scholarly journals Laboratory options for risk assessment of pregnancy pathologies

2019 ◽  
pp. S415-S425
Author(s):  
A. Kestlerová ◽  
L Krofta ◽  
A. Žufić ◽  
K. Hamplová Běhávková ◽  
J. Račko ◽  
...  

The most effective method of screening for chromosomal abnormalities and evaluating the risk of pregnancy pathologies in the first trimester is combined screening. The algorithm of screening is based on the combination of maternal age, measuring of the nuchal translucency and the fetal heart rate and analysis of the placental products of free ß-hCG and PAPP-A. For the screening of preeclampsia, placental growth factor (PlGF) is added. To distinguish between preeclampsia and other pathologies caused by placental dysfunction it is recommended to also extend the screening with selected immunological markers. We concluded that elevated biochemical and immunological markers can help to predict the threat of preeclampsia in the third trimester. Some markers can probably predict the development of particularly severe pathological conditions.

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1181
Author(s):  
Szymon Kozłowski ◽  
Anna Stelmaszczyk-Emmel ◽  
Iwona Szymusik ◽  
Aleksandra Saletra-Bielińska ◽  
Robert Brawura-Biskupski-Samaha ◽  
...  

Background: Preeclampsia occurs more often in dichorionic than in monochorionic twin pregnancy. We hypothesize that serum concentrations of biomarkers: placental growth factor (PlGF), serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and endoglin (Eng) differ between monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies. Methods: A prospective observational study including 43 monochorionic and 36 dichorionic twin gestation was conducted. Blood samples were collected twice from all participants: between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 and between 32 + 0 and 34 + 0 weeks of gestation. PlGF, sFlt-1 and Eng were measured using immnunoenzymatic assays. Results: We found a significantly higher concentration of sFlt-1 in dichorionic in comparison to monochorionic pregnancies in both the first and third trimesters. PlGF and sEng levels did not differ between mono- and dichorionic gestation in both study periods. sFlt-1 level was related to twin gestation chorionicity, while PlGF expression was not. PlGF, sFlt-1 and sEng concentrations increased significantly during gestation and were much higher in the third trimester compared to the values measured in the first trimester. Conclusions: Angiogenic biomarkers expression differ between dichorionic and monochorionic twin pregnancy. The sFlt-1 level is related to chorionicity of a twin gestation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Gülşen Doğan Durdağ ◽  
Şafak Yılmaz Baran ◽  
Songül Alemdaroğlu ◽  
Hakan Kalaycı ◽  
Seda Yüksel Şimşek ◽  
...  

Objective Progesterone, which is necessary for maintenance of pregnancy, is secreted by corpus luteum until 10 weeks of gestation, and is produced from the placenta afterwards. Aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of serum progesterone concentrations measured in 6–8 weeks and 12 weeks of gestation with the parameters that may demonstrate placental dysfunction in the third trimester. Methods Relationship of the progesterone values measured at 6–8 weeks and 12 weeks of gestation with indicators of placental dysfunction, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery and low birth weight, were evaluated. Furthermore, based on a previous study, two groups with progesterone levels below and above 11 ng/mL in early pregnancy were formed, and the difference between these groups regarding gestational outcomes were investigated. Results Progesterone concentrations at 6–8 and 12 weeks of gestation were not significantly different between the subgroups with and without gestational complications indicating placental dysfunction (p>0.05 for all parameters). As for the two groups, significant difference was not found in terms of third trimester complications due to progesterone cut-off of 11 ng/mL at 6-8 weeks of gestation. Conclusion In this study, we did not find progesterone values measured at early and late first trimester periods to be associated with placental dysfunction in the third trimester. Also, we did not validate a previously suggested threshold value to predict gestational outcome. Therefore, routine first trimester progesterone screening in guiding pregnancy follow-up may not be appropriate.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-265
Author(s):  
Monica Vereş ◽  
Aurel Babeş ◽  
Szidonia Lacziko

