Issues with pregnancy in systemic lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease that affects a large number of young women of childbearing age. Today, pregnancy is considered safe in almost all women with lupus, especially when the disease is under control. However, pregnancies in this population have a higher risk of maternal complications than in the general population. It is therefore important to plan pregnancies as effectively as possible, using effective contraception and pre-pregnancy counselling. In fact, effective, well-tolerated contraception is essential for patients for whom pregnancy cannot be safely envisaged, particularly in the setting of teratogenic treatment or significant disease activity. Preconception counselling is essential and helps to anticipate several aspects of a future pregnancy. Several recent prospective studies have clearly identified risk factors for obstetric complications and disease flare. High level of lupus activity, low complement, primigravida and a history of lupus nephritis are predictive factors of disease flare when antiphospholipid syndrome or antiphospholipid antibodies (specifically for lupus anticoagulant), damage, activity of lupus are predictive for obstetric events. Appropriate therapeutic management is essential, based primarily on the continuation of hydroxychloroquine, although some recent warnings about its use in pregnancy have been discussed controversially. Corticosteroid therapy can be continued at the lowest possible dose, as can certain immunosuppressive drugs. In the case of a history of lupus nephritis, low-dose aspirin is also prescribed. Although still exceptional, the risk of neonatal lupus is also higher, in patients with anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. The aim of this review is to summarise the risk factors for adverse obstetric outcomes and to improve medical and obstetric management in this population of pregnant women with lupus.

Prenatal diagnosis of isolated bilateral clubfoot: Is amniocentesis indicated?

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of cytogenetic testing by amniocentesis after an ultrasound diagnosis of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter observational retrospective study includes all prenatally diagnosed cases of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus in five fetal medicine centers from 2012 through 2021. Ultrasound data, amniocentesis results, biochemical analyses of amniotic fluid and parental blood samples to test neuromuscular diseases, pregnancy outcomes, and postnatal outcomes were collected for each patient. RESULTS: In all, 214 fetuses with isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus were analyzed. A first-degree family history of talipes equinovarus existed in 9.8% (21/214) of our cohort. Amniocentesis was proposed to 86.0% (184/214) and performed in 70.1% (129/184) of cases. Of the 184 karyotypes performed, two (1.6%) were abnormal (one trisomy 21 and one triple X syndrome). Of the 103 microarrays performed, two (1.9%) revealed a pathogenic copy number variation (one with a de novo 18p deletion and one with a de novo 22q11.2 deletion) (DiGeorge syndrome). Neuromuscular diseases (spinal muscular amyotrophy, myasthenia gravis, and Steinert disease) were tested for in 56 fetuses (27.6%); all were negative. Overall, 97.6% (165/169) of fetuses were live-born, and the diagnosis of isolated bilateral talipes equinovarus was confirmed for 98.6% (139/141). Three medical terminations of pregnancy were performed (for the fetuses diagnosed with Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and the 18p deletion). Telephone calls (at a mean follow-up age of 4.5 years) were made to all parents to collect medium-term and long-term follow-up information, and 70 (33.0%) families were successfully contacted. Two reported a rare genetic disease diagnosed postnatally (one primary microcephaly and one infantile glycine encephalopathy). Parents did not report any noticeably abnormal psychomotor development among the other children during this data collection. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low rate of pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities diagnosed prenatally after this ultrasound diagnosis, the risk of chromosomal aberration exceeds the risks of amniocentesis. These data may be helpful in prenatal counseling situations.

Two novel variations p.(Ser1275Thr) and p.(Ser1275Arg) in FLT4 causing prenatal hereditary lymphedema type 1.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary lymphedema 1 is a rare congenital condition, characterized by the development of chronic swelling in body parts. It is highly variable in expression and age of onset with different presentations: from feet edema to hydrops fetalis. This affection is genetically heterogeneous with autosomal dominant inheritance and incomplete penetrance due to a mutation in the FLT4 gene in most cases. CASES: In our study, we report on two fetuses harboring congenital lymphedema with FLT4 variation and review the prenatal confirmed ones of the literatures. Our cases were selected within fetuses explored by exome sequencing in a diagnosis setting. Prenatal ultrasonography showed hydrops fetalis in one case and an increased nuchal translucency with hydrothorax in the other. Comparative genomic hybridization array on amniocentesis was normal in both cases. Exome sequencing identified a variation p.(Ser1275Thr) and p.(Ser1275Arg) in fetus 1 and fetus 2 in the FLT4 gene, respectively. A de novo mutation at the same codon was reported in prenatal literature suggesting possible genotype phenotype correlation. CONCLUSION: Cystic hygroma/hydrops fetalis are possible manifestations of several disorders. This study illustrates how the integration of exome sequencing in prenatal clinical practice can facilitate the diagnosis and genetic counseling of heterogeneous developmental affections.

