Augusto Henriques Fulgêncio Brandão

Dopplerfluxometria de artérias oftálmicas e avaliação da função endotelial nas formas precoce e tardia da pré-eclâmpsia

OBJETIVO: Avaliar possiveis diferencas entre a disfuncao endotelial, avaliada pela dilatacao fluxo-mediada, e hiperperfusao central, avaliada por dopplerfluxometria da arteria oftalmica, entre pacientes portadoras da forma precoce e tardia da pre-eclâmpsia. MATERIAIS E METODOS: O teste de dilatacao fluxo-mediada e a dopplerfluxometria da arteria oftalmica foram obtidos de 81 gestantes, sendo 56 portadoras de pre-eclâmpsia (26 na forma precoce e 30 na forma tardia) e 25 gestantes saudaveis (grupo controle). RESULTADOS: Portadoras de pre-eclâmpsia apresentaram valores menores de dilatacao fluxo-mediada quando comparadas ao grupo controle, tanto na forma precoce (7,62 ± 5,42% × 14,12 ± 6,14%; p = 0,02) como na forma tardia (5,83 ± 4,12% × 14,12 ± 6,14%; p = 0,00). Nao houve diferenca quando foram comparadas as duas formas (7,62 ± 5,42% × 5,83 ± 4,12%; p = 0,09). A dopplerfluxometria da arteria oftalmica apresentou-se significativamente menor nas pacientes portadoras de pre-eclâmpsia quando comparadas ao grupo controle, tanto na forma precoce (0,631 ± 0,024 × 0,737 ± 0,032; p = 0,01) como na forma tardia (0,653 ± 0,019 × 0,737 ± 0,032; p = 0,03). Nao houve diferenca entre as duas formas de apresentacao (0,631 ± 0,024 × 0,653 ± 0,019; p = 0,12). Os resultados basicamente demonstram reducao nos valores de dilatacao fluxo-mediada e dopplerfluxometria da arteria oftalmica nas formas tardia e precoce da pre-eclâmpsia quando comparadas ao grupo controle, sem, contudo, diferencas significativas entre as duas formas de apresentacao da doenca. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados indicam a presenca de disfuncao endotelial e hiperperfusao central em gestantes com pre-eclâmpsia, tanto na forma precoce como na tardia.

Endothelial function, uterine perfusion and central Flow in pregnancies complicated by Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND The physiopathology of Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by a deficiency in the process of placentation, systemic endothelial dysfunction and Central Nervous System (CNS) hyperflow. From a clinical point of view, it would be interesting to determine the occurrence of these phenomena before the onset of clinical manifestations of the disease, raising the possibility of new methods for predicting PE. OBJECTIVE Compare the process of placentation, endothelial function and CNS hyperflow in pregnant women at high risk for the development of PE who subsequently developed or not the syndrome. METHODS A total of 74 pregnant women underwent the Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, Doppler study of uterine and ophthalmic arteries for the assessment of endothelial function, process of placentation and central hyperflow, respectively. The examinations were performed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation and were followed until the postpartum period for data collection. RESULTS Fifteen patients had PE and 59 remained normotensive until the puerperium. Patients who subsequently developed PE had between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, higher pulsatility index of uterine arteries and lower values of FMD (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). However, there was no difference in the values obtained in the resistive index in the ophthalmic artery (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION The data obtained suggest that the deficiency in the process of placentation and endothelial dysfunction chronologically precede the clinical manifestations of PE, which does not occur with CNS hyperflow.

Comparative Study of Endothelial Function and Uterine Artery Doppler Velocimetry between Pregnant Women with or without Preeclampsia Development.

Background. Poor placentation and systemic endothelial dysfunction have been identified as main events in Preeclampsia (PE). The relationship and chronology of these phenomena are important if we are to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this major clinical problem. Objectives. To compare the evolution of placentation and endothelial function in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies. Patients and methods. In a prospective cohort study, 59 pregnant women with a high risk of developing PE were subjected to flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and to Doppler velocimetry of uterine arteries in order to obtain their Pulsatility Index (UtA-PI). The variations in the FMD and UtA-PI values, between 16+0 and 19+6 and 24+0 and 27+6 weeks of gestation, were compared, taking PE development into consideration. Results. Nine patients developed PE and the other 50 women remained normotensive. At 16+0 to 19+6 weeks of pregnancy, patients that developed PE presented higher values of UtA-PI than the normotensive group, but there was no difference in FMD results between them. At 24+0 to 27+6 weeks, the patients that developed PE presented higher values of UtA-PI and lower values of FMD than the women that remained normotensive. Conclusions. These results corroborate the evidence that endothelial injury is secondary to poor placentation.

