Maternal Fetal Medicine
rana razavi; samira jahangard
Volume 7, Issue 1 , September and October 2021, , Pages 52-58
Abstract
Pregnant women appear to be more severely affected by COVID-19. Coagulopathy is known as one of the most challenging effects of COVID-19, and the effects of acute airway diseases resulting from the coronavirus on pregnant mothers and their fetuses can be dangerous. Two women who where pregnant suffering ...
Read More
Pregnant women appear to be more severely affected by COVID-19. Coagulopathy is known as one of the most challenging effects of COVID-19, and the effects of acute airway diseases resulting from the coronavirus on pregnant mothers and their fetuses can be dangerous. Two women who where pregnant suffering from coagulopathy (one of them with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and the other one with hypercoagulation) and COVID-19 infection are reported in this study. During hospitalization due to severe vaginal bleeding and placental detachment, cesarean section was performed on the first caseand because of acute severe DIC, she received a massive transfusion. The second patient epigastric pain and tachycardia. COVID-19 might have a variety of effects on pregnancy outcome, from vascular and placental involvement to respiratory involvement; there is an association between the coronavirus and hyper-coagulopathy state and coagulopathy like DIC.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Ali Reza Norouzi; Mahsa Siavashi; Fatemeh Norouzi; Maryam Talayeh; Somayyeh Noei Teymoordash
Volume 6, Issue 4 , August 2021, , Pages 217-223
Abstract
Background & Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most prevalent disorder during pregnancy, which is the result of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia due to the secretion of placental diabetogenic hormones. This study aimed to investigate the utility of glycated hemoglobin ...
Read More
Background & Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most prevalent disorder during pregnancy, which is the result of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia due to the secretion of placental diabetogenic hormones. This study aimed to investigate the utility of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) alone and in combination with hematocrit for early detection of gestational diabetes mellitus.Materials & Methods: In this prospective cohort research, 373 pregnant women who referred to prenatal clinics were included. Hematocrit and HbA1c were determined at gestational age of 12 to 16 weeks and compared with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results at gestational age of 24-28 weeks.Results: The best cut-off hematocrit for determining pregnancy diabetes mellitus was 37.3. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 70.15%, 64.12%, 32.71 %, and 89.51% respectively.In terms of HbA1c, the best cut-off value to determine GDM in pregnant women was 5, with a sensitivity of 98.51%, specificity rate of 99.02%, PPV of 95.07%, and NPV of 99.49%. In terms of diagnosing GDM, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for HbA1c was equal to 0.985 which was higher than the AUC for the combination of HbA1c with HCT.Conclusion: Measuring HbA1c can be useful as a screening test for GDM, which is an inexpensive and available test. The combined evaluation of HbA1c and hematocrit did not improve the diagnostic value of HbA1c in GDM screening compared to exclusive evaluation of HbA1c.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Maryam Dehghan; Neda Ebrahimian; Leila Mousavi Seresht
Volume 6, Issue 4 , August 2021, , Pages 228-232
Abstract
Background & Objective: Since the first reported respiratory distress syndrome due to the new version of the coronaviruses family, COVID-19, there is a concern about the possible maternal and perinatal outcome of new infection in a short and even long time, our information about the prognosis ...
Read More
Background & Objective: Since the first reported respiratory distress syndrome due to the new version of the coronaviruses family, COVID-19, there is a concern about the possible maternal and perinatal outcome of new infection in a short and even long time, our information about the prognosis of pregnancy in sync with COVID-19 is limited. What is our task as scientists in eliminating the unknown facts?Materials & Methods: Here we try to present a couple of pregnant cases in their third trimesters of pregnancy that complicated with two contrary complication of COVID-19 infection, intending to illuminate the best management strategy in COVID-19 infected pregnant.Results: The first case had experienced thromboembolism, and also bleeding accident, who fortunately survived unlike the other case, who expired due to multi-organ failure and impossibility of anticoagulant agent administration for the suspected pulmonary thromboembolic accident.Conclusion: The prior report revealed the thrombo-inflammatory and hypoxic effect of COVID-19 that could lead to microvascular thrombosis and progression, which enforce health care providers, introducing the anticoagulant agents to decline COVID-19 mortality, especially in a critically ill patient. Pregnancy is associated with coagulation abnormality which could intensify the COVID-19-induced coagulopathy. But, one should balance the harm and benefit of such a hazard approach, is there any concern about vascular damage of COVID-19 and subsequent bleeding, that could be exacerbated with high dose anticoagulant agent administration? The other question that we want to discuss in the present report is about comparing the cost and benefit of anticoagulant therapy?