Neuropathological hallmarks of antenatal mitochondrial diseases with a corpus callosum defect.

Corpus callosum defects are frequent congenital cerebral disorders caused by mutations in more than 300 genes. These include genes implicated in corpus callosum development or function, as well as genes essential for mitochondrial physiology. However, in utero corpus callosum anomalies rarely raise a suspicion of mitochondrial disease and are characterized by a very large clinical heterogeneity. Here, we report a detailed pathological and neuro-histopathological investigation of nine foetuses from four unrelated families with prenatal onset of corpus callosum anomalies, sometimes associated with other cerebral or extra-cerebral defects. Next generation sequencing allowed the identification of novel pathogenic variants in three different nuclear genes previously reported in mitochondrial diseases: TIMMDC1, encoding a Complex I assembly factor never involved before in corpus callosum defect; MRPS22, a protein of the small mitoribosomal subunit; and EARS2, the mitochondrial tRNA-glutamyl synthetase. The present report describes the antenatal histopathological findings in mitochondrial diseases and expands the genetic spectrum of antenatal corpus callosum anomalies establishing OXPHOS function as an important factor for corpus callosum biogenesis. We propose that, when observed, antenatal corpus callosum anomalies should raise suspicion of mitochondrial disease and prenatal genetic counselling should be considered.

Brief Report: T-Cell Receptor α Repertoire Diversity at Birth After in utero Exposure to HIV Integrase Strand-Transfer Inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: Effectiveness of anti-HIV in the prevention of perinatal transmission has been established. Assessing the tolerance of drug exposure during pregnancy is of the utmost importance given the number of children exposed. HIV integrase and the recombinase-activating gene enzyme involved in the establishment of the T-lymphocyte repertoire show structural similarity. The inhibition of recombinase-activating (RAG) gene by anti-integrases is observed in vitro, in a variable way according to the molecules. Here, we show that in utero exposure to raltegravir did not alter the T-lymphocyte repertoire of 12 newborns. These reassuring data merit verification for other anti-integrases. ( ClinicalTrial.org NCT04024150).

Update of Perinatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmission in France: Zero Transmission for 5482 Mothers on Continuous Antiretroviral Therapy From Conception and With Undetectable Viral Load at Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is remarkably effective in preventing perinatal transmission (PT) of HIV-1. We evaluated the PT rate in a population of women with widespread access to ART before conception. METHODS: The analysis included 14 630 women with HIV-1 who delivered from 2000 to 2017 at centers participating in the nationwide prospective multicenter French Perinatal Cohort (ANRS-EPF). PT was analyzed according to time period, timing of ART initiation, maternal plasma viral load (pVL), and gestational age at birth. No infants were breastfed, and all received neonatal prophylaxis. RESULTS: PT decreased between 3 periods, from 1.1% in 2000-2005 (58/5123) to 0.7% in 2006-2010 (30/4600) and to 0.2% in 2011-2017 (10/4907; P < .001). Restriction of the analysis to the 6316/14 630 (43%) women on ART at conception, PT decreased from 0.42% (6/1434) in 2000-2005 to 0.03% (1/3117) in 2011-2017 (P = .007). Among women treated at conception, if maternal pVL was undetectable near delivery, no PT was observed regardless of the ART combination [95%CI 0-0.07] (0/5482). Among women who started ART during pregnancy and with undetectable pVL near delivery, PT was 0.57% [95%CI 0.37-0.83] (26/4596). Among women treated at conception but with a detectable pVL near delivery, PT was 1.08% [95%CI 0.49-2.04] (9/834). We also qualitatively described 10 cases of transmission that occurred during the 2011-2017 period. CONCLUSIONS: In a setting with free access to ART, monthly pVL assessment, infant ART prophylaxis, and in the absence of breastfeeding, suppressive ART initiated before pregnancy and continued throughout pregnancy can reduce PT of HIV to almost zero.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome: an analysis of data from the multicentre, prospective, GR2 study.

