Omega-3 fatty acid supply in pregnancy for risk reduction of preterm and early preterm birth.

This clinical practice guideline on the supply of the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in pregnant women for risk reduction of preterm birth and early preterm birth was developed with support from several medical-scientific organizations, and is based on a review of the available strong evidence from randomized clinical trials and a formal consensus process. We concluded the following. Women of childbearing age should obtain a supply of at least 250 mg/d of docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid from diet or supplements, and in pregnancy an additional intake of ≥100 to 200 mg/d of docosahexaenoic acid. Pregnant women with a low docosahexaenoic acid intake and/or low docosahexaenoic acid blood levels have an increased risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth. Thus, they should receive a supply of approximately 600 to 1000 mg/d of docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid, or docosahexaenoic acid alone, given that this dosage showed significant reduction of preterm birth and early preterm birth in randomized controlled trials. This additional supply should preferably begin in the second trimester of pregnancy (not later than approximately 20 weeks' gestation) and continue until approximately 37 weeks' gestation or until childbirth if before 37 weeks' gestation. Identification of women with inadequate omega-3 supply is achievable by a set of standardized questions on intake. Docosahexaenoic acid measurement from blood is another option to identify women with low status, but further standardization of laboratory methods and appropriate cutoff values is needed. Information on how to achieve an appropriate intake of docosahexaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic+eicosapentaenoic acid for women of childbearing age and pregnant women should be provided to women and their partners.

Maternal mortality and COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to collect and analyze data from different sources to have a general overview of COVID-19-related maternal deaths in Brazil, as well as to compare data with worldwide reports. STUDY DESIGN: We systematically searched data about COVID-19 maternal deaths from the Brazilian Ministry of Health surveillance system, State Departments of Health epidemiological reports, and media coverage. Data about timing of symptom onset and death (pregnancy or postpartum), gestational age, mode of birth, maternal age, comorbidities and/or risk factors, date of death, and place of death were retrieved when available. RESULTS: We identified 20 COVID-19-related maternal deaths, age range 20-43 years. Symptoms onset was reported as on pregnancy for 12 cases, postpartum for 3 cases, and during the cesarean section for 1 case (missing data for 4). In 16 cases, death occurred in the postpartum period. At least one comorbidity or risk factor was present in 11 cases (missing data for 4). Asthma was the most common risk factor (5/11). Ten cases occurred in the Northeast region, and nine cases occurred in the Southeast region (5 of them in São Paulo, the first epicenter of COVID-19 in the country). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest available series of maternal deaths due to COVID-19. Barriers to access healthcare, differences in pandemic containment measures in the country and high prevalence of concomitant risk factors for COVID-19 severe disease may play a role in the observed disparity compared to worldwide reports on maternal outcomes.

Progesterone and the risk of preterm birth among women with a short cervix.

BACKGROUND: Previous randomized trials have shown that progesterone administration in women who previously delivered prematurely reduces the risk of recurrent premature delivery. Asymptomatic women found at midgestation to have a short cervix are at greatly increased risk for spontaneous early preterm delivery, and it is unknown whether progesterone reduces this risk in such women. METHODS: Cervical length was measured by transvaginal ultrasonography at a median of 22 weeks of gestation (range, 20 to 25) in 24,620 pregnant women seen for routine prenatal care. Cervical length was 15 mm or less in 413 of the women (1.7%), and 250 (60.5%) of these 413 women were randomly assigned to receive vaginal progesterone (200 mg each night) or placebo from 24 to 34 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome was spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks. RESULTS: Spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks of gestation was less frequent in the progesterone group than in the placebo group (19.2% vs. 34.4%; relative risk, 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36 to 0.86). Progesterone was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in neonatal morbidity (8.1% vs. 13.8%; relative risk, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.26 to 1.25; P=0.17). There were no serious adverse events associated with the use of progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: In women with a short cervix, treatment with progesterone reduces the rate of spontaneous early preterm delivery. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00422526 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Preterm birth prevention.

Preterm birth (PTB), which occurs in about 12% of pregnancies worldwide, is the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Symptomatic treatment of pregnancies presenting in preterm labor with corticosteroids and antibiotics has improved neonatal outcomes but has not reduced the incidence of PTB. Evidence suggests that the rate of PTB may be reduced by the prophylactic use of progesterone in women with a previous history of preterm delivery and in those with a short cervical length identified by routine transvaginal ultrasound. This review summarizes the evidence (level A evidence) of the effectiveness of progesterone on the rate of PTB.

