J. Dubé

An international trial of antioxidants in the prevention of preeclampsia (INTAPP).

OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate whether prenatal vitamin C and E supplementation reduces the incidence of gestational hypertension (GH) and its adverse conditions among high- and low-risk women. STUDY DESIGN In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, women were stratified by the risk status and assigned to daily treatment (1 g vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin E) or placebo. The primary outcome was GH and its adverse conditions. RESULTS Of the 2647 women randomized, 2363 were included in the analysis. There was no difference in the risk of GH and its adverse conditions between groups (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.26). However, vitamins C and E increased the risk of fetal loss or perinatal death (nonprespecified) as well as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. CONCLUSION Vitamin C and E supplementation did not reduce the rate of preeclampsia or GH, but increased the risk of fetal loss or perinatal death and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins in cord blood from neonates with intra-uterine growth restriction

OBJECTIVE We verified whether oxidative stress indices (oxidized low-density lipoproteins and malondialdehyde) and inflammatory biomarkers (circulating C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α, serum amyloid A and soluble intercellular vascular cell adhesion molecule) are increased in the umbilical vein of placental insufficiency induced intra-uterine growth restricted neonates. STUDY DESIGN The prospective cohort study, involving 3 tertiary care centers, consists of 200 consecutively recruited pregnant women carrying twins. We chose the twin pregnancy model because both fetuses share the same maternal environment, thereby avoiding potential confounding factors when comparing oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers. We analysed only twin pairs with one with intra-uterine growth restriction (N=38) defined as fetal growth<10th percentile with abnormal Doppler of the umbilical artery. Blood samples were taken at birth from the umbilical vein. Intra-pair comparisons on the biomarkers were performed using the Student paired t-test. RESULTS We observed increased cord blood levels of oxidized low-density lipoproteins, (2.394 ± .412 vs 1.296 ± .204, p=.003) but not of malondialdehyde in growth restricted neonates when compared to their normal counterparts. Although indices of inflammation tended to be increased in cord blood from growth restricted newborns, the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION In the twin model, intra-uterine growth restriction is associated with low-density lipoprotein oxidation without apparent dysregulation of inflammation biomarkers. CONDENSATION Increased oxidized low-density lipoproteins are observed in growth restricted twins compared to their co-twins with normal growth at birth.

Contingent use of fetal fibronectin testing and cervical length measurement in women with preterm labour.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the contingent use of fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing and cervical length (CL) measurement to predict preterm delivery, and to validate the use of phosphorylated IGFBP-1 as a predictor of preterm delivery. METHODS We recruited 71 women with a clinical diagnosis of preterm labour between 24 and 34 weeks, and tested for the presence of fFN and IGFBP-1 in the cervicovaginal secretions of all women immediately before CL measurement. RESULTS Among the 66 women with complete outcome, four were excluded from the final analysis as two had assessment for fFN but no CL measurement, and another two had CL measured but no screening for fFN. Among 62 women with complete results, the mean gestational age at recruitment was 29.4 +/- 2.5 weeks. Six women (9.6%) delivered within two weeks of assessment, and 14 (22.5%) delivered before 34 weeks. A positive fFN test resulted in a sensitivity of 83%, a specificity of 84%, a positive predictive value of 36%, and a negative predictive value of 98% for delivery within two weeks; for CL < 25 mm, these figures were 50%, 52%, 10%, and 91%, respectively, and for a positive IGFBP-1, they were 17%, 93%, 20%, and 91%, respectively. A policy of contingent use of fFN (in which the test was assumed to be positive if CL < or = 15 mm, and fFN was only measured if the CL was between 16 and 30 mm) gave sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 80%, 61%, 17%, and 97%, respectively for delivery within two weeks. Using this contingent use protocol, only one third of women needed fFN screening after CL measurement. CONCLUSION In this study, IGFBP-1 screening did not predict preterm delivery and fFN screening provided the best predictive capacity. A policy of contingent use of testing for fFN after CL measurement, or contingent use of CL measurement after fFN screening (depending on available resources) is a promising approach to limit use of resources.

