[Asthma during pregnancy: effects on fetal well-being, and maternal and perinatal complications]. / Asma na gestação: efeitos na vitalidade fetal, complicações maternas e perinatais.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of maternal asthma on pregnancy, analyzing the consequences of the severity of the disease in the impairment of fetal well-being, as well as the related maternal and perinatal complications. METHODS: A retrospective study with 117 pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma and with no other comorbidities, in the period from January, 2005 to December, 2010. Inclusion criteria were as follows: singleton pregnancy; pregnant women diagnosed with asthma prior to pregnancy; initiation of prenatal care before the 28(th) week of pregnancy; birth at this institution; newborn weighing over 500 g and gestational age at delivery of 22 weeks or more; absence of fetal malformations or chromosomal abnormalities; absence of maternal comorbidities. Asthma was classified as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent. The results of fetal biophysical profile and of Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery performed 14 days prior to birth were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total of 117 pregnant women with asthma, 41 (35.0%) had intermittent, 33 (28.2%) mild persistent, 21 (17.9%) moderate persistent, and 22 (18.8%) severe persistent asthma. There was no significant difference among the groups as to the type of birth: cesarean section was performed in 65.8% of the cases, maternal corticosteroid therapy was used at the moment of birth in 20.5%, the gestational age at birth averaged 38.6 weeks (SD 1.9 weeks), and birth weight averaged 3,056 g (SD 581g). The fetal biophysical profile performed during the antepartum period (n=90, 76.9%) showed a normal result (8 or 10) in 99% of the cases. Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery was assessed in 23.9% (n=28) of the pregnant women, and delivered normal results in 100% of the cases. The use of systemic corticosteroid therapy was significantly (p<0.001) different among the intermittent (4.9%), mild persistent (9.1%), moderate persistent (28.6%), and severe persistent (45.5%) groups. Regarding the beginning of birth, there was a higher proportion of elective cesarean section in the groups with moderate persistent asthma (52.5%) and severe persistent (54.6%) when compared to the intermittent (21.9%) and mild persistent (24.2%) groups (p=0.039). CONCLUSION: The severity of maternal asthma does not appear to have any direct influence on perinatal outcomes, and does not compromise fetal well-being. Active conduct to enable a better maternal clinical condition provides a favorable prognosis for pregnancy complicated by asthma.

Asma na gestação: efeitos na vitalidade fetal, complicações maternas e perinatais / Asthma during pregnancy: effects on fetal well-being, and maternal and perinatal complications

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da asma materna sobre a gravidez, analisando as repercussões da gravidade da doença no comprometimento do bem-estar fetal, bem como as complicações maternas e perinatais associadas. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo de 117 gestações complicadas pela asma materna e sem outras comorbidades, no período de janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2010. Os critérios de inclusão foram: gestação única; diagnóstico de asma prévio à gestação; início do pré-natal antes da 28ª semana de gravidez; parto realizado na instituição; peso do recém-nascido acima de 500g e idade gestacional no parto acima de 22 semanas; ausência de malformações fetais ou anomalias cromossômicas; ausência de comorbidades maternas. A gravidade da asma foi classificada em intermitente, persistente leve, persistente moderada, persistente grave. Foram analisados os resultados do perfil biofísico fetal e da dopplervelocimetria de artéria umbilical realizados até 14 dias antes do parto. RESULTADOS: Do total de 117 gestantes asmáticas analisadas: 41 (35,0%) eram intermitentes, 33 (28,2%) persistentes leves, 21 (17,9%) persistentes moderadas e 22 (18,8%) persistentes graves. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto ao tipo de parto: a cesárea foi realizada em 65,8% dos casos, a corticoterapia materna no momento do parto em 20,5%, a idade gestacional no parto apresentou média de 38,6 semanas (DP 1,9 semanas) e o peso ao nascimento apresentou média de 3056 g (DP 581 g). O perfil biofísico fetal realizado no período anteparto (n = 90, 76,9%) apresentou resultado normal (8 ou 10) em 99% dos casos. A dopplervelocimetria de artéria umbilical foi avaliada em 23,9% (n = 28) das gestantes, e apresentou-se normal em 100% dos casos. O uso de corticoterapia sistêmica foi significativamente (p< 0,001) diferente entre os grupos intermitente (4,9%) e persistente leve (9,1%), persistente moderada (28,6%), persistente grave (45,5%). quanto ao início do parto, houve maior proporção de cesárea eletiva no grupo com asma persistente moderada (52,5%) e persistente grave (54,6%) quando comparados aos grupos intermitente (21,9%) e persistente leve (24,2%) (p = 0,039). CONCLUSÃO: A gravidade da asma materna não parece influenciar diretamente os resultados perinatais e não compromete a vitalidade fetal. A conduta ativa proporcionando melhor quadro clínico materno promove evolução favorável para a gestação complicada pela asma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of maternal asthma on pregnancy, analyzing the consequences of the severity of the disease in the impairment of fetal well-being, as well as the related maternal and perinatal complications. METHODS: A retrospective study with 117 pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma and with no other comorbidities, in the period from January, 2005 to December, 2010. Inclusion criteriawere as follows: singleton pregnancy; pregnantwomen diagnosed with asthma prior to pregnancy; initiation of prenatal care before the 28th week of pregnancy; birth at this institution; newborn weighing over 500 g and gestational age at delivery of 22 weeks or more; absence of fetal malformations or chromosomal abnormalities; absence of maternal comorbidities. Asthma was classified as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent. The results of fetal biophysical profile and of Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery performed 14 days prior to birth were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total of 117 pregnant women with asthma, 41 (35.0%) had intermittent, 33 (28.2%) mild persistent, 21 (17.9%) moderate persistent, and 22 (18.8%) severe persistent asthma. There was no significant difference among the groups as to the type of birth: cesarean section was performed in 65.8% of the cases, maternal corticosteroid therapy was used at the moment of birth in 20.5%, the gestational age at birth averaged 38.6 weeks (SD 1.9 weeks), and birth weight averaged 3,056 g (SD 581 g). The fetal biophysical profile performed during the antepartum period (n = 90, 76.9%) showed a normal result (8 or 10) in 99% of the cases. Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery was assessed in 23.9% (n = 28) of the pregnant women, and delivered normal results in 100% of the cases. The use of systemic corticosteroid therapy was significantly (p < 0.001) different among the intermittent (4.9%), mild persistent (9.1%), moderate persistent (28.6%), and severe persistent (45.5%) groups. Regarding the beginning of birth, there was a higher proportion of elective cesarean section in the groups with moderate persistent asthma (52.5%) and severe persistent (54.6%) when compared to the intermittent (21.9%) and mild persistent (24.2%) groups (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: The severity of maternal asthma does not appear to have any direct influence on perinatal outcomes, and does not compromise fetal well-being. Active conduct to enable a better maternal clinical condition provides a favorable prognosis for pregnancy complicated by asthma.