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Maryam Kashanian; Arezoo HoseiniMoghaddam; Seyyed Ali Javad Moosavi; Narges Sheikhansari; Hoda Abdollahi
Volume 6, Issue 2 , March 2021, , Pages 65-71
Abstract
Background and Objective: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disorder during pregnancy and it may affect pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to compare the pregnancy, delivery and neonatal outcomes between asthmatic and non-asthmatic pregnant women.Methods: The study was designed as a historical ...
Read More
Background and Objective: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disorder during pregnancy and it may affect pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to compare the pregnancy, delivery and neonatal outcomes between asthmatic and non-asthmatic pregnant women.Methods: The study was designed as a historical cohort among pregnant women with and without asthma. A total number of 583 asthmatic patients were allocated to the case group and 753 women without asthmatic history were placed in the control group. Pregnancy, labor and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: The baseline characteristics of the women in both groups did not show significant differences. Gestational hypertension was more in the asthmatic group [43 (7.37%) VS 26 (3.45%), P < /em>=0.001]. Also the rate of preterm delivery was higher in asthmatic women [72 (12.34%) VS 77 (10.22%) in the control group, P < /em>=0.04]. However, the rate of preeclampsia was less in the asthmatic group [29 (4.97%) VS 71 (9.42%), P < /em>=0.008]. Apgar score at minutes 1 and 5 was less in asthmatic group. Intra Uterine Fetal Demise (IUFD) [24 (4.1%) VS 13(1.7%), P value=0.009], and neonatal death [31 (5.31%) VS 10 (1.32%), P < /em>=0.001] were more in the asthmatic group. The maternal and neonatal complications did not show significant differences in various severities of asthma. Multivariate regression model showed more risks for neonatal death [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.18; CI95% 2.03-8.60], IUFD (AOR=2.43; CI95% 1.22-4.82), gestational hypertension (AOR= 1.43; CI 95% 1.40-1.45), and lower risk for preeclampsia (AOR 0.37; CI95%0.17-0.79) in asthmatic women.Conclusion: Regardless of the fact that asthmatic mothers had higher frequencies of gestational hypertension, IUFD and neonatal death, the effect of asthma on perinatal outcome is minimal, probably because of efficient medical control.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Fatemeh Bahadori; Zahra Fakour; Roghayeh Redaei; Hamid Reza Khalkhali; Zahra Sahebazzamani
Volume 6, Issue 1 , January 2021, , Pages 10-15
Abstract
Background & Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of betamethasone on neonatal and maternal complications of late preterm labor. Materials and Methods: The women at the gestational age of 34 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days who referred to Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia, Iran for premature ...
Read More
Background & Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of betamethasone on neonatal and maternal complications of late preterm labor. Materials and Methods: The women at the gestational age of 34 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days who referred to Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia, Iran for premature labor or had a maternal indication of pregnancy termination were selected for this study. The participants were classified into the case group receiving two doses of 12 mg intramuscular betamethasone every 24 h or the control group who did not receive betamethasone. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), need for mechanical or noninvasive ventilation, days of stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Neonatal Ward, umbilical arterial blood gases, maternal hyperglycemia, and wound infection were evaluated.Results: A total of 200 pregnant women were enrolled with a mean age of 27.06±6.55 years. Out of 200 neonates, 52 cases had RDS of which 21 received betamethasone. The first-minute Apgar score was 6.96±0.75 in the control and 7.57±0.67 in the case groups (P < /em><0.001). The incidence of RDS, need for surfactant administration, noninvasive ventilation, and days of stay at NICU or Neonatal Ward were significantly different between the study groups. However, because of the low number of cases (2 cases), we did not find a significant difference in the need for mechanical ventilation between the two groups (P < /em>=0.041). There was maternal hyperglycemia in 65% of women in the test group. Conclusion: Administration of betamethasone in late premature pregnancies can be effective in the reduction of neonatal complications without any increase in maternal complications.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Mona Taghavipour; Tahereh Galini-Moghaddam; Seyed Jaber Mousavi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , January 2021, , Pages 22-28
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Maternal serum levels of the first- and second-trimester markers for aneuploidy have been revealed to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in the absence of neural tube defects or aneuploidy. This finding can guide clinicans for early diagnosis and management of such ...
