Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with alterations in markers of fetoplacental wellbeing

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with adverse fetal outcomes in some studies. Second trimester Down syndrome screening markers reflect fetal and fetoplacental wellbeing. We aimed to compare markers of fetal and feto-placental wellbeing in women with OSA and low risk controls.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study of pregnant women with OSA and available second trimester markers was performed. Controls were screened for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) at the time of delivery using a questionnaire. Women at low risk for OSA were selected. Marker levels were adjusted for gestational age and race and reported as multiples of median and later adjusted for body mass index (BMI).

Results: Twenty-four OSA cases and 166 controls were identified. Women with OSA had a higher mean BMI when compared to controls (37.1?±?12.7 versus 24.1?±?5.1, p?=?0.03). Estriol (uE3) multiples of the median (MoM) levels were lower in women with OSA compared to controls, even after adjusting for BMI, 0.74 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.45) versus 1.06 (IQR 0.38), respectively, p?=?0.026. Once adjusted for BMI, alpha feto-protein (AFP) MoM levels were no longer significantly different in women with OSA compared to controls.

Conclusion: OSA is associated with reduced serum uE3 levels, independently of BMI, possibly indicating fetal distress.     

Maternal and fetal outcome in valvular heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the pregnancy outcomes of women having valvular heart disease with the pregnancy outcomes of healthy women. METHODS: A retrospective comparison of the maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes of 312 women with valvular heart disease and 321 healthy women cared for at a tertiary care hospital during the same period. Statistical analysis was done using the chi(2)-test, with significance fixed at 0.05. RESULTS: Women with valvular heart disease had a significantly higher incidence of surgical interventions during pregnancy than women in the control group [13.4% (balloon mitral valvotomy) vs. 0.6% (ovarian cystectomy)], congestive heart failure (5.1% vs. 0%, P<0.001), and mortality [0.64% (two women) vs. 0%]. Perinatal outcome was also more adverse in the valvular heart disease group than in the control group, with increased preterm delivery rate (48.3% vs. 20.5%), reduced birth weight (2434+/-599 g vs. 2653+/-542 g; P<0.001), and a higher incidence of APGAR scores less than 8 (8.3% vs. 4%; P<0.01). There was also a higher rate of instrumental delivery (9.9% vs. 3.4%). However, the rate of cesarean deliveries was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy in women with valvular heart disease is associated with significantly higher maternal morbidity and adverse fetal outcomes and requires a team approach for optimal management.     

Objective assessment of obstructive sleep apnea in normal pregnant and preeclamptic women

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between OSA and preeclampsia. Methods: Between 30 and 39 weeks gestation, objective sleep apnea were evaluated in 38 normal pregnant and 40 preeclamptic women. Preeclampsia was defined by having a blood pressure (BP) > 140/90 mmHg on two occasions after the 20th week of pregnancy with excess protein in the urine (> 300 mg in 24 h) or 30 mg persistent proteinuria (+ 1 in dipsticks) in random samples. Objective sleep apnea was evaluated using an overnight in-hospital sleep evaluation using the SOMNOwatch plus Respiratory Screener. OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5, and further grouped into severity categories: mild (5–14.9), moderate (15–29.9), and severe (≥ 30). Results: Mean AHI was 33.3 ± 12.1 in preeclamptic women and was 23.8 ± 15.8 in normal pregnant women (p = 0.008). There was significant difference in prevalence of OSA severity (none, mild, moderate, or severe) between groups. Out of 33 preeclamptic women, 11 women had moderate and 22 women had severe OSA. Whereas, among 33 normal pregnant women, 8, 13, and10 women had mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively. Two normal pregnant women had no OSA (AHI< 5). Conclusion: Our study suggests women are susceptible to developing OSA during pregnancy that is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia.     

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in pregnant women with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background: Repetitive episodes of hypoxia and reoxygenation during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) resemble an ischemia-reperfusion injury. We aimed to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress occurs in pregnant women with OSAS. We also aimed to compare thiol/disulfide homeostasis with ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as markers of ischemia-reperfusion injury in pregnant women with and without OSAS and healthy control.

