Antenatal diagnosis of thalassaemia major

Haemoglobin synthesis was studied in fetal blood samples obtained at 17 to 20 weeks' gestation in 22 women at risk of carrying a fetus with homozygous beta-thalassaemia. A presumptive diagnosis of homozygous beta-thalassaemia was made in four cases, and the pregnancy was terminated. An inconclusive answer was obtained in one case, and the patient also chose to have her pregnancy terminated. Two fetuses were lost as a result of the procedure. Of the remaining 15 pregnancies, 13 proceeded to term and two to 36 weeks; in each case a normal infant or one heterozygous for beta-thalassaemia was delivered. Current efforts should be directed towards improving the blood sampling technology so that fetal blood sampling can be used widely in those countries where thalassaemia is a major problem.     

产前超声诊断胎儿完全性大动脉转位

目的探讨产前超声对完全性大动脉转位的诊断价值。方法回顾分析7例胎儿完全性大动脉转位的产前超声图像。结果 7例胎儿完全性大动脉转位中,5例为单纯型,2例伴有室间隔缺损。6例四腔心切面正常。心室流出道切面示肺动脉起自左心室,主动脉起自右心室;主动脉和肺动脉根部相互交叉关系消失,二者平行走行。三血管气管切面仅见主动脉横弓与上腔静脉。结论心室流出道切面和三血管-气管切面是检查大动脉转位的主要切面,产前超声心动图是诊断胎儿大动脉转位有价值的方法。     

Antenatal betamethasone: reassuring long-term data

Maternal steroid injections shortly before premature delivery reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. A 30-year follow-up study of subjects exposed to betamethasone in utero showed no impact of this treatment on cardiovascular, mental, pulmonary or bone function.     

贵阳地区孕期夫妇地中海贫血血液学筛查的研究

目的：对贵阳地区孕期夫妇进行地中海贫血（以下简称地贫）血液学筛查，预防和控制地贫重症患儿的出生。方法：采用一管定量筛查法及ＨｂＡ、ＨｂＦ定量法。结果：在贵阳医学院附院产科围产期检查的３２４例孕妇及其配偶进行血液学筛查，检出地贫阳性病例１４例，其中二对孕期夫妇双方均为阳性，患病率为４．３２％。结论：这是首次在贵阳地区进行的筛查研究工作。为产前基因诊断奠定了基础。     

Antenatal screening for gonorrhoea in Christchurch.

All antenatal patients presenting over a 12-month period had a cervical swab taken to screen for gonorrhoea. Among 1135 patients the incidence of infection was 1.3 percent for unmarried women and 0.4 percent for those married. The size of the gonorrhoea problem in Christchurch and the need for suitable screening programmes are outlined. It is believed that a screening programme such as this complements the function of a sexually-transmitted diseases clinic in combating gonorrhoea.     

Antenatal ultrasonography in Dunedin: one year's data

Two thousand and forty-five pregnancies were registered during one calendar year, at the two hospitals in Dunedin. One thousand five hundred and ninety-four liveborn infants and 15 stillborn infants resulted from 1585 pregnancies. Of this group of pregnant women, 74% had one or more ultrasonographic studies (mean number of scans = 1.5). Of the 1609 infants delivered, 0.4% had a major anomaly of the central nervous system, and 0.7% had hydroenphrosis. Four hundred and sixty pregnancies resulted in spontaneous or therapeutic abortion. Ten point nine percent of those women undergoing therapeutic abortion had ultrasonographic studies. It is apparent from this retrospective audit, that antenatal ultrasonography has become almost routine in those women carrying an infant to term. The relative rarity of fetal anomalies is similar to other, larger, series.     

Antenatal village stay and pregnancy outcome in rural Zimbabwe

DESIGN--Comparative study of pregnancy outcome for parturients who had stayed in an antenatal village and for those admitted directly from the community. SETTING--A rural hospital in Zimbabwe. OUTCOME MEASURES--Birthweight, perinatal mortality and degree of obstetrical intervention. RESULTS--Women who stayed in the antenatal village experienced better pregnancy outcome than women admitted directly from the community. Birthweight was greater, perinatal mortality lower, and obstetrical intervention less often required in the antenatal village group. CONCLUSIONS--Lack of randomisation, differences between the two groups in antenatal risk factors, and lack of information relating to socio-economic status suggest that generalisations beyond the specific case be made cautiously.