Postpartum Pain Relief: A Randomized Comparison of Self-Administered Medication and Standard Administration

OBJECTIVE To compare pain relief in postpartum women receiving analgesia administered by nurses with the relief achieved by use of self-administered medication (SAM). METHOD This randomized trial included women in spontaneous or induced labour or admitted for elective Caesarean section (CS). Women were stratified according to the mode of delivery. In the standard group, nurses administered the medications. In the SAM group, women kept the medications at the bedside and recorded each dose. The women were asked to record their pain level with a validated scale before and one hour after the administration of analgesia. A global pain score was calculated using the mean of these scores, and the satisfaction of patients and nurses with the process was recorded. RESULTS We recruited 345 women for the study. Eleven women (3.15 %) were lost to follow-up. We analyzed data from 197 women in the vaginal delivery arm and 133 women in the CS arm. There was no difference between the global pain scores before and one hour after the administration of analgesia in each group, independent of the mode of delivery. Women who used SAM and had a vaginal delivery were significantly more likely to have used no medication (P = 0.02) or to have used acetaminophen (P = 0.008), and fewer of these women took naproxen (P = 0.05). No significant difference was seen in women who had CS. Narcotic use was similar in each group. Women who used SAM were more likely to indicate that they would choose this method again and recommend it to others. The level of satisfaction with SAM expressed by nurses did not change after the study. CONCLUSION Postpartum pain relief was similar for women who had standard administration of medication by nurses and those who had SAM. More women using SAM used either no medication or acetaminophen only, and more women using SAM were highly satisfied with their method of pain relief. Use of self-administered medication should be considered for every postpartum unit.

Oxidative conditions prevail in severe IUGR with vascular disease and Doppler anomalies.

Abstract Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and prenatal exposure to oxidative stress are thought to lead to increased risks of cardiovascular disease later in life. The objective of the present study was to document whether cord blood oxidative stress biomarkers vary with the severity of IUGR and of vascular disease in the twin pregnancy model in which both fetuses share the same maternal environment. Methods: This prospective cohort study involved dichorionic twin pairs, with one co-twin with IUGR. Oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in venous cord blood samples from each neonate of 32 twin pairs, and compared, according to severity of IUGR (IUGR <5th percentile), Doppler anomalies of the umbilical artery and early onset IUGR (in the second trimester) of the growth restricted twin. Results: Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins (oxLDL) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were increased proportionally in cases of severe IUGR. OxLDL concentrations were also increased in cases of IUGR with Doppler anomaly. Conclusion: Our data indicate that severe IUGR, is related to a derangement in redox balance, illustrated by increased venous cord blood oxidative stress biomarkers concentrations. Severe IUGR and IUGR with abnormal Doppler can be translated into conditions with intense oxidative stress.

Sublingual Nitroglycerine as a Tocolytic in External Cephalic Version: A Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of sublingual nitroglycerine as a tocolytic on the success rate of external cephalic version (ECV) in nulliparous and parous women. METHODS A retrospective case-controlled study of all ECV cases from February 1996 to February 2000 in a single centre. The rates of successful ECV were compared between women who had their ECV before February 1998 (control group), those who had their ECV after February 1998 and received 0.8 mg sublingual nitroglycerine spray as a tocolytic agent, and those who had their ECV after February 1998 and received no tocolytic agents. Nulliparous and parous women were studied separately. Data were collected for parity, gestational age, maternal age, placental localization, and side effects. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for statistical comparison. RESULTS Of 150 women who had their ECV after February 1998, 120 (80%) received sublingual nitroglycerine (group 1: cases using 0.8 mg sublingual nitroglycerine spray as a tocolytic agent) and were compared to the 30 patients who did not receive sublingual nitroglycerine or other tocolytics after February 1998 (group 2) and to 137 patients who had their ECV before February 1998 (control group). Of the women who received sublingual nitroglycerine, 5 (4%) had hypotension and 7 (6%) had headaches and/or nausea. The rate of successful ECV was 27% in group 1 versus 30% in group 2 (p = 0.86) versus 28% in the control group (p = 0.88) for nulliparous patients, and 67% versus 80% (p = 0.30) versus 51% (p = 0.09) respectively for parous women. However, the success rate was increased overall in parous women after the introduction of nitroglycerine as a tocolytic for ECV in February 1998 (71% vs. 51%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION Although the success rate of ECV has increased in recent years, the use of sublingual nitroglycerine as a tocolytic was not associated with this higher success rate. A randomized, controlled trial is needed.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: bilateral hallux valgus on ultrasound a clue for the first prenatal diagnosis for this condition—clinical report and review of the literature