Methods: This study included 29 pregnant women with OSAS, 30 women without OSAS in the third trimester applying for periodic examinations, and 30 healthy women. Serum IMA and TAC (using the ferric reducing power of plasma method) were measured. Serum thiol/disulfide homeostasis was determined by a novel automated method.

Results: The mean age of the pregnant women with OSAS was 31.0?±?4.7 years with a mean gestational age of 36.5?±?3.0 weeks. The mean age of pregnant women without OSAS was 29.8?±?4.9 years with a mean gestational age of 36.9?±?2.7 weeks. The mean age of the nonpregnant control group was 29.7?±?6.4 years. Both native thiol (291?±?29?μmol/L versus 314?±?30?μmol/L; p?=?.018) and total thiol (325?±?32 versus 350?±?32, p?=?.025) levels were lower in pregnant women with OSAS compared to pregnant women without OSAS, respectively (p?Conclusions: This is the first study demonstrating the thiol/disulfide homeostasis in pregnant women with OSAS. Native thiol and total thiol levels were lower in pregnant women with OSAS compared to those without OSAS. However, dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters cannot provide valuable information to discriminate OSAS in pregnant women.     

Maternal snoring during pregnancy is not associated with fetal growth restriction

A small number of studies have, thus far, evaluated the association between maternal snoring and fetal growth revealing conflicting results. No study has compared fetal growth between women with habitual snoring who snored before pregnancy and women with habitual snoring that started to snore during pregnancy.

Objectives: To examine the effect of maternal snoring on fetal outcome and to investigate the differences between “chronic snorers” and “new-onset snorers”. Methods: Women of singleton, uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies completed a questionnaire. Obstetric and labor records were reviewed. Newborn records were reviewed for gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score and gender. Results: 246 low risk women were studied. Mean BMI at the beginning of pregnancy was 22.3?±?3.5?kg/m². 32% reported habitual snoring. Of those, 26% were chronic snorers and 74% were new-onset snorers. Neither significant difference in fetal growth was found between snorers and non-snorers nor between chronic snorers and new-onset snorers. Increased rate of nulliparous women was found in new-onset snorers compared with both chronic snorers and non-snorers (54 vs. 25 and 29% respectively; p?=?0.001). Conclusions: In pregnant women with no apparent risk factors, maternal snoring does not affect fetal growth. No differences in maternal characteristics or fetal outcome were found between chronic snorers and new-onset snorers.     

Hypertension, fetal growth restriction and obstructive sleep apnoea in pregnancy

Objective

To test the hypothesis that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is more common in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disease and fetal growth restriction.

Study design

An observational study comparing pregnant women with these two complications with normal pregnant women and non-pregnant women in two UK maternity hospitals. Each participant completed a sleep apnoea questionnaire and underwent nocturnal oxygen saturation monitoring.

Results

Using a strict definition of obstructive sleep apnoea confirmed by oxygen saturation monitoring only two mild cases were seen, 0/50 non-pregnant women, 1/69 of normal pregnant women, 0/48 women with various types of hypertensive disease, and 1/33 women carrying fetuses affected with fetal growth restriction. Even using less strict definitions and self-reported sleepiness scores there was no relation between sleep apnoea and either fetal growth restriction or hypertensive diseases.

Conclusion

Obstructive sleep apnoea is at most a rare cause of either growth restriction or hypertensive disease in pregnancy.     

Mitral valve surgery and maternal and fetal outcome in valvular heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: To compare maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with non-operated valvular heart disease and patients who had surgery before or during pregnancy. METHODS: The 308 women with valvular heart disease who delivered in this hospital in the last 8 years were divided into three groups. The 218 (70.7%) women in group 1 had no surgical intervention; the 42 (13.6%) women in group 2 underwent balloon mitral valvotomy during pregnancy; and the 48 (15.5%) women in group 3 had surgical intervention before pregnancy (35 had balloon mitral valvotomy, eight had mitral valve replacement, and five had mitral valve repair). Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared for these three groups. RESULTS: The antenatal events differed significantly: 175 (80.3%), 40 (94.2%), and 46 (95.8%) patients in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, had uneventful pregnancies. In group 1, 14 (6.4%) patients had congestive heart failure (P>0.05) and 24 (11%) patients had cardiac arrhythmias, which was statistically significant. The rate of preterm deliveries did not differ significantly among the three groups. The groups did not differ in mean birth weight, mode of delivery, low birth weight, Apgar scores less than 8, stillbirths, neonatal death, or congenital anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve surgery before or during pregnancy did not significantly improve maternal and fetal outcomes but decreased adverse events such as congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. It should be therefore performed only in selected cases.     

