Early vaginal bleeding and first-trimester markers for Down syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of early vaginal bleeding on first-trimester markers for Down syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 2330 normal singleton fetuses who underwent first-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome based on ultrasound and maternal serum markers. Fetal nuchal translucency (NT), maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free beta-hCG and the false-positive rate of the test were compared between pregnancies with (n = 253) and without (n = 2077) a history of early vaginal bleeding. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD log(10) MoM for NT, PAPP-A and free beta-hCG was -0.024 +/- 0.101, 0.007 +/- 0.244, 0.047 +/- 0.273 and -0.011 +/- 0.108, -0.006 +/- 0.223, 0.008 +/- 0.264 in pregnancies with and without a history of early vaginal bleeding, with a p value of 0.07, 0.40 and 0.03 respectively. The false-positive rate was 2.4% and 3.6% (p = 0.33). CONCLUSIONS: An earlier episode of vaginal bleeding is associated with an increase in maternal serum free beta-hCG levels at first-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome. However, this phenomenon is unlikely to significantly affect the false-positive rate of the test.     

The predictive role of sTWEAK levels in pregnant women with first-trimester vaginal bleeding*

Purpose: To investigate the relationships of TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK), a cytokine related to the TNF superfamily, its newly described soluble receptor sCD163, and the sTWEAK/sCD163 ratio with perinatal outcomes in women with first-trimester vaginal bleeding.

Materials and methods: Seventy (41 threatened abortion and 29 control) gestational-age-matched (6–14?weeks) pregnant women were included in the study. Antenatal complications (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, oligohydramniosis, polyhydramniosis), and perinatal outcomes (delivery mode, birth weight, delivery week) were recorded. Women with vaginal bleeding were divided into subgroups by pregnancy outcome (miscarriage or live birth) and subchorionic hematoma incidence. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student’s t test, Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. p Values?<.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences in sTWEAK or sCD163 levels, in sTWEAK/sCD163 ratios, or antenatal complications between threatened abortion and control patients. Higher sTWEAK levels were significantly correlated with higher rates of miscarriage in the threatened abortion group (p?=?.014). sCD163 levels were significantly lower in the subchorionic hematoma subgroup of the threatened abortion group (p?=?.043).

Conclusions: sTWEAK levels may predict the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women with first-trimester vaginal bleeding.     

Comparison of serum and urine hCG levels with SP1 and PAPP-A levels in patients with first-trimester vaginal bleeding

Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients with threatened abortion are compared to the values in normal pregnancy. The predictive value was 93%, the sensitivity was 84%, and the prediction of gestational viability was 81% for the threatened group. These results compare favorably with urinary pregnancy testing and are similar to those obtained with the assay of Schwangerschaftsprotein I. Human chorionic gonadotropin was, however, a much better predictor of pregnancy outcome than pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A.     

Ultrasound assessment of first-trimester bleeding

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome (to the end of the first trimester) of pregnancies with vaginal bleeding and the influence of ultrasound-acquired information on care and cost of care. METHODS: A chart review was performed of 1,240 patients receiving care at an integrated medical center for threatened abortion from 1998-2000. Records from 715 patients with adequate follow-up data were reviewed and outcomes studied. Charges for outpatient and inpatient care were obtained from the data warehouse. RESULTS: Main findings include that on endovaginal ultrasonography, 44% of the pregnancies were viable, of which 86% continued to the end of the first trimester and that of the 33% of pregnancies that were nonviable, 74% successfully miscarried without intervention. Charges for the care varied significantly, based on outcome and choice of site of care. CONCLUSION: Endovaginal ultrasonography for the evaluation of early pregnancy bleeding has a significant effect on care decisions and costs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3.     

Adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with multiple maternal thrombophilic factors

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with thrombophilia. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 31 women who had HELLP syndrome, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction or unexplained stillbirth (study group), matched with 12 controls. All women were tested for: Factor V, Prothrombin, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) mutations; for Protein C, S and Antithrombin III deficiency; for lupus anticoagulant. Correlation with 24h BP monitoring and uterine Doppler velocimetry indexes at 22-24 weeks' gestation was performed. RESULTS: Women with multiple thrombophilic factors had a significant lower birth weight (1568.33+/-146.8 g versus 2546.45+/-438 g), higher 24 h mean diastolic blood pressure at second trimester (76.3+/-12.5 mmHg versus 65.2+/-7.8 mmHg) and higher RI of uterine arteries (0.69+/-0.05 versus 0.50+/-0.15) than women with single thrombophilic factor. CONCLUSION: Multiple thrombophilic factors carry a major additional risk for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and correlate well with placental maladaptation as indicated by uterine Doppler velocimetry and 24h BP monitoring.     

