A. Delabaere

Prédiction de la prématurité en cas de menace d’accouchement prématuré : revue de la littérature

OBJECTIVE OF THE REVIEW To identify predictors of preterm delivery in the context of threatened preterm labour. MAIN POINTS Tobacco use and previous history of preterm delivery are the main anamnestic elements to predict preterm birth. High positive predictive value of vaginal examination is restricted to cases with strong cervical alterations like dilatation over 4 cm. In case of discrete cervical alterations, literature confirms the great interest for cervical length ultrasonographic measurement as it reduces false positive cases. Absence of fetal respiratory movements appears to be as sensitive as cervical length and could be more specific but its clinical use remains rare. Vaginal detection of fetal fibronectin is the most useful biomarker with high negative predictive value (>90%). Fibronectin quantitative test seems to enhance the positive predictive value. No other biomarker is currently used in clinical practice. Electromyography and elastography of the cervix appear to be promising approaches.

Diagnostic et évolution prénatale de l’ouraque perméable : à propos d’un cas

Prenatal ultrasonographic features of patent urachus consist in anechoic proximal cord cyst communicating with the bladder associated with large umbilicus. Distinction should be made with omphalocele and bladder extrophy. Spontaneous evolution leads to rupture during mid-trimester and bladder protrusion. Karyotyping is not mandatory in isolated typical cases. Early postnatal surgery is usually required.

Effects of tracheal occlusion with retinoic acid administration on normal lung development

Tracheal occlusion (TO) is an investigational therapy for severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia that decreases pulmonary hypoplasia, but sustained TO also induces deficient surfactant synthesis. Intramuscular maternal administration of retinoic acid (RA) in a surgical rabbit model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia showed a beneficial effect on lung maturation. We evaluated the potential of RA delivery into the trachea and studied the combined effects of TO and RA on normal lung development.

Dossier FMC : La prématuritéPrédiction de la prématurité en cas de menace d’accouchement prématuré : revue de la littératurePrediction of spontaneous preterm birth in symptomatic patients: A review

OBJECTIVE OF THE REVIEW To identify predictors of preterm delivery in the context of threatened preterm labour. MAIN POINTS Tobacco use and previous history of preterm delivery are the main anamnestic elements to predict preterm birth. High positive predictive value of vaginal examination is restricted to cases with strong cervical alterations like dilatation over 4 cm. In case of discrete cervical alterations, literature confirms the great interest for cervical length ultrasonographic measurement as it reduces false positive cases. Absence of fetal respiratory movements appears to be as sensitive as cervical length and could be more specific but its clinical use remains rare. Vaginal detection of fetal fibronectin is the most useful biomarker with high negative predictive value (>90%). Fibronectin quantitative test seems to enhance the positive predictive value. No other biomarker is currently used in clinical practice. Electromyography and elastography of the cervix appear to be promising approaches.

Retinoic acid and tracheal occlusion for diaphragmatic hernia treatment in rabbit fetuses

Lung hypoplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension in congenital diaphragmatic hernia lead to a high perinatal mortality. Although sustained fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (TO) improves lung development, a major side effect is abnormal pneumocyte differentiation. This study evaluated the potential ability of intratracheal retinoic acid (RA) administration to reduce adverse effects of sustained TO in a rabbit model of diaphragmatic hernia.