Enfermedad de Chagas y gestación

Chagas’ disease can be transmitted through vertical transmission and breast feeding in non-endemic areas. Migration is spreading new diseases in these areas, which may have diagnostic and therapeutic implications in pregnancy. The main effects in newborns reported in the literature are prematurity, low birth weight, and low Apgar score. Placental involvement does not imply fetal disease in all cases. Treatment must be postponed until the end of pregnancy due to the possibility of teratogenic effects.     

Enfermedad de Berger y gestación

IgA glomerulonephritis or Berger's disease is a kidney disease characterized by immunoglobulin A deposition in the mesangium of renal glomeruli. During pregnancy, key prognostic factors, such as blood pressure and renal function, should be monitored closely to avoid complications, both maternal and fetal. If these factors are regulated, pregnancy is entirely feasible.     

Neurocisticercosis y gestación

We describe the case of a 29 weeks pregnant woman admitted after suffering her first generalised tonic-clonic seizure. Eclampsia was first ruled out by means of clinical history and analytical findings. The neurology department, after an exhaustive study, diagnosed the patient with cerebral neurocysticercosis. She received aetiological treatment which enabled her to have a normal pregnancy and delivery, thus avoiding a pre-term delivery, which is associated with high foetal morbidity and mortality. We also show the need to rule out non-endemic parasitic infection in our immigrant population.     

Displasia fibromuscular de arterias renales y gestación

Hypertension during pregnancy is one of the most important causes of maternal and fetal morbimortality. Secondary hypertension can have a renovascular origin, which is mainly due to fibromuscular dysplasia.     

Análisis de la finalización de la gestación y morbilidad materna en las gestaciones de 41 semanas

Objective

To evaluate the mode of delivery and maternal morbidity associated with pregnancies ending at 41 weeks.

Material and methods

We designed a retrospective cohort study. The mode of delivery and maternal complications of 230 pregnancies ending at 41 weeks were compared with those in 234 pregnancies ending between 37 and 40 weeks at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in 2005.

Results

Women delivering at 41 weeks had an increased risk of membrane sweep, unfavorable Bishop score at admission, induction and longer duration of labor. These increases were also seen in the rates of operative vaginal delivery (25.6 vs 17.6%, p < 0.001) and cesarean section (21.7 vs 8.5%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The rates of maternal peripartum complications increase as pregnancy reaches 41 weeks. Accurate investigation of these rates is important to determine the gestational age at which the risk of continuing the pregnancy outweighs the risk of labor induction.     

Exposición prenatal a ftalatos. Anemia materna,duración de la gestación y somatometría del recién nacido

Phthalic acid esters, commonly known as phthalates, are ubiquitous pollutants in foods, air, ground, sediments, beauty products and construction materials to which pregnant women are exposed.     

Recidiva de melanoma en gestación

The incidence of malignant melanoma during pregnancy has been estimated to be 0.1 to 2.8 per 1,000 pregnancies. In women with a history of melanoma, pregnancy does not seem to increase the risk of recurrence or to negatively influence survival. However, survival is approximately 6 months shorter in women with recurrent disease and those requiring treatment during pregnancy. Malignant melanoma is the most common type of cancer to metastasize to the placenta and fetus. We report the case of a pregnant woman with a history of melanoma who showed cerebral recurrence and died 21 days post-partum, without placental or fetal metastases.     

Lesión urológica compleja y gestación. Técnica de Mitrofanoff

We report the case of a 31-year-old primigravida who had sustained irreversible urethral damage in a traffic accident 11 years previously. The lesion required the application of Mitrofanoff's technique, consisting of the creation of a catheterizable urinary conduit from the urinary bladder to the abdominal wall (the cecal appendix is generally used). In addition to routine prenatal care, monthly urine cultures were performed, revealing recurrent urinary tract infections, which were resolved with oral antibiotics.     

Entrecruzamiento de cordones en la gestación gemelar monocorial monoamniótica

Monochorial monoamniotic twins are at high risk of fetal death due to the general complications seen in multiple gestations, as well as those specific to this type of pregnancy. The most severe complication in these pregnancies is fetal death due to cord entanglement, which occurs in almost all cases.Early ultrasonographic diagnosis and intensive prenatal surveillance are essential for the early detection of cord entanglement and the prevention of fetal death.The need for in-hospital management and the exact gestational age for delivery continue to generate controversy in the literature.     

Cribado de aneuploidía en gestación gemelar: resultados de la aplicación del test combinado

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Combined Test for trisomy 21 screening in twin pregnancies. To assess the performance of biochemical markers and nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in pregnancies with euploid fetuses and in twin pregnancies with one or two affected fetuses. To compare the value of markers according to chorionicity and the mode of conception.

