Carmen Trivellini

Recurrent spontaneous abortion and intrauterine fetal growth retardation as symptoms of coeliac disease

Women having recurrent miscarriages or intrauterine growth retardation could have subclinical coeliac disease, which can be detected by serological screening tests.

Emergency cerclage in the presence of protruding membranes: is pregnancy outcome predictable?

Background. The aim of this retrospective study is to verify whether some maternal features are related to pregnancy outcome in cases of emergency mid‐trimester cerclage when membranes are protruding through the dilated cervix.

Coenzyme Q10 in pregnancy.

Our objectives were to assess the plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels in normal pregnancy, in pregnancy with a spontaneous contractile event, in spontaneous abortion and in threatened abortion. Six hundred and fifteen CoQ10 levels were analyzed in 483 pregnant women: 350 patients were employed to design a normal curve; 66 patients with spontaneous contractile activity underwent two or more CoQ10 analyses in different trimesters; 49 patients presented spontaneous abortion, and 18 patients threatened abortion. The normal curve of plasma CoQ10 levels rises during each trimester of pregnancy, while there is a correspondence between a low CoQ10 level and spontaneous abortion. Furthermore we found a statistically significant difference between the plasma CoQ10 value in spontaneous contractile activity, mainly in the third trimester. We found an increase in the plasma CoQ10 level in relation to the contractile activity of the uterine muscle. Further studies are necessary to explain the involvement of this marker on pregnancy in clinical practice.

Pregnancy Outcome and Total Parenteral Nutrition in Malnourished Pregnant Women

Objective: We evaluated pregnancy outcome and fetal growth in women requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Methods: Eleven malnourished pregnant women were treated with TPN in a single institution, starting at a mean gestational age of 20 ± 8 weeks (± SD). Serial ultrasound evaluations of fetal growth (biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal circumference) were performed. The paired Student t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for the statistical analysis: p values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The duration of TPN ranged from 14 to 220 days. Maternal nutritional state was well preserved and no complications were related to treatment. A gestational age of 35 ± 3 weeks at delivery (mean ± SD), birth weight of 2,251 ± 670 g (mean ± SD) and birth percentile of 29 ± 16 (mean ± SD) were observed. One intrauterine death occurred. The comparison between the sonographic findings, before and 2 weeks after starting TPN, showed a fetal percentile gain with a statistically significant increase in the abdominal circumference percentile (p < 0.05) from a median percentile of 2 (range 2–32) to 33 (range 2–78). Conclusions: TPN proved to be helpful and lifesaving in malnourished pregnant women and promoted fetal growth, as shown by the longitudinal ultrasonographic evaluations.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling: an open question

We performed a retrospective study of 26 pregnancies with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) or incidental ITP. Thirteen pregnancies were followed without the use of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) and 13 were followed sampling PUBS at 36-40 weeks of gestation. The overall prevalence of neonatal thrombocytopenia was 27%: 50% in chronic ITP, 12.5% in incidental ITP. Symptomatic thrombocytopenia occurred only in infants born to mothers with chronic ITP. Without the use of PUBS, 2 symptomatic thrombocytopenic fetuses were vaginally delivered and there was a high rate of cesarean sections in normal fetuses. Owing to PUBS, a decrease of the cesarean section rate in normal fetuses was observed, but one fetal bradycardia (due to the technique) was encountered. PUBS resulted helpful to indicate the best route of delivery and reducing unnecessary cesarean sections in women with chronic ITP, but in presence of incidental ITP the use of PUBS remains an open question.

Double shunt in a case of fetal low-level obstructive uropathy.

This report describes a pregnant woman at 22 weeks of gestation examined for fetal bilateral dilated renal pelvis and oligohydramnios. Ultrasound evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of low-level obstructive uropathy. At 26 weeks of gestation, the increase in hydronephrosis prompted us to introduce a vesicoamnionic shunt. Because of unusual intraperitoneal dislocation of the shunt and an increase in ascites and hydronephrosis, we had to insert a peritoneoamnionic shunt at 30 weeks of gestation. The patient underwent cesarean section at 31 weeks for obstetric complications. The infant, at 15 months of age, showed mild renal failure.

PREGNANCY OUTCOME AND TOTAL PARENTERAL NUTRITION IN MALNOURISHED PREGNANT WOMEN

OBJECTIVE We evaluated pregnancy outcome and fetal growth in women requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN). METHODS Eleven malnourished pregnant women were treated with TPN in a single institution, starting at a mean gestational age of 20+/-8 weeks (+/- SD). Serial ultrasound evaluations of fetal growth (biparietal diameter, femur length, abdominal circumference) were performed. The paired Student t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for the statistical analysis: p values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS The duration of TPN ranged from 14 to 220 days. Maternal nutritional state was well preserved and no complications were related to treatment. A gestational age of 35+/-3 weeks at delivery (mean +/- SD), birth weight of 2,251+/-670 g (mean +/- SD) and birth percentile of 29+/-16 (mean +/- SD) were observed. One intrauterine death occurred. The comparison between the sonographic findings, before and 2 weeks after starting TPN, showed a fetal percentile gain with a statistically significant increase in the abdominal circumference percentile (p < 0.05) from a median percentile of 2 (range 2-32) to 33 (range 2-78). CONCLUSIONS TPN proved to be helpful and lifesaving in malnourished pregnant women and promoted fetal growth, as shown by the longitudinal ultrasonographic evaluations.

Drug Addiction in Pregnancy: 13 Years of Experience

In this retrospective study, we review our data on 203 drug-addicted pregnant patients, considering two different aspects of the question: maternal and fetal. We report the findings relative to maternal metabolic, endocrinological, neuroendocrinological and immunological studies performed in our department over the past 13 years. Moreover, we study fetal involvement in drug-addicted pregnancy and report the findings of our fetal behavior and urodynamic studies. The last section of this study deals with perinatal outcome. In particular, we report a high incidence of small-for-gestational-age fetuses and premature deliveries.

Drug Addiction in Pregnancy: The HIV Infection

From January 1986 to December 1990 70 HIV-seropositive pregnant women were seen at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rome, Italy. All of them delivered in our Hospital Center and their babies were enrolled in pediatric follow-up. Sixty-five patients (93%) were drug-addicted, only 6 of them showing signs of HIV infection (lymphoadenopathy). The authors report the results of a clinical study demonstrating that asymptomatic HIV infection did not affect the regular course of pregnancy. Moreover, they show that there was no progression of disease during pregnancy, vertical transmission was 24%, the infected babies were of low birth weight (2,586 +/- 527 vs. 3,100 +/- 470 g) and the incidence of premature delivery was higher (30 vs. 8%) than in noninfected controls.

Uterine Myomectomy in Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE To determine whether myomectomy during pregnancy in selected patients improves outcome. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 18 patients who underwent myomectomy between the 6th and 24th week of gestational age. Surgical management of tumors was required on the basis of the characteristics of the myomas and symptoms. The dimensions and site of myomas, symptoms of the patients, time and mode of delivery, and pregnancy outcome were analyzed. RESULTS One woman was lost to follow-up, and one suffered a miscarriage. The remaining 16 patients delivered healthy babies between the 36th and 41st week; 14 delivered by cesarean section, and 2 vaginally. CONCLUSION We suggest that myomectomy during pregnancy may be considered safe in selected patients. Moreover, it permits good pregnancy outcome with healthy babies delivered at term.