Abbreviated (12-hour) versus traditional (24-hour) postpartum magnesium sulfate therapy in severe pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of magnesium sulfate for 12 hours versus 24 hours in postpartum women with stable severe pre-eclampsia. METHODS: In 2011, an open randomized clinical trial was conducted with 120 postpartum women with severe pre-eclampsia who gave birth at a tertiary hospital in Brazil; 60 women received magnesium sulfate for 24 hours and 60 for 12 hours. The analysis was by intention-to-treat and the intervention was not masked. RESULTS: Abbreviated (12-hour) magnesium sulfate therapy was associated with less exposure to the drug, and clinical outcomes were similar in both groups. No woman developed eclampsia and there was no need to re-initiate treatment after completing the scheduled magnesium sulfate therapy in either group. Magnesium sulfate therapy was extended in only three women in the 12-hour group. In addition, in this group, significant reductions were found in the duration of postpartum use of an indwelling bladder catheter, the time to ambulation, and the time to maternal contact with the newborn. CONCLUSION: Abbreviated postpartum magnesium sulfate therapy in patients with stable severe pre-eclampsia was associated with less drug exposure, similar outcomes, and benefits such as a reduction in the time to contact with the newborn. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT1408979.

O uso do misoprostol para indução do trabalho de parto / Use of misoprostol for induction of labor

Atualmente, estão disponíveis diversos métodos de indução do parto. Entretanto, ainda não há consenso sobre o mais efetivo e com menor frequência de efeitos adversos. O misoprostol administrado por via vaginal tem sido utilizado rotineiramente tanto para amadurecimento como para indução do parto, porém outras formas de administração vêm sendo propostas, como comprimido oral, sublingual, bucal, retal e, mais recentemente, solução oral com dose escalonada. A via de administração recomendada pelas diretrizes de sociedades de ginecologia e obstetrícia continua sendo a vaginal, porém ainda é necessário definir qual a melhor e a menor dosagem capaz de desencadear o trabalho de parto, com a menor incidência de complicações. A dose recomendada atualmente é de 25 ug a cada quatro ou seis horas. A administração oral do misoprostol apresenta efetividade semelhante à vaginal, porém novos estudos ainda são necessários para determinar o melhor esquema terapêutico. As vias de administração bucal, sublingual e retal devem ser reservadas a protocolos de pesquisas, devendo ser estimulada a realização de novos estudos para determinar se existem vantagens em relação à via vaginal, além de definir a menor dose eficaz e o perfil de segurança.

Currently, several methods for induction of labor are available, but it remains uncertain which is more effective and safe with less frequency of adverse effects. Vaginal misoprostol has been utilized routinely for both preparation of cervix and induction of labor. However, other routes of administration have been proposed, like oral, sublingual, buccal, rectal and, recently, a titrated oral solution. Guidelines continue to recommend vaginal administration, but it is necessary to define the best and lowest dose capable of starting labor with fewer complications. The current recommended dose of vaginal misoprostol is 25 ug each four or six hours. Oral misoprostol has effectiveness similar to vaginal misoprostol, but new trials are still necessary to determine the ideal therapeutic schema. Buccal, sublingual and rectal routes should be restricted to research protocols. Randomized controlled trials should be conducted to determine whether there are advantages of these alternative routes in relation to vaginal administrations and to define their safety profile, as well as the ideal dose for labor induction

Ácido fólico na prevenção de gravidez acometida por morbidade fetal: aspectos atuais / Folic acid in prevention of pregnancy affected by fetal morbidity: actual aspects

Os estudos em países desenvolvidos sugerem uma tendência à redução da incidência e gravidade dos defeitos abertos do tubo neural (DATN), após a adoção de programas de fortificação de grãos e farináceos. No Brasil, a mesma tendência foi observada, porém não com a mesma intensidade, decorrente da diversidade dos hábitos alimentares regionais, inferindo que apenas a adoção do programa de fortificação não seja suficiente para haver redução significativa dos DATN. O papel do ácido fólico na prevenção de malformações do tubo neural está bem definido. A prevenção de cardiopatias, malformações faciais e cromossomopatias ainda permanece incerta, sendo necessários estudos para avaliar a ação do micronutriente na profilaxia de outras morbidades fetais. Constatou-se aumento do conhecimento de pacientes e profissionais de saúde envolvidos na assistência pré-natal sobre o papel do ácido fólico e, em particular, no seu uso periconcepcional especialmente em países desenvolvidos. Assim, apesar dos programas de fortificação implantados em alguns países desenvolvidos terem sido eficientes em reduzir de forma significativa a incidência dos DFTN, no Brasil, precisam-se considerar as variações regionais e promover melhor a suplementação farmacológica do ácido fólico periconcepcional

Studies in developed countries have suggested a tendency of reduction in incidence and severity of neural tube defects (NTD), after the adoption of folic acid food fortification programs. In Brazil, the same trend was observed; however not with the same intensity. This finding seems to be associated with the great diversity of the Brazilian regional alimentary habits, leading some researchers to infer that only foods fortification programs are not enough to reach a significant reduction of NTD incidence. The knowledge of folic acid prevention of NTD malformations is well-established by consistent publications. It is not completely clear the folate role in preventing congenital cardiopathies, facial malformations and cromossomic disorders. An increase in patients and physicians' knowledge about folic acid role in the prevention of NTD malformations was noticed. Its periconceptional use has increased more significantly especially in developed countries. Although food fortification programs in some developed countries have been efficient in reducing significantly the incidence and severity of NTD malformations, in Brazil, the program must consider regional variations and improve folate promotion for medical supplementation in periconceptional folic acid