Read More
Background and Objectives: Maternal serum levels of the first- and second-trimester markers for aneuploidy have been revealed to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in the absence of neural tube defects or aneuploidy. This finding can guide clinicans for early diagnosis and management of such outcomes. However, previous finding are conflicting in this regard. Therefore, this study evaluated the detection of adverse pregnancy outcomes by first- and second-trimester serum screening analytes.Methods & Materials: We prospectively recruited 972 females who underwent first and second-trimester aneuploidy screening. We gathered information on maternal demographic characteristics and serum biomarkers (free B-hCG and PAPP-A for the first-trimester; AFP, Β-hCG, Inhibin-A, and unconjugated estradiol for second-trimester). At the end of the study, adverse pregnancy outcome was recorded.Results: Abnormal screening results were reported in 34 (3.5%) patients. Two groups were significantly different in maternal age, BMI, and gestational period (P < /em>=0.017, 0.003 and 0.021, respectively). Among the measured adverse outcomes, preeclampsia was significantly more prevalent in the case group (P < /em><0.0001). Abnormal levels of Inhibin-A is associated with the incidence of preeclampsia (RR: 29.87, CI: 13.22-67.49, P < /em><0.0001). Additionally, patients with an abnormal level of Inhibin-A had a shorter gestational period (255.5 ± 24.53 vs. 264.79 ± 8.99, P < /em>=0.006). Likewise, patients with an abnormal level of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) had a shorter gestational period (252.0 ± 29.3 vs. 264.8 ± 8.93, P < /em>=0.001).Conclusion: First- and second-trimester maternal serum biomarkers could provide a possible screening tool for early detection of preeclampsia.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Maryam Saraei; Pegah Estakhrian Haghighi; Hamed Amirifard; Arezu Najafi
Volume 6, Issue 1 , January 2021, , Pages 29-34
Abstract
Background & Objective: Gestational hypertension (GH) is considered as one of the important health-related issues of pregnant women. One of the raised problems in the pathogenesis of GH is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to evaluate associated factors of OSA among an employed pregnant ...
Read More
Background & Objective: Gestational hypertension (GH) is considered as one of the important health-related issues of pregnant women. One of the raised problems in the pathogenesis of GH is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to evaluate associated factors of OSA among an employed pregnant population.Materials and Methods: In this study, 200 employed pregnant women with GH as the case group and 200 healthy pregnant ones as the control group were enrolled. Blood pressure >140/90 after 20 weeks of gestational age without proteinuria was defined as GH. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were applied for statistical analysis.Results: Mean ± SD of age and body mass index (BMI) were 32.85 ± 5.45 (years) and 31.85±5.97 (kg/m2) among the case group, respectively. Participants with GH had higher mean BMI, neck circumference, and more frequency of snoring than the control group, which was statistically significant (P < /em><0.012, P < /em><0.025, and P < /em><0.007, respectively). Sales and service occupations consisted the group with the highest frequency of GH.Conclusion: Participants with GH had higher BMI, snoring, observed apnea, and neck circumference. This observation warrants comprehensive assessment of OSA and related risk factors among patients with GH.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Seddighe Borna; Marjan Ghaemi; Fatemeh Golshahi; Mamak Shariat; Mahboobeh Shirazi; Behrokh Sahebdel
Volume 5, Issue 4 , December 2020, , Pages 159-166
Abstract
Background & objective: Premature preterm rupture of membrane (PPROM) is a cause of preterm birth. This study investigated the effectiveness of Doppler ultrasound in predicting fetal complications and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with PPROM.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional ...