Abstract Background and aims: Gestational diabetes represents a form of diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy that is not clearly overt diabetes. In the last trimester of gestation the growth of fetoplacental unit takes place, thus maternal hyperglycemia will determine an increased transplacental passage, hyperinsulinemia and fetal macrosomia. The aim of our study was that o analyzing the effect of maternal glycemia from the last trimester of pregnancy over fetal weight. Material and method: We run an observational study on a group of 46 pregnant women taken into evidence from the first trimester of pregnancy, separated in two groups according to blood glucose determined in the third trimester (before birth): group I normoglycemic and group II with hyperglycemia (>92mg/dl). Results: The mean value of third trimester glycemia for the entire group was of 87.13±22.03. The mean value of the glycemia determined in the third trimester of pregnancy was higher in the second group (109.17 mg/dl) in comparison to the first group (74.,21 mg/dl). The ROC curve for third trimester glycemia as fetal macrosomia appreciation test has an AUC of 0.517. Conclusions: Glycemia determined in the last trimester of pregnancy cannot be used alone as the predictive factor for fetal macrosomia.


2020 ◽  
pp. 205064062096461
Author(s):  
Ana-Marija Grišić ◽  
Maria Dorn-Rasmussen ◽  
Bella Ungar ◽  
Jørn Brynskov ◽  
Johan F K F Ilvemark ◽  
...  

Background Infliximab therapy during pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease is challenged by a dilemma between maintaining adequate maternal disease control while minimizing fetal infliximab exposure. We investigated the effects of pregnancy on infliximab pharmacokinetics. Methods The study population comprised 23 retrospectively identified pregnancies. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease were generally in clinical remission at pregnancy conception (74%) and received steady infliximab maintenance therapy (5 mg/kg q8w n = 17; q6w n = 4; q10w n = 1; 10 mg/kg q8w n = 1). Trough blood samples had been obtained in the same patients prior to pregnancy ( n = 119), the first trimester ( n = 16), second trimester ( n = 18), third trimester ( n = 7), and post-pregnancy ( n = 12). Data were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects population pharmacokinetic modelling. Results Dose-normalized infliximab concentrations were significantly higher during the second trimester (median 15 µg/mL/kg, interquartile range 10–21) compared to pre-pregnancy (7, 2–12; p = 0.003), the first trimester (9, 1–12; p = 0.04), or post-pregnancy (6, interquartile range 3–11; p > 0.05) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Similar trends were observed in the third trimester (13, 7–36; p > 0.05). A one-compartment model with linear elimination described the pharmacokinetics of infliximab (volume of distribution = 18.2 L; clearance 0.61 L/day). Maternal infliximab exposure was influenced by the second and third trimester of pregnancy and anti-infliximab antibodies, and not by pregnancy-imposed physiological changes in, for example, body weight or albumin. Infliximab clearance decreased significantly during the second and third trimesters by up to 15% as compared to pre- and post-pregnancy and the first trimester. The increased maternal infliximab exposure was weakly associated with lowered clinical disease activity. Pharmacokinetic model simulations of virtual patients indicated the increased maternal infliximab trough concentrations imposed by pregnancy will not completely counteract the decrease in infliximab concentration if therapy is paused in the third trimester. Conclusion Infliximab clearance decreases significantly in the second and third trimesters, leading to increasing maternal infliximab concentrations in any given regimen. Maternal infliximab levels may thus be maintained as constant in a de-intensified regimen by therapeutic drug monitoring guidance in inflammatory bowel disease.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Sun Park ◽  
Jeong-Kyu Hoh ◽  
Moon-Il Park

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuoxi He ◽  
Chuan Xie ◽  
Xiaorong Qi ◽  
Zhengjun Hu ◽  
Yuedong He