Maternal outcomes associated with planned primary cesarean births compared with planned vaginal births

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes and costs associated with primary cesarean births with no labor (planned cesareans) to vaginal and cesarean births with labor (planned vaginal). METHODS: Analysis was based on a Massachusetts data system linking 470,857 birth certificates, fetal death records, and birth-related hospital discharge records from 1998 and 2003. We examined a subset of 244,088 mothers with no prior cesarean and no documented prenatal risk. We then divided mothers into two groups: those with no labor and a primary cesarean (planned primary cesarean deliveries-3,334 women) and those with labor and either a vaginal birth or a cesarean delivery (planned vaginal-240,754 women). We compared maternal rehospitalization rates and analyzed costs and length of stay. RESULTS: Rehospitalizations in the first 30 days after giving birth were more likely in planned cesarean (19.2 in 1,000) when compared with planned vaginal births (7.5 in 1,000). After controlling for age, parity, and race or ethnicity, mothers with a planned primary cesarean were 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-2.9) times more likely to require a rehospitalization in the first 30 days postpartum. The leading causes of rehospitalization after a planned cesarean were wound complications (6.6 in 1,000) (P<.001) and infection (3.3 in 1,000). The average initial hospital cost of a planned primary cesarean of US dollars 4,372 (95% C.I. US dollars 4,293-4,451) was 76% higher than the average for planned vaginal births of US dollars 2,487 (95% C.I. US dollars 2,481-2,493), and length of stay was 77% longer (4.3 days to 2.4 days). CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk for maternal rehospitalization after cesarean deliveries to low-risk mothers when counseling women about their choices. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.     

Risk factors and infant outcomes associated with umbilical cord prolapse.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to identify risk factors associated with umbilical cord prolapse and to review the perinatal outcome of cases of cord prolapse. METHODS: During the study years 77 cases were identified retrospectively. Associations between cord prolapse and potential risk factors were evaluated by means of the odds ratio. RESULTS: Of the 77 fetuses with umbilical cord prolapse 9.1% had a fetal weight of < 2500 gas compared with 9.4% for fetuses in control group (P > 0.05). The umbilical cord prolapse occurred in association with vertex presentation 66 times (85.7%), breech presentation nine times (11.7%) and transverse presentation two times (2.6%). The occurrence of breech presentation among the control cases was 2.6%, and that of transverse lie was 1.7% (P < 0.01). Case mothers were 1.6 times more likely to be multiparas compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The perinatal mortality rate was 39/1000. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that abnormal fetal presentation and multiparity are associated with an increased risk of umbilical cord prolapse. The association of risk of cord prolapse with low birth weight was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). We suggest that the cesarean delivery decreased the risk of perinatal mortality among cases of cord prolapse.     

Cesarean versus vaginal delivery: long-term infant outcomes and the hygiene hypothesis

Concurrent with the trend of increasing cesarean delivery numbers, there has been an epidemic of both autoimmune diseases and allergic diseases. Several theories have emerged suggesting that environmental influences are contributing to this phenomenon, most notably, the hygiene hypothesis. This article provides background about the human microbiota and its relationship to the developing immune system as well as the relationship of mode of delivery on the colonization of the infant intestine, development of the immune system, and subsequent childhood allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.     

体外受精-胚胎移植后妊娠早期合并宫腔积血异常产科结局的相关因素分析

目的 探讨经体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF/ICSI/F-ET）治疗后早期妊娠合并宫腔积血时导致异常产科结局的相关因素分析。方法 收集2010年4月至2012年8月在安徽医科大学第一附属医院经IVF/ICSI/F-ET助孕后获得宫内妊娠且合并宫腔积血患者274例的临床资料,分析宫腔积血的面积、诊断宫腔积血时孕龄、妊娠年龄、单双胎妊娠及不孕原因对产科结局的影响。结果 单双胎组及不同积血面积、孕龄、年龄组间的异常产科结局发生率差异无统计学意义,输卵管因素性不孕与男方因素性不孕比较差异有统计学意义（80.77%,126/156 vs.58.06%,36/62,P<0.01）。输卵管疾病是异常产科结局发生的危险因素（OR 3.32,95% CI 1.71～6.44）。结论 IVF/ICSI/F-ET助孕后妊娠早期合并宫腔积血时,宫腔积血的面积、诊断宫腔积血时孕龄、妊娠年龄、单双胎妊娠对产科结局影响不大;仅不孕原因与异常产科结局有良好的相关性,输卵管因素较男方因素致不孕患者更容易合并异常产科结局。