Maternal Fetal Medicine
Zahra Panahi; Fahimeh Ghotbizadeh Vahdani; Saeede Eslami Khotbesara; Razieh Akbari; Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Soudabeh Kazemi Aski; Mamak Shariat
Volume 9, Issue 2 , March and April 2024, , Pages 137-143
Abstract
Background & Objective: Despite the high efficacy of the Apgar score in finding respiratory distress, a low Apgar score doesn’t necessarily indicate fetal hypoxia-asphyxia. Umbilical Artery pH (UApH) is one of the best indicators of fetal hypoxia. Therefore, it’s so beneficial to consider ...
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Background & Objective: Despite the high efficacy of the Apgar score in finding respiratory distress, a low Apgar score doesn’t necessarily indicate fetal hypoxia-asphyxia. Umbilical Artery pH (UApH) is one of the best indicators of fetal hypoxia. Therefore, it’s so beneficial to consider these criteria and their relationship with the Apgar score for accurate diagnosis of prenatal respiratory distress retrospectively which reduces the unnecessary cesarean section (CS) rate.
Materials & Methods: 162 full-term (≥259 days) neonates delivered by CS with the diagnosis of decreased fetal heart rate (FHR) were evaluated. 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores and UApH were measured. The correlation between Apgar scores with UApH and the association between UapH and Apgar with the NICU admission were evaluated. The effect of other variables including mother’s age, gravidity, gestational age, birth weight, newborn sex, and causes of decreased FHR on Apgar scores and UApH were studied as well.
Results: The most common cause of decreased FHR was fetal distress, boys had higher weight (P=0.033) and lower UApH (P=0.049) than girls. Other parameters were not different significantly between both sexes. There was a positive correlation between UApH and 1-min and 5-min Apgar scores (r=0.464 and r=0.370 respectively) when controlled for birth weight (P<0.0001). The RR for NICU admission in male acidemic neonates with abnormal 1-min Apgar was 14.05 (CI95%: 5.7-34.6) in comparison to females (RR=1.06, CI95%: 1-1.26).
Conclusion: Mild acidemia (UApH<7.2) at least in a male fetus would be a good predictor for postnatal complications and need for NICU admission. Future studies with more samples are suggested.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Taraneh Geran Orimi; Mohammad Reza Zarkesh; Tahmineh Geran Orimi
Volume 7, Issue 6 , September and October 2022, , Pages 471-478
Abstract
Several studies have described multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children, but very few investigations presented this syndrome among neonates (MIS-N). The present study has reviewed the current knowledge about MIS-N, its etiology, symptoms, and outcomes to attract special attention with an eye ...
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Several studies have described multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children, but very few investigations presented this syndrome among neonates (MIS-N). The present study has reviewed the current knowledge about MIS-N, its etiology, symptoms, and outcomes to attract special attention with an eye on earlier diagnosis and treatment of newborns affected by perinatal SARS-CoV-2-infection. A narrative review study was conducted (Tehran, Iran, 2021). All types of full English articles (up to October 1 2021) were included. Detailed research on academic search engines was performed. The implemented Mesh-based keywords were "SARS-COVID-2" OR "COVID-19" OR "coronavirus" AND "Neonate" OR "Neonatal" OR "Newborn" AND "Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome" OR "MIS-N" OR "inflammatory response syndrome" AND "Pregnancy" OR "Perinatal" OR "prenatal". Finally, 15 Full-text articles were included that met the eligibility criteria. Available data related to the disease, its etiology, presentations, and its outcome were collected and discussed. The cause of MIS-N is the transmission or production of SARS-CoV2 antibodies in response to SARS-CoV2 infection. By involving different organs, the clinical manifestations of MIS-N may mimic sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, RDS, Kawasaki disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, myocarditis, meningitis/encephalitis, aortic thrombosis, ETC. Besides the clinical presentations, detecting reactive anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies could be a notable clue in MIS-N diagnosis. Supportive therapy, suppressing the autoimmune and inflammatory responses, anti-platelet agents, and anticoagulants were reported as effective therapeutic agents to improve the outcome. The present study highlighted the possibility of MIS-N as an infrequent but severe syndrome consequent to perinatal COVID-19 infection. Although the diagnosis is still controversial, clinical suspicion, laboratory findings, and early treatment initiation could improve the outcome of this immunological disease.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Zahra Panahi; Seyedeh Noushin Ghalandarpoor-Attar; Azade Shabani; Mamak Shariat; Fahimeh Ghotbizadeh; Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Elham Feizabad; Seyedeh Mojgan Ghalandarpoor-Attar
Volume 7, Issue 6 , September and October 2022, , Pages 536-542
Abstract
Background & Objective: The thymus gland significantly affects fetal immune system maturation. Additionally, there is a linear association between thymus gland size and its performance. Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran and scarce studies with conflicting results, subjecting ...