BACKGROUND: Adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome have only been evaluated retrospectively using heterogeneous methods and with contradictory results. We aimed to describe adverse pregnancy, delivery, and birth outcome risks in pregnant women with primary Sjögren's syndrome compared with those of a matched general population in France, and to identify factors predictive of disease flares or adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, prospective, cohort study in France using the GR2 (Groupe de Recherche sur la Grossesse et les Maladies Rares) registry. Women from the GR2 study were eligible if they had conceived before March, 2021, had primary Sjögren's syndrome according to the American College of Rheumatology and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2016 classification criteria, and had an ongoing pregnancy at 12 weeks of gestation. In women who entered in the registry with pregnancies before 18 weeks of gestation, we sought to identify factors associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome flare (≥3-point increase in EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index [ESSDAI] score) or adverse pregnancy outcomes (fetal or neonatal death, placental insufficiency leading to a preterm delivery [<37 weeks of gestation], or small-for-gestational-age birthweight). A matched controlled study compared adverse pregnancy, delivery, and birth outcome rates between pregnant women with primary Sjögren's syndrome from the GR2 registry and matched controls from the general population included in the last French perinatal survey (Enquête Nationale Périnatale 2016). FINDINGS: 1944 pregnancies were identified in the GR2 cohort, of which 106 pregnancies in 96 women with primary Sjögren's syndrome were included in this analysis. The median age at pregnancy onset was 33 years (IQR 31-36). 87 (83%) of 105 pregnancies (with ethnicity data) were in White women, 18 (17%) were in Black women; 92 (90%) of 102 had previous systemic activity (ESSDAI score of ≥1; data missing in four pregnancies), and 48 (45%) of 106 had systemic activity at inclusion. Of 93 pregnancies included at week 18 of gestation or earlier, primary Sjögren's syndrome flares occurred in 12 (13%). No baseline parameters were associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome flare. Four twin pregnancies and one medical termination were excluded from the adverse pregnancy outcome analysis; of the remaining 88, adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred in six (7%). Among pregnancies in women with data for antiphospholipid antibodies (n=55), antiphospholipid antibody positivity was more frequent among pregnancies with adverse outcomes (two [50%] of four pregnancies) compared with those without adverse outcomes (two [4%] of 51 pregnancies; p=0·023). Anti-RNP antibody positivity was also more frequent among pregnancies with adverse outcomes than those without, although this was not statistically significant. In the matched controlled study, adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred in nine (9%) of 105 pregnancies in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome and 28 (7%) of the 420 matched control pregnancies; adverse pregnancy outcomes were not significantly associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome (odds ratio 1·31, 95% CI 0·53-2·98; p=0·52). INTERPRETATION: Pregnancies in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome had very good prognoses for mothers and fetuses, with no overall increase in adverse pregnancy outcome risk compared with the general population. Women with antiphospholipid antibodies or anti-RNP antibodies require close monitoring, because these factors might be associated with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. FUNDING: Lupus France, Association des Sclérodermiques de France, Association Gougerot Sjögren, Association Francophone Contre la Polychondrite Chronique Atrophiante, AFM-Telethon, Société Nationale Française de Médecine Interne, Société Française de Rhumatologie, Cochin Hospital, French Health Ministry, Fondation for Research in Rheumatology, Association Prix Véronique Roualet, Union Chimique Belge.