Material and methods

Retrospective study including 161 twin pregnancies. Maternal serum fß-hCG and PAPP-A were determined at 8 to 12 weeks and fetal NT was measured at 11 to 14 weeks. The individual risk of trisomy 21 was calculated in each fetus using the Combined Test. In monochorionic pregnancies, the single risk for the pregnancy was obtained with the largest NT. An invasive diagnostic procedure was offered when the risk was 1:250 or more in one or both of the fetuses.

Results

All trisomy 21 pregnancies were identified (three pregnancies and four fetuses) by the combined testfor a false-positive rate of 6.4% of pregnancies and 3.5% of fetuses. The median fß-hCG level, expressed in MoM, was 1.72 and the median PAPP-A level was 2.01. The median NT was 1.05 MoM. Both fß-hCG and PAPP-A levels were significantly decreased in monochorionic pregnancies and PAPP-A was significantly decreased in pregnancies resulting from assisted reproduction. No significant differences were observed in NT measurement between monochorionic and dichorionic fetuses or between those conceived naturally or by assisted reproduction.

Conclusions

The combined test shows high sensitivity and specificity in screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancies. The differences obtained in the biochemical markers according to chorionicity or the mode of conception require confirmation in further studies with a larger number or cases.     

Obstrucción intestinal durante la gestación

The present study describes three cases of intestinal obstruction in chronological order treated in our service in the last year. Although the reported symptoms were highly similar in all three patients, outcomes were very different. The interest of these cases lies in the low incidence of this complication during pregnancy and its high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis is essential to improve survival.     

Cáncer de cérvix metastásico y gestación: una situación poco frecuente que invita a la reflexión

Background

Coexistence of pregnancy and metastasic cervical cancer in an exceptional situation that will mark, in the presented case, the evolution of the pregnancy.

Case

A 34-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, at 13 weeks’ gestation was taken to our emergency service with menorragia, and was admitted under the suspicion of invasive cervical cancer. Patient?s evolution was complicated by the detection of supraclavicular metastasis and massive pulmonary tromboembolism. The patient decides voluntary interruption of pregnancy in the 17^th week.

Conclusions

This is a very unusual case, not as much the presence of an early stage cervical cancer in a pregnant woman. It reminds us of the need to carry out the mandatory gynecological exploration and smear in the first visit of prenatal care, often omitted in our dayly practice.     

Absceso primario de psoas diagnosticado durante la gestación

Primary psoas abscess is a rare infection that can be a diagnostic challenge, particularly when the patient is pregnant. We describe a case of primary psoas abscess during pregnancy and its clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment.     

Pronóstico perinatal y materno de la gestación múltiple en función del protocolo intraparto

Objectives

To evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes of multiple pregnancy according to route of delivery.

Material and methods

We performed a retrospective study of all twin deliveries in the previous 5 years and evaluated the route of delivery, especially in the final year. The information was recorded with Microsoft EXCEL and was analyzed with the statistical program SPSS 12.0 for Windows.

Results

The mean gestational age was 35.3 weeks. Route of delivery was through cesarean section in 59.8%. The mean interval between twins was 7.82 minutes when the first twin was delivered vaginally. Neonatal morbidity was found in 49%, and was higher in the second twin and in preterm deliveries.

Conclusions

Multiple pregnancies are associated with a large number of maternal and perinatal complications, as well as with a greater number of cesarean sections. Consequently, correct intrapartum management is required to reduce neonatal morbility as far as possible.     

Intoxicación por misoprostol en el tercer trimestre de gestación

Background

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analogue, authorised use for the treatment of stomach or duedenal ulcers. In Spain, this drug is no authorised use for obstetrics and gynecology.

Pacientes y métodos

Gravida 5, para 3, 1 ectopic, at 32 week? gestation. Presents disorientation, confusion, intense abdominal pain, hyperthermia 41 °C, 83/46 mmHg and 100 bpm. Fetal monitoring reveals foetal tachycardia of 170 bpm with good variability and irregular contractions. The woman admitted self-medication intravaginal 4.000 μg misoprostol.The treatment was: rehydration, antipyretic medication, fetal monitoring and treatment of suspected chorioamnionitis and prematurity. Five days after, normal delivery.

Conclusion

Overdose and toxicity of misoprostol in pregnant women during the third trimester presents with hyperthermia, altered consciousness, hypotension, uterine hypertonia and or polisistolia, even fetal death. There is no antidote, so the treatment is symptomatic.     

Fiebre Q y gestación

Q fever is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution caused by Coxiella burnetii. There are two phases of the disease: an acute phase after the initial exposure and another chronic phase, months or years after the primary infection. The prevalence is unknown, since the signs are often subclinical, leading to underestimation of the number of cases in pregnant women. Q fever during pregnancy increases fetal morbidity and mortality and can cause spontaneous abortions, intrauterine growth restriction, oligohydramnios, intrauterine fetal death and threatened preterm birth. Obstetric complications are more frequent and severe if the disease is contracted during the first trimester of gestation. Pregnancy could be a risk factor for chronic Q fever, with maternal endocarditis being the most common diagnosis. Long-term cotrimoxazole therapy avoids placental infection and possible fetal effects, and protects the pregnant patient from chronic Q fever.     