Medical Genetics Division Sainte-Justine Mother Child University Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Medical Imaging Department Sainte-Justine Mother Child University Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Obstetric and Gynecology Department Sainte-Justine Mother Child University Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada *Correspondence to: Emmanuelle Lemyre. E-mail: emmanuelle.lemyre@recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca

Impact of amniotic fluid “sludge” on the risk of preterm delivery

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of amniotic fluid “sludge” (AFS) on the risk of preterm delivery and to describe the effect of antibiotic treatment in that situation. Methods: Case–control study including singleton pregnancies with or without AFS, between 15–32 weeks of gestation. Factors associated with preterm delivery before 32 weeks, 34 weeks and 37 weeks were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Since all women with AFS in this study were treated with antibiotics, a historical comparison was performed with similar patients with AFS found before 2007 and not treated with antibiotics. Results: AFS was observed in 90/1220 patients (7.4%). AFS was associated with shorter cervical length, greater body mass index, cervical cerclage and preterm birth before 28 weeks. However, after adjustment, AFS did not remain associated with preterm delivery before 32 or 34 weeks. The historical comparison suggested that azithromycin could significantly reduce the risk of preterm delivery before 34 weeks (odds ratio: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.04–0.92). Conclusions: AFS, treated with azithromycin, was associated with a higher risk of prematurity, but not independently after adjustment for cervical length and second trimester vaginal bleeding. Further studies need to evaluate the effect of antibiotics in pregnancies with AFS.

Singleton Breech at Term: Two Continents Two Approaches

Breech presentation is a complication in 3% to 4% of singleton pregnancies at term. On the strength of a large study published in the early 2000s, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended Caesarean section be routinely performed in such cases. However, French gynaecologists continue to perform vaginal breech deliveries. Through various observational studies, they have shown that their management approach, although different from the one used in North America, is safe. In 2006, the ACOG declared that vaginal delivery of a breech presentation may be acceptable under specific circumstances. In this analysis, we compare North American and French practices and present a protocol of care for the management of term breech presentation based on French recommendations.

Association between Fetal Cerebral Ventriculomegaly and Platelet Alloimmunisation

Introduction: Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare condition that may lead to intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in the fetus or neonate. Platelet alloimmunisation causing FNAIT has been described in association with fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly (VM), presumably due to subclinical ICH. The objective of this study was to assess the association between fetal VM and platelet alloimmunisation. Methods: This is a case series of pregnancies with fetal VM screened for platelet alloantibodies from 2003 to 2012. Cases of multiple pregnancies, structural anomalies, aneuploidies, or congenital infection were excluded. Results: Of 45 pregnancies with fetal VM that were screened for platelet alloantibodies, 5 (11%) were positive. There was only one antenatal ICH, with confirmed fetal severe thrombocytopenia before termination of pregnancy. The other cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins without prior fetal blood sampling. No other case of neonatal thrombocytopenia was confirmed. Conclusions: The prevalence of platelet alloimmunisation was high in this series of fetal VM. Prospective large studies are needed to confirm the role of platelet alloimmunisation in fetal VM.