Characterisation of a high-risk profile for maternal thrombotic and severe haemorrhagic complications in pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome in France (GR2): a multicentre, prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Prospective data about the risks of thrombotic and severe haemorrhagic complications during pregnancy and post partum are unavailable for women with antiphospholipid syndrome. We aimed to assess thrombotic and haemorrhagic events in a prospective cohort of pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome. METHODS: This multicentre, prospective, observational study was done at 76 centres in France. To be eligible for this study, women had to have diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome; have conceived before April 17, 2020; have an ongoing pregnancy that had reached 12 weeks of gestation; and be included in the study before 18 weeks of gestation. Exclusion criteria were active systemic lupus erythematosus nephropathy, or a multifetal pregnancy. Severe haemorrhage was defined as the need for red blood cell transfusion or maternal intensive care unit admission because of bleeding or invasive procedures, defined as interventional radiology or surgery, to control bleeding. The GR2 study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02450396. FINDINGS: Between May 26, 2014, and April 17, 2020, 168 pregnancies in 27 centres met the inclusion criteria for the study. 89 (53%) of 168 women had a history of thrombosis. The median term at inclusion was 8 weeks gestation. 16 (10%) of 168 women (95%CI 5-15) had a thrombotic (six [4%] women; 95% CI 1-8) or severe haemorrhagic event (12 [7%] women; 95% CI 4-12). There were no deaths during the study. The main risk factors for thrombotic events were lupus anticoagulant positivity at inclusion (six [100%] of six women with thrombosis vs 78 [51%] of 152 of those with no thrombosis; p=0·030) and placental insufficiency (four [67%] of six women vs 28 [17%] of 162 women; p=0·013). The main risk factors for severe haemorrhagic events were pre-existing maternal hypertension (four [33%] of 12 women vs 11 [7%] of 156 women; p=0·014), lupus anticoagulant positivity at inclusion (12 [100%] of 12 women vs 72 [49%] of 146 women; p<0·0001) and during antiphospholipid history (12 [100%] of 12 women vs 104 [67%] of 156 women; p=0·019), triple antiphospholipid antibody positivity (eight [67%] of 12 women vs 36 [24%] of 147 women; p=0·0040), placental insufficiency (five [42%] of 12 women vs 27 [17%] of 156 women; p=0·038), and preterm delivery at 34 weeks or earlier (five [45%] of 11 women vs 12 [8%] of 145 women; p=0·0030). INTERPRETATION: Despite treatment adhering to international recommendations, a proportion of women with antiphospholipid syndrome developed a thrombotic or severe haemorrhagic complication related to pregnancy, most frequently in the post-partum period. Lupus anticoagulant and placental insufficiency were risk factors for these life-threatening complications. These complications are difficult to prevent, but knowledge of the antenatal characteristics associated with them should increase awareness and help physicians manage these high-risk pregnancies. FUNDING: Lupus France, association des Sclérodermiques de France, association Gougerot Sjögren, Association Francophone contre la Polychondrite chronique atrophiante, AFM-Telethon, the French Society of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Cochin Hospital, the French Health Ministry, FOREUM, the Association Prix Veronique Roualet, and UCB.

Intrauterine fetal deaths related to antiphospholipid syndrome: a descriptive study of 65 women.

OBJECTIVE: Although one of the three obstetric manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), little is known about it in this context. We report the first large series of patients with APS and IUFD. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the history and clinical data of women at four French hospitals. All had (1) APS diagnosis (Sydney criteria) and (2) IUFD at or after 10 weeks of gestation (weeks) between 2000 and 2016. RESULTS: The study included 65 women. Their median age at the index IUFD was 29 years (IQR 26-33); 38 (58%) were primigravidas. The index IUFD was the first APS clinical manifestation in 48 women (74%). Overall, 35% had a triple-positive antibody profile. IUFD occurred at a median gestational age of 24 weeks (IQR 18-27) and was associated with maternal obstetric complications in 16 women (25%), namely, preeclampsia (n = 12), hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet syndrome (HELLP) (n = 6), and/or placental abruption (n = 5). Half of the 50 women with available data had a small-for-gestational-age fetus. Overall, including during the follow-up period of 4 years (IQR 2-9), 28 women (43%) had at least one thrombosis, and 29% were diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Ultimately, 54 women (83%) had at least one live birth. Only one woman had three consecutive early miscarriages. CONCLUSION: IUFD was most often the inaugural sign of APS. Of the APS classification criteria, IUFD, preeclampsia, and thromboses were common in this cohort, while the "3 consecutive early miscarriages" criterion was met only once. With treatment, most of the women successfully had at least one live birth.