Read More
Background & objective: Premature preterm rupture of membrane (PPROM) is a cause of preterm birth. This study investigated the effectiveness of Doppler ultrasound in predicting fetal complications and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with PPROM.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 23 pregnant women with PPROM were chosen in their 24 to 34 weeks of gestational age. The fetuses’ blood flow indices were evaluated by Doppler ultrasound pulsatility index (PI) in the middle cerebral, main pulmonary, right kidney, and fetal umbilical arteries and descending aorta at admission (because of PPROM) and 24 hours before delivery. Neonatal outcomes were assessed within the first week of birth.Results: The kidney artery PI increased (P < /em>=0.047) and pulmonary artery PI decreased (P < /em>=0.024) at pregnancy termination time. There was a negative correlation between the 5-minute Apgar score and fetal umbilical artery PI at admission (P < /em>=0.003) and pregnancy termination times (P < /em>=0.031). The fetal umbilical artery PI of neonates with abnormal brain ultrasound imaging results significantly decreased at admission (P < /em>=0.002) and pregnancy termination times (P < /em>=0.004).Conclusion: Fetal artery Doppler ultrasound PI may be a valid tool for predicting neonatal outcomes of women with PPROM.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Parichehr Pooransari; Mahboobeh Shirazi
Volume 5, Issue 2 , October 2020, , Pages 68-71
Abstract
Background & Objective: Screening tests for common aneuploidy, especially trisomies 21, 18, and 13, should be offered to pregnant people of all ages at first and second trimesters. Theses include combined tests (nuchal translucency (NT)+biochemical pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), ...
Read More
Background & Objective: Screening tests for common aneuploidy, especially trisomies 21, 18, and 13, should be offered to pregnant people of all ages at first and second trimesters. Theses include combined tests (nuchal translucency (NT)+biochemical pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)) and quad test. If the tests are positive based on cut-off value of 1:250, diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are suggested. The current study aimed to comparatively evaluate the results of these screening tests and amniocentesis.
Materials & Methods: This practical-basic study was designed to evaluate the accuracy of first and second trimester screening tests with amniocentesis results. A total of 45 subjects were selected from the patients referred for abnormal screening tests toShohadaya-ye-Tajrish hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2014-2015. The results of tests (combined or quad) were positive based on cut-off value of 1:250. Data was collected through a questionnaire containing such information as age, gravidity, previous aneuploidy births, placenta location, blood group, amniotic fluid color, type of sampling needle, and mode of needle entrance.Results: The mean age of patients was 33.16 years. There was significant p-value between positive results of amniocentesis and age of the patients. Out of 45 amniocentesis tests, four had abnormal results (two in the first trimester (2/17) and two in the second trimester (2/24)). Also, three items were T21 and the forth was translocation between chromosome 11-22. We had one fetal loss due to amniocentesis procedure.Conclusion: Diagnostic tests are suggested for better evaluation of abnormal results. These screening tests have false positive and negative results. We attempted to evaluate the real results with invasive tests. Further research is needed to investigate the accuracy of screening aneuploidy tests.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Fahimeh Hassani; Farideh Movahed; Fatemeh Lalouha; Enayatollah Noori
Volume 5, Issue 1 , August 2020, , Pages 6-10
Abstract
Background & Objective: In this study, thyroid dysfunction in women with gestational diabetes mellitus was examined and compared to that in healthy pregnant women referred to Kowsar Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 and 2018.Methods: In this case-control study, 100 women with gestational diabetes mellitus ...
Read More
Background & Objective: In this study, thyroid dysfunction in women with gestational diabetes mellitus was examined and compared to that in healthy pregnant women referred to Kowsar Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 and 2018.Methods: In this case-control study, 100 women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 100 non diabetic healthy pregnant women who referred to Kowsar Hospital in Qazvin from 2017 to 2018 were selected using the convenience sampling method, and their serum thyroxine, anti-TPO, and TSH levels were determined and compared. Moreover, Apgar scores and anthropometric variables were compared between the two groups.Results: In the present study, there were statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the TSH level (P < /em>=0.012), assessed by the independent t-test, the thyroxine (P < /em>=0.0001) and anti-TPO (P < /em>=0.008) levels, both examined by the Mann-Whitney test, which associated with high levels of TSH and anti-TPO and low levels of thyroxine in the diabetic group. No differences were found regarding the Apgar scores and anthropometric variables between the groups (P < /em>>0.05).Conclusion: Overall, according to the obtained results, it can be inferred that thyroid dysfunction, realized as hypothyroid with high anti-TPO levels, was more prevalent in women with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to healthy pregnant women.