Revisiting HELLP syndrome.

HELLP syndrome was first described in 1982 by Weinstein et al. and the term HELLP refers to an acronym used to describe the clinical condition that leads to hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets. The syndrome frequency varies from 0.5 to 0.9% pregnancies and manifests preferentially between the 27th and 37th week of gestation. Approximately 30% of cases occur after delivery. Although the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome remains unclear, histopathologic findings in the liver include intravascular fibrin deposits that presumably may lead to hepatic sinusoidal obstruction, intrahepatic vascular congestion, and increased intrahepatic pressure with ensuing hepatic necrosis, intraparenchymal and subcapsular hemorrhage, and eventually capsular rupture. Typical clinical symptoms of HELLP syndrome are pain in the right upper quadrant abdomen or epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting. However, this syndrome can present nonspecific symptoms and the diagnosis may be difficult to be established. Laboratory tests and imaging exams are essential for differential diagnosis with other clinical conditions. Treatment of HELLP syndrome with corticosteroids, targeting both lung maturation of the fetus is still an uncertain clinical value. In conclusion, three decades after the tireless efforts of Dr. Weinstein to characterize HELLP syndrome, it remains a challenge to the scientific community and several questions need to be answered for the benefit of pregnant women.

Doppler flowmetry of ophthalmic arteries for prediction of pre-eclampsia

BACKGROUND central nervous system (CNS) hyperperfusion is one of the events that constitute the pathophysiological basis for the clinical manifestations and complications of pre-eclampsia (PE). Detecting the increased flow in the CNS through Doppler flowmetry of the ophthalmic artery might precede the clinical onset of PE and could be used as a marker for subsequent development of PE. OBJECTIVE to evaluate the ophthalmic artery resistive index (OARI) values in the second trimester of pregnancy for prediction of the clinical manifestations of PE. OBJECTIVE to evaluate the ophthalmic artery resistive index (OARI) values in the second trimester of pregnancy for prediction of the clinical manifestations of PE. METHODS a total of 73 patients with risk factors for the development of PE were selected from the prenatal service at the HC-UFMG. They were submitted to ophthalmic artery Doppler flowmetry between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and monitored until the end of the pregnancy to verify the occurrence of PE. ROC curves were created to determine the predictive characteristics of the OARI. RESULTS fourteen of the patients selected developed PE and 59 remained normotensive until the postpartum period. Patients with subsequent development of PE presented OARI values lower than patients that remained normotensive (0.682 ± 0.028 X 0.700 ± 0.029, p = 0.044). Considering the development of PE as an outcome, the area under the OARI curve was 0.694 (CI 0.543 to 0.845), with no points obtaining good values of sensitivity or specificity. CONCLUSION Doppler flowmetry of ophthalmic arteries between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy did not present itself as a good exam for predicting PE.

Predição de pré-eclâmpsia em suas formas tardia e precoce pela dilatação fluxo-mediada da artéria braquial

Objective To assess the accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery (FMD), a biophysical marker for endothelial dysfunction. Materials and Methods A total of 91 patients, considered at high risk for development of preeclampsia were submitted to brachial artery FMD between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Results Nineteen out of the selected patients developed preeclampsia, 8 in its early form and 11 in the late form. With a cut-off value of 6.5%, the FMD sensitivity for early preeclampsia prediction was 75.0%, with specificity of 73.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 32.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.9%. For the prediction of late preeclampsia, sensitivity = 83.3%, specificity = 73.2%, PPV = 34.4% and NPV = 96.2% were observed. And for the prediction of all associated forms of preeclampsia, sensitivity = 84.2%, specificity = 73.6%, PPV = 45.7% and NPV = 94.6% were observed. Conclusion FMD of the brachial artery is a test with good accuracy in the prediction of both early and late preeclampsia, which may represent a positive impact on the follow-up of pregnant women at high risk for developing this syndrome.

