Fetal and neonatal outcome in celiac disease

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by an abnormal immune response in susceptible individuals to dietary gluten derived from wheat, rye and barley. The disease affects not only the small bowel mucosa, but also many other extraintestinal organs resulting bone, liver, neurologic, skin and reproductive system disorders. The details of the pathogenic mechanism are not perfectly clear yet, but it is now proved that both humoral and cellular immune responses are triggered and autoimmune mechanisms are implicated. Studies have shown association of different pregnancy outcomes with maternal celiac disease. In this review, the most frequent fetal and neonatal outcome related to CD are presented, with a special focus on intrautherine growth restriction (IUGR) and prematurity. The need of active case finding of CD is discussed.     

Chronic hypertension is an independent risk factor for preeclampsia and preterm delivery in women with rheumatologic diseases: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the prevalence of maternal and perinatal complications among patients with rheumatologic diseases (RD) and to investigate the maternal risk factors for preeclampsia and preterm delivery among RD patients. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted. The study group comprised women with RD; the control group comprised patients without RD. The obstetric and neonatal outcomes of the groups were compared, and the data were obtained from a computerized database. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 179 deliveries by 125 women with RD. The prevalence of severe preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, oligohydramnios, preterm deliveries and cesarean sections was significantly higher in the RD group than in the control group. Mean birth weight was significantly lower in the study group compared with the general population. Maternal RD was found to be an independent risk factor for preterm delivery and severe preeclampsia (OR 3.59; 95% CI: 2.52-5.11; OR 3.05; 95% CI: 1.44-6.45, respectively). The presence of chronic hypertension in patients with RD was found to be an independent risk factor for severe preeclampsia and preterm delivery (OR 12.2; 95% CI: 2.1-69.8; OR 3.8; 95% CI: 1.1-12.7, respectively). CONCLUSION: Chronic hypertension is an independent risk factor for preterm delivery and severe preeclampsia among RD patients.     

Impact of maternal pheochromocytoma on the fetus and neonate

Pheochromocytoma during pregnancy is rare but potentially harmful to the mother and fetus. Fetal risks are mainly determined by the vasoconstrictive effects of maternal catecholamine on uteroplacental circulation, because the fetus is protected from the direct effects of high catecholamine levels at the placental interface. Uteroplacental insufficiency may lead to spontaneous abortion, fetal growth restriction, premature delivery, and fetal hypoxia, followed by fetal distress and/or birth asphyxia. Adrenalectomy is recommended during the second trimester. When a diagnosis is made during the late second or third trimester, appropriate medical treatment until term and planned delivery with concurrent or delayed adrenalectomy can result in good fetal outcomes. Moreover, when adrenalectomy is planned after delivery, there is concern regarding the potential of antihypertensive drugs to be transferred to breast milk. It is generally known that early detection and proper treatment of pheochromocytoma during pregnancy decrease maternal and fetal mortality. However, in recent case series, antenatal maternal pheochromocytoma diagnosis did not significantly decrease the risk of fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, contrary to the maternal death and complication rates. Although intrauterine ischemia and hypoxia due to uteroplacental insufficiency can affect the long-term outcomes of neonates, no systematic studies have been performed.     

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.     

The midforceps: maternal and neonatal outcomes

A retrospective review of midforceps deliveries occurring between 1976 and 1982 at a county teaching hospital is presented. Midforceps deliveries were performed in 0.8% of deliveries (176 of 21,414) during this period, a rate reflecting the general admonition against potentially traumatic injury to the infant. Under these conditions, midforceps deliveries were associated with active and second-stage labor abnormalities, abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, maternal perineal lacerations, low 1-minute Apgar scores, and neonatal cephalohematomas more frequently than were deliveries of the remainder of the patients. Epidural anesthesia was significantly associated with midforceps deliveries. Midforceps patients were matched to similar groups who were delivered by cesarean section or low forceps or who had spontaneous births. The findings do not document an increase in short-term neonatal morbidity in the midforceps group under the conditions described.     

Tetralogy of Fallot: maternal and neonatal outcomes

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 26 pregnancies in 16 women with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) delivering at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and compared them with 104 controls. The rate of antenatal complications was significantly higher in the rTOF group (30 cf. 13%). Use of epidural anaesthesia was higher (67 cf. 25%) in the rTOF group compared with controls, and the length of the second stage was shorter in both spontaneous and assisted deliveries. However, the mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes were similar in both groups. Mean birthweight centile was lower in the tetralogy of Fallot group, 26 versus 58 in the control group ( P  = 0.000001, Wilcoxon rank sum test). All women whose babies were <10th centile weight for gestational age had moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation.     

Mode of delivery in the preterm gestation and maternal and neonatal outcome

Objective.?To determine if the mode of delivery in preterm gestations is associated with changes in maternal and neonatal outcome.