No perinatal HIV-1 transmission from women with effective antiretroviral therapy starting before conception.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of preventing perinatal transmission (PT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) depends on both viral load (VL) and treatment duration. The objective of this study was to determine whether initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) before conception has the potential to eliminate PT. METHODS: A total of 8075 HIV-infected mother/infant pairs included from 2000 to 2011 in the national prospective multicenter French Perinatal Cohort (ANRS-EPF) received ART, delivered live-born children with determined HIV infection status, and did not breastfeed. PT was analyzed according to maternal VL at delivery and timing of ART initiation. RESULTS: The overall rate of PT was 0.7% (56 of 8075). No transmission occurred among 2651 infants born to women who were receiving ART before conception, continued ART throughout the pregnancy, and delivered with a plasma VL <50 copies/mL (upper 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1%). VL and timing of ART initiation were independently associated with PT in logistic regression. Regardless of VL, the PT rate increased from 0.2% (6 of 3505) for women starting ART before conception to 0.4% (3 of 709), 0.9% (24 of 2810), and 2.2% (23 of 1051) for those starting during the first, second, or third trimester (P < .001). Regardless of when ART was initiated, the PT rate was higher for women with VLs of 50-400 copies/mL near delivery than for those with <50 copies/mL (adjusted odds ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.9-8.2). CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal HIV-1 transmission is virtually zero in mothers who start ART before conception and maintain suppression of plasma VL.

Population pharmacokinetics of abacavir in pregnant women.

For the first time, a population approach was used to describe abacavir (ABC) pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected pregnant and nonpregnant women. A total of 266 samples from 150 women were obtained. No covariate effect (from age, body weight, pregnancy, or gestational age) on ABC pharmacokinetics was found. Thus, it seems unnecessary to adapt the ABC dosing regimen during pregnancy.

Maternal and fetal zidovudine pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and labour: too high dose infused at labour?

AIMS: The main goal of the study was to describe the pharmacokinetics of maternal zidovudine (ZDV) administration during pregnancy and labour and to evaluate their impact on fetal concentrations and exposures. METHODS: A total of 195 HIV-infected pregnant and non-pregnant women aged 16-59 years were included and 273 maternal and 79 cord blood ZDV concentrations were collected. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed to describe ZDV concentrations as a function of time in the mother and the fetus. Fetal exposures resulting from maternal oral administration and infusion were estimated and compared with therapeutic exposures (3-5 mg l(-1) h) and to exposure providing higher risk of toxicity (>8.4 mg l(-1) h). Different protocols for ZDV administration during labour were simulated. RESULTS: The median fetal exposure and the percentage of children with values above 8.4 mg l(-1) h were 3.20 mg l(-1) h and 0% after maternal oral administration, respectively, and 9.71 mg l(-1) h and 51% after maternal infusion during labour. Two options were considered to reduce fetal exposure during labour: (i) maternal infusion rates could be 1 mg kg(-1) h(-1) during 1 h followed by 0.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1) and (ii) the mother could only take oral ZDV every 5 h from start of labour until delivery with her neonate having their first ZDV dose as soon as possible after birth. CONCLUSIONS: Zidovudine exposures are very important during labour and during the first days of a neonate's life. Maternal ZDV dose should be reduced in addition to the neonate doses reduction already proposed.

Modified renal function in pregnancy: impact on emtricitabine pharmacokinetics.

AIMS: The aims were to describe emtricitabine (FTC) pharmacokinetics in a large population of pregnant women during the different trimesters of pregnancy, and to explain FTC pharmacokinetic variability during pregnancy. METHODS: FTC plasma concentrations were measured in 103 non-pregnant and 83 pregnant women, including women in the different trimesters of pregnancy and on the day of delivery. A total of 457 plasma concentrations were available for analysis. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed with Monolix 4.1.3. RESULTS: FTC pharmacokinetics was best described by a two compartment model. The effect of creatinine clearance on apparent elimination clearance (CL/F) was significant. CL/F in pregnant women was significantly higher compared with non-pregnant women (geometric mean 24.1 vs 20.5 l h(-1) , P < 0.001), reflecting a modified renal function. FTC daily exposures (AUC) during pregnancy were lower than AUC in non-pregnant women, regardless of the trimester of pregnancy. FTC AUC geometric means were 8.38 mg l(-1 ) h in the second trimester of pregnancy, 8.16 mg l(-1 ) h in the third trimester of pregnancy, 8.30 mg l(-1 ) h on the day of delivery and 9.77 mg l(-1 ) h in non-pregnant women. FTC concentrations 24 h after administration were lower in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women (0.054 vs. 0.079 mg l(-1) , P < 0.001) but still above the inhibitory concentration 50%. CONCLUSIONS: FTC CL/F was increased by 18% during pregnancy, reflecting a modified renal function with 50% increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate. However, the impact of this modified renal function on FTC pharmacokinetics was not sufficiently large to consider dose adjustments during pregnancy.