Longitudinal evaluation of uterine perfusion, endothelial function and central blood flow in early onset pre-eclampsia

OBJECTIVES Physiopathological mechanisms that trigger clinical manifestations in pre-eclampsia (PE) remain unclear, and management is still a challenge. The identification of tools to predict the onset of the disease and prevent its complications is of great interest in medical practice. The present study aims to evaluate uterine perfusion, endothelial function and central nervous system blood flow in pregnant women with high-risk factors for PE, for comparison of the results between the group of patients who developed early onset PE and those who remained normotensive throughout pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Sixty-two patients were recruited from our high-risk prenatal service, and followed throughout gestation. Patients were submitted to flow-mediated dilation, Dopplervelocimetry of uterine arteries and Dopplervelocimetry of ophthalmic arteries at three distinct moments of pregnancy: between 16+0 and 19+6weeks, between 24+0 and 27+6weeks and at hospital admission to delivery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Pulsatility index of uterine arteries, flow-mediated dilation and ophthalmic arteries resistance index were evaluated and compared between the two groups of patients. RESULTS Ten pregnancies were complicated by early onset PE, and these patients presented a significantly higher pulsatility index of uterine arteries between 16+0 and 19+6weeks of gestation, compared with the normotensive group (p=0,016). Both flow-mediated dilation and ophthalmic arteries resistance index values were lower in affected patients at 24+0 to 27+6weeks (p=0,001), and by the time of delivery (p<0,002). CONCLUSIONS Those findings suggest that impaired placental perfusion, endothelial dysfunction and central hyperperfusion temporarily precede the clinical manifestations of early onset pre-eclampsia.

Use Doppler imaging of uterine arteries for predicting preeclampsia in women with risk factors

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders represent the most frequent and serious complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Abnormal findings upon uterine artery Doppler, including altered values of pulsatility index and average persistence of bilateral diastolic notch, have been proposed as suitable predictors of preeclampsia in screening tests. Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of uterine artery Doppler in predicting the occurrence of preeclampsia in a group of women at clinical and epidemiological risk for its development. Patients and methods: 81 pregnant women, all of which with risk factors for developing preeclampsia were selected. The average pulsatility index exams were performed on gestational intervals of 16+0 and 19+6 weeks and 24+0 and 27+6 weeks. In the latter range, the persistence of bilateral diastolic notch was also assessed. Results: Bilateral diastolic notch between 24+0 and 27+6 weeks of gestation could predict the diagnosis of preeclampsia with 75% sensitivity, 82% specificity, positive predictive value of 50% and negative predictive value of 93%. The analysis of data obtained between 16+0 and 19+6 weeks and between 24+0 and 27+6 weeks demonstrated that high values of mean pulsatility index were found in patients affected by preeclampsia compared with those found in the group of normotensive patients. Conclusion: pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia had significantly higher prevalence of bilateral notches and higher mean pulsatility indexes in each of the ranges studied. Since no specific treatment is currently available, the ability to predict the disease at its onset, in the first half of pregnancy, can facilitate early monitoring, increased support, and the ability to intervene at the appropriate time so as to reduce the maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality observed in preeclampsia.

Single-site laparoscopy in gynecology: preliminary study of a series of 50 cases

OBJECTIVE to describe the initial experience of a gynecology team, at a tertiary care center, when performing single-port laparoscopic surgery. METHODS this is a retrospective study reviewing the medical records of 50 patients treated at the outpatient gynecology clinic of our institution between June 2012 and July 2013 who underwent single-port laparoscopic surgery. This study was approved by the institutions Ethics in Research Committee. RESULTS the mean age of patients is 37.8 years, ranging from 18 to 70 years, and the most frequent surgical indications were adnexal mass (72%) and chronic pelvic pain (24%). The mean operative time was 94.4 minutes with a mean hospital stay of 25.8 hours. There were no perioperative complications. We recorded two conversions to laparotomy due to technical difficulties during the procedure. All cases of conversion had pelvic adhesions. All operative complications were successfully treated and none were considered severe. CONCLUSION this is one of the largest case series in the literature regarding surgical treatment by single-port laparoscopy in gynecology and presents evidence on reduction of surgical morbidity and satisfactory cosmetic results. We conclude that single-port laparoscopy is a viable minimally invasive technique, and that it contributes to the construction of a new scenario in modern gynecological surgery.