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Background & Objective: The thymus gland significantly affects fetal immune system maturation. Additionally, there is a linear association between thymus gland size and its performance. Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran and scarce studies with conflicting results, subjecting maternal vitamin D concentration effect on fetal thymus, we decided to investigate maternal vitamin D concentration and its relation to fetal thymus size in mid-gestation. This study also aimed to generate a race-specific reference range.Materials & Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of ultrasound measurements of the fetal thymus at 18-22 weeks of gestational age in 94 pregnant women and its correlation with maternal serum vitamin D levels from May to July 2021 at the tertiary center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran.Results: The mean values of thymus perimeter, thymus-thoracic ratio, thymus transverse diameter, and thymus area in all participants were 4.18±0.56 cm, 0.37±0.04, 1.56±0.21 cm, and 1.11±0.76 cm2, respectively. There was a trend toward decreased thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter with decreasing level of maternal vitamin D. There was also a significant correlation between thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter with fetal biometric indices and gestational age. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter. Conclusion: We generated a race-specific nomogram for fetal thymus size in Iranian pregnant women. Moreover, the observed trend toward decreased fetal thymus size with decreasing maternal vitamin D levels requires further prospective investigations. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and low compliance with daily vitamin D intake during pregnancy was also shown, which requires a solution.
Radiology
Maryam Rahmani; Behnaz Moradi; Masoumeh Gity; Mohammadreza Chavoshi; Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Soudabeh Kazemi Aski; Seyedeh Fatemeh Mahdipour Keivani; Narges Badraghe; Mohammad Ali Kazemi
Volume 6, Issue 2 , March 2021, , Pages 72-80
Abstract
Background and Objective: To evaluate the clinical course and CT findings of pregnant womenMethods: Fourthy (25 pregnant and 15 non-pregnant) patients were entered to the study. Chest CT features and clinical findings were evaluated between two groups. Data related to pregnancy and fetal status evaluated ...
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Background and Objective: To evaluate the clinical course and CT findings of pregnant womenMethods: Fourthy (25 pregnant and 15 non-pregnant) patients were entered to the study. Chest CT features and clinical findings were evaluated between two groups. Data related to pregnancy and fetal status evaluated in the pregnant group.Result: The average age of pregnant patients was 33.1±5.75 years and the non-pregnant group was 35.4±6.88 years. The gestational age ranged from 7 weeks to 39weeks+2days (mean =31weeks+5days). No significant difference was seen between the two groups about clinical findings except the duration of symptoms before CT which was more in pregnant patients (6.71 ± 5.5 days vs 3.53 ± 1.92 days). Two mortalities in pregnant and one in non-pregnant patients , 2(8%) cases of premature rupture of membranes (PROM), 3 (12%) cases of intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD), 3 (12%) cases of fetal distress and 2 (8%) cases of IUGR in pregnant group. Fifteen pregnant patients gave birth .No positive PCR result was detected in newborns. Unlike the control group, the common CT findings were ground-glass pattern.Conclusion: In summary, although we found the clinical findings in pregnant and control group were similar but pattern of CT involvement was different in pregnant patients and rate of ICU admission and mortality rate were more than control group. This viral pneumonia was associated with some important complications such as IUFD in severely involved mothers. CT could be an efficient tool for the early detection and severity assessment in the pregnant patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Fahimeh Ghotbizadeh Vahdani; Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh; Maryam Deldar Pasikhani; Azin Ghamari; Maryam Hajatpour; Zahra Panahi
Volume 4, Issue 2 , May and June 2019, , Pages 51-56
Abstract
Background & Objective: Due to increased rate of risk factors, the incidence of placenta accreta (PA) is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the important factors regarding the occurrence of PA, as well as outcomes and complications of Trans Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in the patients ...
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Background & Objective: Due to increased rate of risk factors, the incidence of placenta accreta (PA) is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the important factors regarding the occurrence of PA, as well as outcomes and complications of Trans Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH) in the patients with PA.
Materials & Methods: The study was performed as an observational cross-sectional study. Between March 2011 and March 2017, 177 patients, known cases of PA that undergone TAH, were enrolled in our study. Extracted data include demographic characteristics, patient’s medical history, surgical approach and complications, such as blood loss and urologic problems.
Results: The average of maternal age and gestational age were 33.6±4.70 (range= 22-43) years and 34.6±3.16 weeks, respectively. Neither maternal age (P < /em>=0.652) nor BMI (P < /em>=0.659) had significant association with abnormal placentation. Previous history of dilation & curettage (D&C) was found in 34 patients that was not related to the occurrence of the PA (P < /em>=0.508).Twenty-one (11.9%) of the patients needed urological intervention that did not associated with placental position, skin and uterine incision (P < /em>=0.258, 0.410 and 0.219). There is no relation between amount of blood loss with gestational age (P < /em>=0.7) and number of C/S (P < /em>=0.4), gestational age (P < /em>=0.7), anesthesia (P < /em>=0.2), and curettage history (P < /em>=0.3).
Conclusion: Our mortality and morbidity rate is much lower than reported ones, indicating the high-level ability, skill and knowledge of the surgeons.
