Does the Presence of Extended Jugular Lymphatic Sacs Add More Risk to Nuchal Thickness for Genetic and Structural Abnormality?

Background: The risks added by extended jugular lymphatic sacs (EJLS) to increased nuchal translucency (NT) including genetic and structural abnormalities and pregnancy outcomes have not been previously investigated, which this study aims to investigate. Methods: The data of 155 singleton pregnancies with increased fetal NT (≥95th percentile) of these 20 with fetal EJLS were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were stratified according to NT thickness such that ≥95th percentile - 3.5 mm, 3.6-4.4 mm, 4.5-5.4 mm, 5.5-6.4 mm, ≥6.5 mm, and grouped according to the presence of EJLS. Pregnancy outcomes, genetic and structural abnormalities were assessed by comparing EJLS with non-EJSL cases (n-EJLS). Results: Associated with NT, the incidence of the presence of EJLS increased with NT, from 4.5% at the ≥95th percentile - 3.5 mm to 30.8% when NT ≥5.5 mm. In the n-EJLS group, the proportion of fetuses with structural and genetic abnormalities increased as the measurement of NT increased. This correlation was not observed in the EJLS group. Compared to n-EJLS, cases with EJLS had a higher rate of fetal structural (38.5% vs. 75%, P = 0.003) and genetic (18.5% vs. 45%, P = 0.005) anomalies and a lower term live birth rate (59.3% vs. 15%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The increasing rate of EJLS was seen as NT increased. Compared to n-EJLS, the EJLS cases had a higher rate poor pregnancy outcomes and fetal genetic and structural abnormalities.

Cysts of the fetal abdomen: Antenatal and postnatal comparison.

Background: To evaluate cases diagnosed with fetal abdominal cyst diagnosed in prenatal period. Methods: We retrieved the cases diagnosed with fetal abdominal cyst between the years 2018 and 2020 from hospital's database. The localization, origin, dimensions, properties (simple or complex), and characteristics (solid, cystic, vascularity) were noted both in prenatal and postnatal period. We also tested the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography according to endpoint diagnosis revealed postnatally. Results: During the study period, a total of 29 cases diagnosed as fetal abdominal cyst. Of them, there were 11 (37.9%) gastrointestinal, 9 (31%) ovarian, 6 (20.6%) genitourinary, 3 (10.3%) hepatobiliary system cysts. In our study, we were able to identify 5 (45%) of 11 fetuses with postnatally confirmed gastrointestinal system cysts, 1 (33%) of 3 fetuses with hepatobiliary system cysts, 3 (50%) of 6 fetuses with urinary system cysts and 6 (66%) of 9 fetuses with ovarian cysts. Conclusion: In this study, the most common abdominal cyst was ovarian cysts. The most difficult to diagnose cysts are those that originated from gastrointestinal system and hepatobiliary system.

Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava: Why is Prenatal Diagnosis Important?

ObjectiveTo investigate fetal anomalies and pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies with persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) to provide assistance in prenatal counseling.MethodsCases diagnosed with PLSVC between January 2015 and January 2020 were obtained from the hospital's electronic system and were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsTwenty-seven cases were analyzed. The prevalence of PLSVC among congenital heart diseases (CHD) was 6.9%. Conotruncal anomalies and renal anomalies were the most common accompanying cardiac and extracardiac anomalies, respectively. Chromosomal abnormality was detected in one fetus.In the postpartum period coarctation of aorta (CoA) was found in one fetus.ConclusionsWhen PLSVC is detected during prenatal ultrasonography, fetal anatomy should be carefully examined because of the anomalies that may accompany it. Prenatal genetic counseling should be given especially to cases with additional anomalies. In isolated cases, cardiac anatomy should be evaluated with repeated echocardiography because of the risk of CoA.