Prematurity prevention: the role of progesterone.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes the evidence of the effectiveness of progesterone on the rate of preterm birth and evaluates the most recent studies. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence of preterm delivery is about 7-11% of all pregnant women and preterm birth is one of the most important causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Interventions to reduce such complications have been attempted for several years. Most efforts so far have been tertiary interventions, such as treatment with antenatal corticosteroids, tocolytic agents, and antibiotics. Some of these measures have reduced perinatal morbidity and mortality, but the incidence of preterm birth is increasing. Recently, researches have suggested prophylactic progesterone could reduce the preterm birth rate in a select group presenting previous preterm birth and a short cervical length by transvaginal scan at mid-trimester pregnancy. SUMMARY: This review intends to define the current indication for administration of progesterone for pregnant women. On the basis of current knowledge, progesterone should be offered to women with a documented history of a previous spontaneous birth at less than 37 weeks and for those found to have a short cervical length of 15 mm or less. Studies are needed to evaluate progesterone efficacy on other risk factors.

Prediction of severe fetal anemia in red blood cell alloimmunization after previous intrauterine transfusions.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the detection of fetal anemia and false-positive rates by fetal middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) and the estimated daily decrease of hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cell alloimmunized pregnancies that had previous fetal transfusions. STUDY DESIGN: We examined the relation between MCA-PSV measured before cordocentesis, and fetal Hb at the time of the second (n = 42) and third (n = 31) intrauterine blood transfusions. In addition, the daily Hb drop between the transfusions was calculated. RESULTS: The MCA-PSV provided significant prediction of severe anemia (Hb deficit > or = 6 g/dL) for the second but not for the third transfusion. Detection of 95% of severely anemic fetuses was achieved with a false-positive rate of 37% for the second transfusion and 90% for the third, compared with 14% in our previous study for the first transfusion. In patients who had received 2 previous transfusions, the only significant predictor of fetal anemia was the estimation of the Hb from the measured posttransfusion Hb after the second transfusion and the assumption that the rate of decrease in fetal Hb is 0.3 g/dL per day. CONCLUSION: Prediction of severe fetal anemia after one transfusion is less accurate than in nontransfused fetuses. The MCA-PSV is not useful in predicting severe anemia in fetuses that already had 2 previous transfusions.

Maternal characteristics and cervical length in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery in twins.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the value of combining maternal characteristics and measurement of cervical length at 22 to 24 weeks in the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Cervical length was measured by transvaginal sonography at 22 to 24 weeks in 1163 twin pregnancies attending for routine antenatal care. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the effect of maternal demographic characteristics and cervical length on the risk of spontaneous early preterm delivery. RESULTS: The rate of spontaneous delivery before 32 weeks was 6.5%. The rate of early delivery was inversely related to cervical length, and for a false-positive rate of 10%, the detection rate of early delivery was 65.3%. The respective detection rate for maternal characteristics and obstetric history was 26.4%. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant independent predictor of spontaneous early delivery was cervical length. CONCLUSION: In twins, the prediction of spontaneous early preterm delivery by measurement of cervical length at 22 to 24 weeks is not improved by maternal characteristics.

Stress and anxiety in pregnant women exposed to ultrasound.

AIM: To investigate the levels of anxiety and stress during pregnancy among women who are routinely offered ultrasound at first and second trimesters. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 296 women, in which 146 pregnant women without any medical problem were compared with 150 nonpregnant women. Both groups were submitted to the Lipp Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults and to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the anxiety and stress levels. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between pregnant and nonpregnant women [56.8% (83/146) vs. 48.6% (73/150), odds ratio (OR) 1.39 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-2.19] regarding the level of stress. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant independent predictor of stress was maternal age (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.96; P = 0.045) for the pregnant women and monthly income and religious belief for the nonpregnant group. Pregnant women had a higher level of anxiety compared with the nonpregnant (15.7% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.0002) and ultrasound examination decreased the anxiety level. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women did not have a higher level of stress compared with the nonpregnant women, and maternal age is the only significant independent predictor of stress. Pregnant women are more anxious, and after the ultrasound examination, the level of anxiety decreased.