Methods.?A retrospective cohort study that included all singleton deliveries occurring after spontaneous onset of labour between 25?+?0 and 32?+?6 weeks of gestation. Cases of early preterm delivery were identified from clinical records and classified according to the mode of delivery. The following outcomes were derived for each case and compared between caesarean and vaginal deliveries: perinatal death, cranial findings compatible with haemorrhage or white matter disease in the neonate, new-onset of maternal severe anaemia or pyrexia.

Results.?From 1990 to 2007, 109 cases of spontaneous preterm labour were retrospectively selected, including 50 (45.8%) caesarean sections and 59 (54.2%) vaginal deliveries. Perinatal death occurred in 10 infants (9.1%), whereas among survivors abnormal cerebral findings were detected in 20, including 6 cases with haemorrhage, 12 with white matter findings and 2 with both. At multiple logistic regression, a birthweight lower than 1100?g was the only predictor of all adverse outcomes, whereas male sex increased the risk of white matter findings. Caesarean section compared to vaginal delivery conferred a higher risk of maternal complications (23/50 or 46% vs. 6/59 or 10.2%; OR: 11.9, CI 95%: 4.2–333; p?<?0.0005).

Conclusions.?In severely premature infants born after spontaneous onset of labour, the risk of adverse perinatal outcome does not seem to depend upon the mode of delivery, whereas the risk of maternal complications is significantly increased after Caesarean section.     

Fetal and neonatal effects of maternal drug treatment for depression

Depression has a female sex predilection with 2 to 3% of the pregnant women population presently requiring treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Exposure to SSRIs in late gestation leads to clinical manifestations in as much as 30% of the neonates. These include neurobehavioral, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and somatic symptoms. Among the respiratory manifestations, persistent pulmonary hypertension syndrome is a newly recognized and concerning side effect of SSRI exposure in utero. This causal association has been reproduced in an animal model where fluoxetine administration to pregnant rats induces fetal pulmonary hypertension. The pharmacological effects of SSRI on the fetus and newborn, available treatment, and prevention strategies are discussed in this review.     

Fetal tachycardia as an indicator of maternal and neonatal morbidity

Presented is a prospective, controlled study to determine if intrapartum fetal tachycardia is reliable as an indicator of maternal and fetal infectious morbidity. Thirty neonates with defined intrapartum tachycardia were matched by gestational age and weight with 30 control subjects without defined tachycardia. There was a significant difference in maternal febrile morbidity and a trend toward a difference in maternal infectious morbidity between the two groups. There was no significant difference in maternal complications at delivery or administration of antibiotics to the mother. Among the neonates, there was a significant difference in administration of antibiotics and the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) between the two groups; however, both of these were significantly related to birth weight. There was no significant difference between the two groups in duration of ruptured membranes, duration of labor, number of vaginal examinations, or antepartum anemia. Only one study infant had a bacteremia. The data confirm an increased risk of neonatal complications, such as RDS, asphyxia, and meconium aspiration, in association with intrapartum fetal tachycardia.     

Association between maternal HBsAg carrier status and neonatal adverse outcomes: meta-analysis

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier status increases the risk of neonatal complications.

Methods: Publications addressing the association between maternal HBV carrier status and neonatal outcomes were selected from the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Publication bias and heterogeneity across studies were evaluated and summary odds ratios, weighted mean difference or standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared between groups.

Results: Eighteen studies and 7600 pregnant HBV carriers were selected for analyses. A statistically association with maternal HBV carrier status was demonstrated for premature birth and asphyxia, with no difference found among perinatal mortality, gestational age, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, birth weight, low birth weight, macrosomia, Apgar sore at 1?min, jaundice and congenital anomaly. Heterogeneity across studies was found, and no publication bias was detected.

Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that maternal hepatitis B carrier status is significantly associated with premature birth and asphyxia. Large-scale prospective studies are still warranted.     

重度子(癎)前期合并低蛋白血症对围产结局的影响

目的 探讨重度子癎前期合并低蛋白血症对围产结局的影响及其相关性.方法 回顾性分析我院2000年1月至2006年3月收治的233例重度子痢前期患者的临床资料,按血清白蛋白检测结果将其分成低蛋白血症组(A组,133例)和非低蛋白血症组(B组,90例),比较两组孕产妇及围产儿结局.结果 A组孕妇浆膜腔积液(6.8%和0)、肝酶异常(60.9 %和38.9%)、肾功损害(30.1%和11.1%)及并发症(胎盘早剥、产后出血)的发生率(23.3%和11.1%)均高于B组(P<0.05),新生儿出生体重低于B组[(2192.78±795.31)g和(2454.92±776.24)g,P<0.05],围产儿死亡率A组高于B组(26.0%和13.5%)(P<0.05).结论 重度子痢前期合并低蛋白血症可造成母儿的不良结局,应积极防治.充分细致评估母胎状况,尽可能延长孕周改善新生儿结局,若孕妇重要器官受损或并发难治性浆膜腔积液应适时终止妊娠,以改善孕母结局.     