Maternal serum calprotectin level in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate maternal serum levels of calprotectin in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and to compare these with serum calprotectin levels in healthy pregnant women. METHODS: Ninety pregnant women (ICP group, n = 45; healthy control group, n = 45) were included in the study. The gestational age and body mass index of the participants in the two groups were similar. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2019 and May 2020 in the perinatology department of University of Health Sciences Doctor Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Patients were recruited from those attending the perinatology outpatient and inpatient clinics. Biochemical (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin), fasting bile acid, hemogram, and calprotectin parameters of maternal blood were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean fasting bile acid value in the ICP group was 30.3 ± 27.3 µmol, with severe ICP present in 11 (24.4%) patients. ALT, AST, LDH, total bilirubin, and mean platelet volume (MPV) values in the ICP group were higher and the red cell distribution width (RDW) value was lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). The mean serum calprotectin levels in the control group and ICP group were 48.0 ± 10.4 and 765.4 ± 126.8 µg, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between serum fasting bile acid levels and serum calprotectin levels in the ICP group (p > 0.005). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of calprotectin in patients with ICP were higher than those in healthy pregnant women. The serum calprotectin level may be an important diagnostic marker of ICP.

Outcomes of pregnancies diagnosed with circumvallate placenta, and use of uterine artery pulsatility index and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein for prediction of adverse outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes, and predictive value of uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) for adverse obstetric outcomes in cases with morphologically confirmed circumvallate placenta by comparison with normal pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. During the study period, 77 patients with a circumvallate placenta and 77 patients without any placental or feto-maternal diseases or abnormalities were evaluated. The final diagnosis was made based on macroscopic examination of the placenta soon after birth. Demographic characteristics, MSAFP, obstetric complications, haemoglobin after delivery, gestational week of birth, fetal sex, 1- and 5-min Apgar scores, postnatal complications and type of delivery were retrieved from hospital records. Bilateral mean transabdominal UtA-PI and MSAFP were evaluated for the prediction of adverse outcomes. SPSS Version 21.0 for Windows was used for statistical analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for the prediction model of adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Smoking rate, MSAFP, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) were higher in the patients with a circumvallate placenta (p = 0.005, 0.00, 0.025 and 0.027, respectively). The cut-off value of MSAFP was 1.41 (0.60-3.32) and the cut-off value of UtA-PI was 1.2 using the ROC curves, and had sensitivity of 73.7 % and specificity of 71.9 %, and sensitivity of 73.7 % and specificity of 76.3 %, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circumvallate placenta was associated with a higher rate of IUGR, preterm birth and bleeding at the time of delivery. In patients with a circumvallate placenta, UtA-PI and MSAFP may be valuable as predictors of IUGR.

Prenatal diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle with tricuspid valve atresia, anomalous pulmonary vein connection, persistent left superior vena cava, and right atrial isomerism.

Double-outlet right ventricle is a conotruncal cardiac disease in which both the aorta and the pulmonary artery predominantly or completely originate from the right ventricle. Here, we report a complex variant double-outlet right ventricle detected in utero and identified on the basis of a segmental approach.

Can placental elasticity predict the time of delivery in cases of threatened preterm labor?

AIM: We aimed to evaluate placental elasticity for the short-time prediction of delivery in cases of threatened preterm labor (TPL). METHODS: We performed a prospective study with consented pregnant women diagnosed with TPL (24th to 34th gestational week). According to the birth time, the patients were grouped into two groups, whether the delivery happened in the following first week or not. We compared the placental strain ratio (PSR) values between these two groups. RESULTS: A total of 108 pregnant women divided into two groups according to the delivery time were enrolled in our study. The pregnant women who had a delivery in 1 week after hospitalization have increased PSR values when compared to those who have not delivered within 1 week (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cervical length and PSR were significantly associated with delivery in 1 week after hospitalization. When the cervical length was entered as a covariate (control) variable, PSR was significantly associated with delivery time (B = 0.504, odds ratio: 1.655, 95% confidence interval: 1.339-2.045, P < 0.001). A PSR value of 4.04 had a sensitivity of 77.78% and a specificity of 87.04% in terms of short-time prediction of the delivery time, in the receiver-operator curves analysis to determine the cut-off point PSR value. CONCLUSION: Elastography may contribute to predict the delivery time in high-risk pregnants with TPL.