Idiopathic urinary findings and fetal growth restriction in low risk pregnancy

Objective

To determine whether maternal urinary findings in the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with fetal growth restriction.

Study design

The prevalence of urinary findings in singleton pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction were compared with a low-risk control group of pregnancies who gave birth to normal weight babies, in the same condition.

Results

There were significant statistical differences in the mean gestational age (p < 0.001), isolated asymptomatic bacteriuria (p < 0.001), hematuria (p = 0.002, OR = 6.6, CI = 1.8–24.2) and proteinuria (p = 0.016, OR = 4.1, CI = 1.2–13.3). There was no recognizable relation between ketonuria and fetal growth restriction.

Conclusion

Our data showed a relation between the increase of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal growth restriction, and hematuria, proteinuria and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Appropriate monitoring of pregnant women using these findings may be helpful in the identification of more complications.     

等离子扁桃体切除术治疗儿童鼾症的疗效观察

目的探讨低温等离子扁桃体切除术与常规扁桃体剥离术对儿童鼾症患者的影响。方法选取我科2019年7~11月入院的儿童阻塞性睡眠型呼吸暂停综合征患儿146例为研究对象,随机分为观察组76例与对照组70例。所有患儿均行扁桃体切除,对照组采用常规剥离,观察组采用等离子消融术,两组合并腺样体肥大的患儿均采用等离子消融术,上述操作由同一术者完成。比较双侧扁桃体切除所需时间以及术中出血量;比较术后1~4 d的咽痛情况;白膜完全脱落的时间以及两组患儿手术前后生活质量的改善程度。比较两组中单纯扁桃体切术与合并腺样体肥大术后咽痛情况及白膜脱落时间。结果观察组手术时间、术中出血量低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后1 d观察组咽痛轻于观察组,术后4 d,单纯扁桃体咽痛轻于合并腺样体肥大,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组白膜完全脱落时间较对照组长,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后生活质量改善程度比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论等离子扁桃体切除术较常规扁桃体剥离术手术时间短,术中出血少,术后早期咽部不适症状较轻,应对复杂的扁桃体切除术具有明显的优势。     

体外受精/卵胞质内单精子显微注射双卵双胎减胎后妊娠结局的病例对照研究

目的探讨双卵双胎妊娠早期减胎为单胎的妊娠结局。方法 2008年1月—2014年12月期间体外受精及卵胞质内单精子注射-胚胎移植(IVF/ICSI-ET)后双胎妊娠早期(孕45~75 d)减胎为单胎者102例(A组),三胎妊娠早期减胎为双胎者73例(B组)以及双胎妊娠未减胎者4 638例(C组),比较其中晚期流产率、早产率等进一步的妊娠结局。结果 IVF/ICSI-ET后A组与B组和C组比较,早产率(10.8%,58.6%,42.1%)、低出生体质量儿率(6.8%,44.1%,30.3%)明显降低,孕周[(38.0±2.0)周,(35.7±2.3)周,(36.4±2.1)周]、出生体质量[(3.17±0.53)kg,(2.51±0.59)kg,(2.69±0.53)kg]明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),中晚期流产率差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 IVF/ICSI后的双卵双胎妊娠,于孕早期行减胎术安全,具有更好的妊娠结局。     

子痫前期并发胎儿生长受限的临床特征及妊娠结局分析

目的 探讨子痫前期并发胎儿生长受限(fetal growth restriction,FGR)的临床特征及母儿结局.方法 回顾性分析2009年1月1日至2019年12月31日在广州医科大学附属第三医院产科就诊并分娩的单胎子痫前期患者的病例资料,根据是否合并FGR,分为FGR组和对照组,分析两组的临床特征及母儿结局.结果...