Abstract ObjectiveCervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare event, and data regarding efficacy of cancer treatment during pregnancy is limited. This study aimed to assess the safety of continuation of the pregnancy for mother and fetus when concomitantly diagnosed with cervical cancer.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed all cervical cancer patients diagnosed while pregnant or immediately postpartum, inclusive from Jan 2010 to June 2019 at our institute. Patient clinical details and follow-up were obtained from hospital records. ResultsThe study comprised 40 patients with clinical cancer stages of ⅠA1 (1/40, 2.5%); ⅠB1 (15/40, 37.5%); IB2 (10/40, 25%); ⅡA (12/40, 30%); and ⅡB (2/40, 5%). There were 38 patients diagnosed during pregnancy, and 2 diagnosed in the postpartum period. Of the 38 patients, 17 were diagnosed in the first trimester, 13 in the second trimester, and 8 in the third trimester. Ten of 38 patients (26.3%) continued their pregnancy after learning of their diagnosis; 7 (70%) in the third trimester and 3 (30%) in the second trimester. The mean time from diagnosis to surgery in the patients who continued their pregnancy was 52.7 days, which was statistically significantly greater than the termination of pregnancy group (52.7 vs 16.3 days, P < 0.01). Notably, there was no survival difference between the 2 groups (100% vs 90.91%, P =0.54), and none of the pregnant women who ultimately died had delayed treatment due to pregnancy. Similarly, the surgical estimated blood loss and operative duration comparing the 2 groups were not significantly different. ConclusionsIn the present study, the gestational age of pregnancy at the time of initial diagnosis of cervical cancer was an important determinant in the disease management. Continuation of the pregnancy when diagnosed with cervical cancer did not affect the oncologic outcome of the mother nor increase either surgical or obstetric complications. Additionally, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not threaten the health of the fetus. These results may be useful in counseling patients facing the diagnosis of cervical cancer during pregnancy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Istvan Peterfi ◽  
Lorand Kellenyi ◽  
Andras Szilagyi

Objective. The aim of the study was to develop a complex electrophysiological measurement system (hardware and software) which uses the methods of electrophysiology and provides significant information about the intrauterine status of the fetus, intending to obtain true-to-form, morphologically evaluated fetal ECG from transabdominal maternal lead.Results. The present method contains many novel ideas that allow creating true-to-form noninvasive fetal ECG in the third trimester of the pregnancy in 80% of the cases. Such ideas are the telemetric data collection, the “cleanse” of the real time recording from the maternal ECG, and the use of the cardiotocograph (CTG) that allows identifying the fetal heart events. The advantage of this developed system is that it does not require any qualified staff, because both the extraction of the information from the abdominal recording and the processing of the data are automatic.Discussion. Although the idea of a noninvasive fetal electrocardiography is more than 100 years old still there is no simple, effective, and cheap method available that would enable an extensive use. This developed system can be used in the third trimester of the pregnancy efficiently. It can produce true-to-form fetal ECGs with amplitude less than 10 µV.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 22-28
Author(s):  
М.М. Amiraslanova ◽  
◽  
I.V. Kuznetsova ◽  
E.P. Gitel ◽  
◽  
...  

Objective. To assess androgen secretion and its possible effect on pregnancy in women with threatened miscarriage in the first trimester. Patients and methods. This prospective observational study included 120 pregnant women divided into four groups. Group I comprised 32 patients with threatened miscarriage and hyperandrogenism who received corticosteroids; Group II was composed of 28 patients with threatened miscarriage and hyperandrogenism who did not receive corticosteroids; Group III included 30 patients with threatened miscarriage and no hyperandrogenism; and Group IV comprised 30 women with normal pregnancy. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and total testosterone were measured on the following weeks of gestation: 5–8, 9–12, 13–18, 19–24, and 25–32. We also evaluated clinical outcomes of pregnancy. Results. We observed no significant differences in 17-ОНР and DHEA-S secretion between women from Group III and controls. Patients from Group II demonstrated higher hormone levels than controls; however, their dynamics of 17-ОНР and testosterone secretion was similar to that in women without hyperandrogenism, so their DHEA-S levels decreased and reached control values by the third trimester. Corticosteroids reduced 17-ONR secretion in the second and third trimesters and DHEA-S secretion in the third trimester. Women receiving corticosteroids demonstrated the poorest clinical pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion. Hyperandrogenism should be considered as one of the risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes. Administration of corticosteroids to reduce androgen levels impairs normal dynamics of their secretion, does not improve pregnancy outcomes, and is potentially harmful; therefore, these drugs should not be used for such purposes. Key words: pregnancy, hyperandrogenism, corticosteroid therapy, pregnancy outcomes, pregnancy loss, androgen secretion, threatened miscarriage


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