Is intrapartum intravenous zidovudine for prevention of mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission still useful in the combination antiretroviral therapy era?

BACKGROUND: Intrapartum intravenous zidovudine (ZDV) prophylaxis is a long-standing component of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in high-resource countries. In some recent guidelines, intravenous ZDV is no longer systematically recommended for mothers receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with low viral load. We evaluated the impact of intravenous ZDV according to viral load and obstetrical conditions. METHODS: All HIV-1-infected women delivering between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2010 in the French Perinatal Cohort (ANRS-EPF) were analyzed if they received ART during pregnancy and did not breastfeed. We identified maternal and obstetrical characteristics related to lack of intravenous ZDV and compared its association with MTCT rate and other infant parameters, according to various risk factors. RESULTS: Intravenous ZDV was used in 95.2% of the 11 538 deliveries. Older age, multiparity, and preterm and vaginal delivery were associated with lack of intravenous ZDV (n = 554). In women who delivered with viral load ≥1000 copies/mL, the overall MTCT rate was higher without than with intravenous ZDV (7.5% vs 2.9%; P = .01); however, there was no such difference when the neonate received postnatal intensification therapy. Among them, 77% of women who had viral load <400 copies/mL, there was no difference in MTCT rate (0% without intravenous ZDV vs 0.6% with intravenous ZDV; P = .17). Intravenous ZDV was not associated with increased short-term hematological toxicity or lactate level. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous ZDV remains an effective tool to reduce transmission in cases of virological failure, even in cART-treated women. However, for the vast majority of women with low viral loads at delivery, in the absence of obstetrical risk factors, systematic intravenous ZDV appears to be unnecessary.

Amniocentesis performed for karyotyping after identified ultrasonographic abnormalities: what to expect?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative risk of identifying fetal chromosomal anomalies after finding ultrasonographic (US) abnormalities in a high-risk population who underwent amniocentesis. METHODS: A retrospective review of a cohort of patients with single pregnancies who underwent genetic amniocentesis was undertaken. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the best correlations between US findings and chromosomal abnormalities. RESULTS: Overall, 191 chromosomal abnormalities were found in 5,604 fetuses (3.4%). Multivariate analysis showed chromosomal abnormalities were significant ly associated with anomalies of the central nervous system (OR = 4.4, 95% CI 2.2-8.7), face and neck (OR = 15.7, 95% CI 9.2-26.8), heart (OR = 5.4, 95% CI 2.6-11.2), abdomen (OR = 5.6, 95% CI 2.9-10.9), extremities (OR = 5.7, 95% CI 2.4-13.4), an increased nuchal fold (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 3.3-8.1), an intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-7.9) and a short femur (OR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.4-12.1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the validity of specific US markers in detecting chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

Pregnancy-related effects on lamivudine pharmacokinetics in a population study with 228 women.

The aim of this study was to describe lamivudine (3TC) pharmacokinetics (PK) in HIV-infected nonpregnant and pregnant women and their fetuses. Samples were collected according to therapeutic drug monitoring from 228 women treated with lamivudine and retrospectively analyzed by a population approach. The samples were also collected from cord blood and amniotic fluid at birth. Lamivudine pharmacokinetics were ascribed to an open two-compartment model with linear absorption and elimination. Mean population parameter estimates (intersubject variability) for women were an absorption rate constant of 1.04 h(-1), an elimination clearance rate of 23.6 (0.266) liters · h(-1), a central volume of distribution of 109 (0.897) liters, an intercompartmental clearance rate of 6.7 liters/h, and a peripheral volume of distribution of 129 liters. A fetal compartment was linked to maternal circulation by mother-to-cord (or fetus) and cord-to-mother rate constants of 0.463 h(-1) and 0.538 h(-1), respectively. The amniotic fluid compartment was connected to the fetal compartment with an elimination rate constant of 0.163 h(-1) and a fixed-constant swallowing flow. The placental transfer expressed as fetal-to-maternal area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) ratio was 0.86, and the lamivudine amniotic fluid accumulation, expressed as the amniotic fluid-to-fetal AUC ratio, was 2.9. Pregnant women had a 22% higher apparent clearance than nonpregnant and parturient women; however, this increase did not lead to subexposure and should not require a dosage adjustment.

