Factors affecting birthweights in Hindus, Moslems and Europeans

Summary. The birthweights of 664 Hindu and 132 Moslem babies were compared with those of 486 European babies born at the same hospital. The mean birthweight of the Europeans was 3362 g, compared with 3146 g for the Moslems and 2960 g for the Hindus. The Asian women were smaller than the European and tended to have a shorter length of gestation. Forty-four per cent of the Asians and 46% of the European mothers were of social classes I and II; 28% of the Europeans and 2% of the Asians smoked. There were no significant differences between Asians and Europeans in the effects of maternal size, parity, gestational age and fetal sex on birthweight. After adjustment for these variables and for cigarette smoking there was no significant difference in birthweight between the Moslems and the Europeans, but the mean birthweight of the Hindus was about 190 g lighter than that of the Europeans. Hindus from East Africa had lighter babies than those from India.     

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease in the UK

Summary. The complications and outcome of 125 pregnancies in women with sickle cell disease between 1975 and 1981 are reviewed. There were no maternal deaths, but a perinatal mortality rate of 48 per 1000. The main maternal complications were sickling crises (38%), anaemia (65%), infections (61%) and severe pregnancy-induced hypertensive disease (5%). There were three patients with eclampsia. There was a 13% spontaneous preterm delivery rate, 25% of the babies were'light-for-dates', fetal distress in labour was seen in 24% and 15% were delivered by caesarean section. There was an increased incidence of involuntary infertility and spontaneous abortion. The treatment by prophylactic blood transfusions is discussed.     

Interpretation of in-vitro thyroid function tests during pregnancy

Summary. In-vitro thyroid function tests are difficult to interpret in pregnancy because of, among other things, the effect of oestrogens on thyroid binding globulin (TBG) concentrations. In an attempt to clarify the position, serum concentrations of total thyroxine (T₄), free T₄, TBG, T₄/TBG ratio, tri-iodothyronine (T₃) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured. Total T₄ and TBG concentrations rose to above the non-pregnant reference range by 20 weeks. The T₄/TBG ratio fell to hypo-thyroid values by 20 weeks but although the free T₄ level was lower in the third trimester compared with values in the first and second trimesters, only a few subjects had hypothyroid values. The TSH values remained unchanged throughout pregnancy. The significance of these changes is discussed and reference ranges for these hormones at each trimester are provided.