Influencia de la edad y de las técnicas de reproducción asistida en nuestros resultados obstétricos y perinatales

Objective

To evaluate the influence of age ≥ 40 years and ART in our obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Material and methods

Retrospective study of 14805 singleton pregnancies in our Institute from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2006. We compared obstetric and perinatal outcome between: Age group: women ≥ 40 years (N = 557) vs. group of women < 40 years (N = 14248); ART group < 40 years: ART pregnancies (N = 1150) vs. spontaneous pregnancies (N = 13098); ART group ≥ 40 years: ART pregnancies (N = 126) vs. spontaneous pregnancies (N = 431).Results: Age ≥ 40 years is significantly associated with preterm birth under 34 weeks (odds ratio [OR] = 2.148 [1.237-3.730]), gestational diabetes (OR = 2.25 [1.799-2.815]), placenta previa (OR = 3.346 [1.516-7.386]), caesarean delivery (OR = 1.831 [1.539-2.177]), and peripartum hysterectomy (OR = 6.414 [1.359-2.177]). In the ART group < 40 years assisted conception (ART) is significantly associated with preterm birth under 37 (OR = 1.67 [1.337-2.088]) and 34 weeks (OR = 1.8 [1.162-2.822]), with gestational diabetes (OR = 1.5 [1.273-1.844]), pre-eclampsia (OR = 2.1 [1.456-3.164]), placenta previa (OR = 5.29 [2.973-9.437]), choriamniotic infection (OR = 3.8 [1.029-14.072]), caesarean delivery (OR = 1.5 [1.346-1.737]) and low birth weight ≤ 2500 g. (OR = 1.67 [1.329-2.114]) and ≤ 1500 g. (OR = 2.44 [1.442-4.135]). In the ART group ≥ 40 years we only find a significantly increased rate of caesarean delivery (OR = 1.76 [1.183-2.635]) in ART group vs. spontaneous pregnancy group.

Conclusions

Age ≥ 40 years increases the risk of adverse obstetric outcome. ART increase the risk of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome in the group < 40 years, but not in the group of women aged 40 years and older, probably due to the small size of the sample.     

Rotura de cuerno uterino rudimentario en gestación de 22 semanas. A propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Unicornuate uterus with rudimentary horn is a rare Müllerian anomaly with a high incidence of obstetric complications, affecting 4.5% of women. Pregnancy located in the rudimentary horn occurs in 1 in 76,000 pregnancies with a risk of uterine rupture of 50-80%. Rupture usually occurs at the end of the second trimester of pregnancy. Early diagnosis reduces morbidity and mortality, but ultrasound diagnosis has a sensitivity of only 30%, due to the low prevalence of this entity.     

Análisis comparativo de dos protocolos de misoprostol en abortos de segundo trimestre de la gestación

Objective

To compare the mean induction-expulsion times in two regimens of vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester pregnancy termination.

Material and methods

We performed a retrospective study of 281 pregnancies between January 2000 and December 2005 (regimen A: 800 μg /24 h) and between June 2007 and December 2008 (regimen B: 400 μg /4 h). Induction-expulsion time was taken as the main outcome.

Results

The mean expulsion time was similar in both regimens (19.7 h for A and 17.7 h for B). No significant differences were found in the expulsion rate at 12, 24 and 48 h. The most commonly observed adverse effect was fever, which was more frequent in regimen B. No major adverse effects such as uterine rupture or severe hemorrhage were observed.

Conclusions

No significant differences were found between regimens A and B in the mean fetal expulsion time, although fever was more common in regimen B.     

Análisis de la relación entre riesgo gestacional y ansiedad materna

Objective

To evaluate levels of maternal anxiety in third trimester pregnancies according to pregnancy risk, classified as low, medium and high-risk/very high-risk.

Patients and methods

We performed an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study of anxiety levels in 174 pregnant women followed-up in our hospital. Levels of both state anxiety and trait anxiety were evaluated in the three groups of pregnant women.

Results

Of the 174 participants in the study, 98 (56.3%) had low risk pregnancies, 40 showed medium risk (23%) and 36 (20.7%) had high risk or very high risk pregnancies. We obtained a mean of 32.8 points for state anxiety and of 27.3 points for trait anxiety. Mean anxiety levels scores were 44.1 points in the high/very high risk group, 33 points in the medium risk group, and 28.5 points in the low risk group, with statistically significant differences (P = .0001 for the high risk group and P = .038 for the medium risk pregnancies). A significant correlation was found between trait anxiety and state anxiety (P = .0001). Statistically significant differences were observed in anxiety related to the number of children (P = .0001).

Conclusions

In pregnant women, anxiety levels were higher than average levels in the general population. Anxiety levels increased in accordance with greater risk in the pregnancy. The greater the number of children the mother already had the lower her anxiety level.