUSION: Vaginal delivery with use of oxytocin for the induction of labour can be safely undertaken in patients with LQTS.

The risk of placental abruption when using prostaglandins for cervical ripening in women with preeclampsia: comparing misoprostol versus dinoprostone.

OBJECTIVE: Recent data have raised concern about the safety of using misoprostol in women with preeclampsia. We wanted to evaluate the risk of placental abruption in women with preeclampsia undergoing cervical ripening with misoprostol compared to dinoprostone. METHODS: We evaluated data on 403 preeclamptic women receiving either misoprostol (N = 235) or dinoprostone (N = 168) at different regimens and delivering in two university hospitals in Switzerland (Geneva and Basel). The main outcome was the incidence of placental abruption in both groups using two definitions for placental abruption ("clinical" and "post hoc"). We performed univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: The overall incidence of placental abruption was 1.5% (six cases); 1.3% (3) in the misoprostol group versus 1.8% (3) in the dinoprostone group; p = 0.69). When using the post-hoc definition the incidence was higher in the latter group (1.3 versus 5.4%; p = 0.03). In multivariable analyses, the risk of placental abruption using the "post hoc" definition was associated with the use of dinoprostone. CONCLUSIONS: The use of misoprotol in preeclamptic women appears to be safe and is not associated with a higher risk of placental abruption when compared with other prostaglandins. Concerns about the use of misoprostol in the case of preeclampsia are not justified.