Pregnancy-related effects on tenofovir pharmacokinetics: a population study with 186 women.

According to the European AIDS Clinical Society, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can be used in HIV-infected pregnant women if started prior to pregnancy, although no data are available on the pharmacokinetics of tenofovir (TFV) during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe TFV pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected women and to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on TFV disposition. Samples were collected according to a therapeutic drug monitoring in 186 women, including 46 pregnant women treated with TFV and retrospectively analyzed by a population approach. TFV pharmacokinetics were ascribed to an open two-compartment model with linear absorption and elimination. The mean population parameter estimates (between-subject variability) were as follows: absorption rate constant, 0.56 h(-1); elimination clearance, 59.9 liters h(-1) (0.436); central volume of distribution, 552 liters (1.96); intercompartmental clearance, 172 liters/h; and peripheral volume of distribution, 1,390 liters. Pregnant women had a 39% higher apparent clearance compared to nonpregnant women. Apparent clearance significantly decreased with age. In order to obtain an exposure similar to the known exposure in adults and guarantee similar trough concentrations (C(min)) as observed in adults, an increase in the TFV dose should be considered for women from the second trimester to delivery.

Pregnancies in systemic necrotizing vasculitides: report on 12 women and their 20 pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES: To describe pregnancies of women with systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNVs), i.e. PAN, WG, Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), followed over the past 15 years at four French centres. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of women whose SNV appeared during pregnancy or who became pregnant after SNV diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 12 women identified, one experienced rupture of pancreatic artery microaneurysms at 27 weeks revealing PAN, leading to surgical haemostasis and caesarean delivery. Eleven others started 19 pregnancies after SNV diagnosis (8 in four WG, 6 in three CSS, 1 each in three PAN and 2 in one MPA); 14 conceived during vasculitis remission. Two ended in first-trimester abortions, four miscarried; the remaining 13 pregnancies yielded 14 live newborns (1 twin pregnancy), with 7 pre-term births. Life-threatening complications occurred during 3 of these latter 13 pregnancies and required caesarean delivery. The twin pregnancy (in a CSS patient with initial vasculitis-related cardiac involvement, but in remission at conception) was complicated by transient maternal cardiac failure at 32 weeks. One WG patient with vasculitis-related renal damage developed thrombotic microangiopathy-associated renal impairment at 32 weeks, and another WG patient had severe pneumonia at 37 weeks. Other pregnancies were uneventful or with minor vasculitis manifestations. CONCLUSION: Pregnant SNV patients should be monitored closely, because miscarriages and pre-term births are not uncommon. Pregnancy does not seem to have a major impact on vasculitis activity. However, life-threatening manifestations can occur, especially in patients with vasculitis-related cardiac or renal damage.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with HIV type-1 receiving a lopinavir/ritonavir-containing regimen.

BACKGROUND: The pregnancy-related adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have yielded discordant results, which could be explained in part by the heterogeneity of ART protocols. The objective of our study was to explore whether lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) exposure during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes. METHODS: Data on 100 consecutive HIV type-1 (HIV-1)-infected women receiving LPV/r during pregnancy and who delivered after 15 weeks gestational age (GA) between January 2003 and June 2007 in a single centre were analysed. For each HIV-1-infected woman, two uninfected women matched by age, parity and geographical origin were selected among patients delivering during the same period. Preterm delivery (PTD), vasculoplacental complications, gestational glucose intolerance and post-partum complication rates were compared between cases and controls. Factors associated with PTD and post-partum complications were assessed in HIV-1-infected women by a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Rates of vasculoplacental complication and gestational glucose intolerance were not higher among HIV-1-infected women than in controls. PTD was higher in HIV-1-infected women (21%) than in controls (10%; P<0.01). In HIV-1-infected women, PTD was associated with HIV-1 RNA level > or =50 copies/ml at delivery (adjusted odds ratio 6.15, 95% confidence interval 1.83-20.63; P=0.003). No association was found between occurrence of PTD and LPV/r exposure before 14 weeks GA. CONCLUSIONS: In this population of HIV-1-infected pregnant women receiving LPV/r, the risk of PTD was higher than in HIV-1-uninfected controls. As PTD risk was not associated with early exposure to LPV/r, these data support current guidelines to initiate ART earlier in pregnancy.