Fetal venous Doppler in pregnancies with placental dysfunction and correlation with pH at birth.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the correlation between ph at birth and venous Doppler parameters in pregnancies with placental dysfunction. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 58 pregnancies with the diagnosis of placental dysfunction between 26 and 34 weeks of gestation. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies, abnormal umbilical artery (UA) Doppler, fetal growth restriction diagnosed by estimated fetal weight <10th centile for gestational age, intact membranes, and absence of fetal congenital abnormalities. The Doppler measurements were the following: UA pulsatility index (PI), ductus venosus (DV) pulsatility index for veins (PIV), intra-abdominal umbilical vein (UV) time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMxV) and blood flow and left portal vein (LPV) time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMxV) and blood flow. All Doppler parameters were transformed into z-scores (SD values from the mean) according to normative references. RESULTS: The UA pH at birth showed a negative significant correlation with the DV-PIV (p = 0.004) and the DV-PIV z-score (p = 0.004), while LPV TAMxV (p = 0.004), LPV TAMxV z-score (p = 0.002), LPV blood flow (p = 0.01), LPV blood flow normalized (p = 0.04) and UV blood flow (p = 0.04) positively correlated with pH at birth. Multiple regression analysis was performed and the DV-PIV z-score was the variable that independently correlated with pH at birth (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: the present results suggest that changes in fetal venous blood flow, mainly DV and LPV are useful in the management of cases with early onset placental insufficiency and that venous Doppler parameters correlate with pH at birth.

Computerized cardiotocography in pregnancies complicated by maternal asthma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the FHR parameters in term pregnancies complicated by asthma. STUDY DESIGN: prospective cross-sectional study performed between July 2008 and November 2009. Twenty-one singleton pregnancy between 36 and 40 weeks gestation with diagnosis of maternal asthma and no current use of oral corticosteroids were compared with 30 pregnancies without morbidities at the same gestational age. The computerized cardiotocography (System 8002, Sonicaid) was performed and 30 min analysis was studied. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between groups. Categorical data were compared using the χ(2)-test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in FHR parameters analyzed by computerized cardiotocography: basal FHR (p = 0.80), number of accelerations >10 bpm (p = 0.08) or > 15 bpm (p = 0.20), duration of high episodes (p = 0.70), duration of low episodes (p = 0.46) and STV (p = 0.66). Asthmatic mothers presented mean number of fetal movement per hour significantly lower than control group (34.6 ± 28.2 vs. 60.6 ± 43.1, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Computerized cardiotocography demonstrates no association between the abnormal parameters of FHR and maternal asthma in term pregnancies. Maternal asthma was associated with less fetal movements per hour, suggesting further studies on the counting of fetal movements in pregnant women with asthma.

Gender-specific differences in fetal cardiac troponin T in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction may lead to fetal hypoxia and acidemia, which result in fetal cardiac injury. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the levels of fetal cardiac troponin T (cTnT) at birth and fetal Doppler parameters according to fetal gender in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency before 34 weeks' gestation. METHODS: Between March 2007 and November 2010, singleton pregnancies with placental insufficiency characterized by abnormal umbilical artery Doppler results were prospectively studied. All the patients delivered by cesarean section, and Doppler examinations were performed up to 48 hours before birth. Immediately after delivery, umbilical artery blood samples were obtained for fetal cTnT measurements. RESULTS: Fifty high-risk pregnant women met the study criteria. The study groups were as follows: group 1 consisted of 23 male fetuses (46%) and group 2 consisted of 27 female fetuses (54%). cTnT levels were significantly higher in the group of male fetuses (median, 0.14; range, 0.01-0.85) compared with the group of female fetuses (median, 0.05; range, 0.01-0.27) (P = 0.039). In the group of male fetuses, Doppler results of the ductus venosus assessment revealed values of pulsatility index for veins ≥1.0 in 15 male fetuses (65.2%) and 9 female fetuses (33.3%) (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal gender was associated with cTnT level at birth in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency before 34 weeks' gestation, although the Doppler findings did not support gender differences. The fetal cardiac compromise and cardiac injury may be influenced by fetal gender, suggesting differences in the cardiovascular response to fetal hypoxia.