Reference ranges for cervical length by transvaginal scan in singleton pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to construct a chart for cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasound. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Singleton pregnant women underwent a transvaginal scan to measure the cervical length (CxL) from 20 to 34 weeks. Exclusion criteria were preterm delivery, preterm rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancies, cerclage, and those who have taken vaginal progesterone. For statistical evaluation, we used regression analysis and calculation of 5th, 50th, and 95th centiles was performed. RESULTS: In the 1061 women with follow up, there were 94 (8.8%) spontaneous and 27 (2.5%) iatrogenic preterm delivery before 37 weeks. The CxL decreased with gestational age (r(2) = 0.0799). The coefficient for the interpolated median is y = 37.754 - 0.0148 x (GA)(2) + 0.2556 x (GA) (r(2) = 0.7247); for the 5th centile is y = 5.9171 - 0.0467 x (GA)(2) + 1.7059 x (GA) (r(2) = 0.6502); and for the 95th centile is y = 114.72 + 0.0758 x (GA)(2) - 4.6706 x (GA) (r(2) = 0.7783). CONCLUSION: CxL shortened throughout the pregnancy. The chart present 5th, 50th, and 95th centile, respectively, at 23 weeks of 20 mm, 36 mm, and 47 mm; at 28 weeks of 17 mm, 33 mm, and 43 mm; and at 34 weeks of 10 mm, 29 mm, and 43 mm.

Prevention of preterm birth based on short cervix: progesterone.

Preterm delivery, which occurs in about 5%-13% of pregnancies in most countries, is the main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Symptomatic treatment of pregnancies presenting in preterm labor with corticosteroids has improved perinatal outcome but has not reduced the incidence of preterm delivery. Recent evidence suggests that the rate of preterm delivery may be reduced by the prophylactic use of progesterone in women with a history of preterm delivery and in those with a short cervical length identified by routine transvaginal sonography. This review summarizes the evidence (level A evidence) of the effectiveness of progesterone on the rate of preterm birth.

Prophylactic administration of progesterone by vaginal suppository to reduce the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth in women at increased risk: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prophylactic vaginal progesterone in decreasing preterm birth rate in a high-risk population. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 142 high-risk singleton pregnancies. Progesterone (100 mg) or placebo was administered daily by vaginal suppository and all patients underwent uterine contraction monitoring with an external tocodynamometer once a week for 60 minutes, between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. Progesterone (n = 72) and placebo (n = 70) groups were compared for epidemiologic characteristics, uterine contraction frequency, and incidence of preterm birth. Data were compared by chi(2) analysis and Fisher exact test. RESULTS: The preterm birth rate was 21.1% (30/142). Differences in uterine activity were found between the progesterone and placebo groups (23.6% vs 54.3%, respectively; P <.05) and in preterm birth between progesterone and placebo (13.8% vs 28.5%, respectively; P <.05). More women were delivered before 34 weeks in the placebo group (18.5%) than in the progesterone group (2.7%) (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic vaginal progesterone reduced the frequency of uterine contractions and the rate of preterm delivery in women at high risk for prematurity.

Progesterona e prevenção do parto prematuro: aspectos atuais / Progesterone and prevention of preterm delivery: and up-to-date report

A incidência de parto pré-termo varia de 7 a 11 porcento de todas as gestações e o nascimento prematuro é uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade neonatal responsável por mais de dois terços das mortes neonatais por malformações congênitas. Objetivando reduzir as taxas de partos prematuros, inúmeras estratégias foram adotadas, entre estas, o uso profilático de progesterona ressurgiu como importante método terapêutico. Entre as principais ações desse hormônio, cita-se o efeito relaxante sobre a musculatura uterina, a capacidade de bloquear os efeitos da ocitocina, ação antiinflamatória e imunossupressora. Estudos recentes concluíram que a utilização de progesterona exôgena reduz as taxas de prematuridade em pacientes com risco de parto prematuro tais como história prévia de parto prematuro e aquelas com colo uterino curto demonstrado pela ultra-sonografia transvaginal no segundo trimestre de gestação. O objetivo desta revisão é, inicialmente, descrever os prováveis mecanismos de ação da progesterona, as suas principais vias de administração e seus efeitos adversos e, posteriormente, avaliar os principais estudos em pacientes assintomáticas e sintomáticas.

The incidence of preterm delivery is about 7 to 11 of all pregnant women and the preterm birth is one the most important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Preterm birth accounts for two thirds of neonatal mortality when fetal malformation is excluded. In order to reduce the preterm birth rate several strategies have been adopted, including the prophylactic using of progesterone. The main effects of this hormone are uterine muscle relaxation, blockage of oxytocin effects, anti-inflammatory properties and immunosuppressing effects in pregnancy. More recently, studies have concluded that the administration of prophylactic progesterone could reduce the preterm birth rate of high risk patients, including previous history of preterm birth and short cervical length at transvaginal scan at mid-trimester pregnancy. The purpose of this review is, firstly, to describe the possible mechanism of action of progesterone, its route of administration and its side-effects and, secondly, assess the most recent studies in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.