Fetal response to intramuscular epinephrine for anaphylaxis during maternal penicillin desensitization for secondary syphilis

Penicillin desensitization is indicated in pregnant patients with severe allergies to penicillin with syphilis. The immediate effects of intramuscular epinephrine on the fetus during desensitization remain unreported. We describe a pregnant patient with secondary syphilis and penicillin allergy who developed anaphylaxis during penicillin desensitization. Anaphylaxis resolved after administration of intramuscular epinephrine. Throughout the procedure, continuous electronic fetal monitoring showed a stable fetus without a decrease in variability, tachycardia, decelerations, or signs of fetal distress. This case showed that intramuscular epinephrine is effective in treatment of anaphylaxis in a pregnant patient with little to no immediate effects on the fetus.     

Predictive macrosomia birthweight thresholds for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes

Objective: We examined the predictive macrosomia birthweight thresholds for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Study design: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study conducted in China. We selected 178 709 singletons weighing ≥2500?g with gestational age 37–44 weeks. We categorized macrosomia with two gradations (4000–4499?g and ≥4500?g) and compared them with a normosomic reference group of infants with birthweight 2500–3999?g.

Results: The risks of obstetric and neonatal complications increased when infants had a birthweight of ≥4000?g. The rates of infant mortality, Apgar score ≤3 at 5?min, respiratory and neurological disorders rose significantly among neonates weighing ≥4500?g.

Conclusion: A definition of macrosomia as birthweight ≥4000?g could be beneficial as an indicator of obstetric and newborn complications, and birthweight ≥4500?g might be predictive of severe infant morbidity and mortality risk.     

重度妊高征合并胎儿生长受限围生儿结局分析

目的:探讨重度妊高征合并胎儿生长受限(FGR)孕妇分娩时机与围生儿结局的关系。方法:选择145例重度妊高征合并FGR患者,按孕周大小共分6组,A组28～30-1孕周、B组30～32-1孕周、C组32～34-1孕周、D组34～36-1孕周、E组36～37-1孕周、F组37～39孕周,回顾分析其围生儿结局。结果:孕28～341周3组的新生儿窒息、肺透明膜病、新生儿死亡发生率非常显著高于孕34～371周两组(P<0.01),而孕34～37-1周两组与孕37～39周组之间差异无显著性(P>0.05)。孕37～39周组的羊水Ⅲ度污染、胎儿窘迫发生率均显著高于孕34～37-1周两组(P<0.01)。结论:重度妊高征合并FGR患者分娩时机宜在孕34～37-1周。适时终止妊娠,对降低围生儿发病率及死亡率有重要意义。     

Correlation between placental histopathology and fetal/neonatal outcome: chorioamnionitis and funisitis are associated to intraventricular haemorrage and retinopathy of prematurity in preterm newborns

Introduction.?Placental anatomopathologic lesions are usually associated with pregnancy complications and neonatal impaired outcome.

Patients and methods.?We included in our study 122 patients with gestational age of 26–35 weeks. From the analysis of three pathological aspects (chorioamnionitis, funisitis and chronic hypoxia), a score was assigned to each lesion depending on the severity of the alteration, to establish a correlation with an impaired neonatal outcome in preterm newborns.

Results.?We found a correlation between chronic hypoxia and preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and/or small-for-gestational age status at birth. Our results also showed the strong association of fetal placental inflammatory status (chorioamnionitis and funisitis) with premature rupture of membranes, very low birth weight, birth at/before 32 gestational weeks, late-onset sepsis, patent duct arteriosus, intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Conclusions.?We confirm that placental lesions are associated with impaired pregnancy and neonatal outcome. During pregnancy it may be useful to identify some markers of inflammatory status and chronic hypoxia for an early diagnosis and a detailed monitoring of pregnancy course. Placental pathological analysis is very important to predict the risk of developing serious complications of preterm birth as ROP and IVH.     

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease: maternal and fetal outcomes in a population receiving prophylactic partial exchange transfusions

Objective

To describe pregnancy outcomes for pregnant women with sickle cell disease (SCD) receiving prophylactic transfusions.

Study design

This retrospective case-control study compared pregnancy outcomes among women with SCD receiving prophylactic transfusions and women without any hemoglobinopathy, matched for ethnicity, parity, age and hospital.

Results

The study included two groups of pregnancies: 128 in women with SCD (95 with SS phenotype and 33 with SC) and 128 in women with AA phenotype. No woman died. Two perinatal deaths (2.1%) and five alloimmunizations (5.3%) occurred, all in the SS group. Compared with the control group, HbSS disease was more often associated with pre-eclampsia (9.4% versus 2.3%, p = .03), preterm delivery (15.8% versus 6.2%, p = .01), birth weight <10th percentile (13.7% versus 3.9%, p = .008) and caesarean delivery (73.6% versus 26.4%, p < .01).

Conclusion

Despite prophylactic blood transfusions, SCD remains a severe complicating factor in pregnancy. The policy of systematic transfusions should be analyzed in a sufficiently large randomized trial.