Renato Passini Júnior

Quality of life, depression and anxiety among pregnant women with previous adverse pregnancy outcomes

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Previous adverse pregnancy outcomes (recurrent spontaneous abortion, fetal death, preterm birth or early neonatal death) can affect the quality of life of pregnant women. The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life and the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression among pregnant women with and without these antecedents. DESIGN AND SETTING An analytical cross-sectional study was performed in four settings (two high-risk and two low-risk prenatal clinics) in the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS A total of 240 women were interviewed by a single investigator between the 18th and 24th weeks of gestation: 120 women with prior adverse pregnancy outcomes (group 1) and 120 women with no such history (group 2), matched according to their numbers of living children. Sociodemographic variables were collected and two questionnaires were used: the Short Form-36 quality-of-life questionnaire and the Depression and Anxiety Scale. RESULTS The women in group 1 had lower scores in all the items on the quality-of-life questionnaire. Depression and anxiety were more frequent in group 1 (P < 0.0001). An inverse correlation was found between the Short Form-36 domains and anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS Women with histories of recurrent spontaneous abortion, fetal death, preterm birth or early neonatal death seem to have poorer quality of life and more symptoms of anxiety and depression during their subsequent pregnancy, compared with those without such antecedents.

Late prematurity: a systematic review,

OBJECTIVE this study aimed to review the literature regarding late preterm births (34 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation) in its several aspects. SOURCES the MEDLINE, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases were searched, and the references of the articles retrieved were also used, with no limit of time. DATA SYNTHESIS numerous studies showed a recent increase in late preterm births. In all series, late preterm comprised the majority of preterm births. Studies including millions of births showed a strong association between late preterm birth and neonatal mortality. A higher mortality in childhood and among young adults was also observed. Many studies found an association with several neonatal complications, and also with long-term disorders and sequelae: breastfeeding problems, cerebral palsy, asthma in childhood, poor school performance, schizophrenia, and young adult diabetes. Some authors propose strategies to reduce late preterm birth, or to improve neonatal outcome: use of antenatal corticosteroids, changes in some of the guidelines for early delivery in high-risk pregnancies, and changes in neonatal care for this group. CONCLUSIONS numerous studies show greater mortality and morbidity in late preterm infants compared with term infants, in addition to long-term disorders. More recent studies evaluated strategies to improve the outcomes of these neonates. Further studies on these strategies are needed.

Previable preterm rupture of membranes: gestational and neonatal outcomes

IntroductionPreviable (less than 24 weeks) premature rupture of membranes complicates about 1 in every thousand births and is responsible for substantial perinatal mortality.Subjects and methodsIn this paper, we retrospectively analyzed one twin and 35 singleton pregnancies.ResultsTwenty cases occurred before and 16 after 20 weeks. Latency period ranged from 0 to 137 days, with an average of 35 days. Amniotic fluid index was reduced in 27 cases and normal in 6 cases. Expectant management was adopted in 31 cases (86%), five patients declined and opted for termination (14%) at admission or during the course of pregnancy. Steroids were prescribed for 12 patients at or after 24 weeks (39%), leukocyte count at admission varied from 6,000 to 16,200/mm3, with an average of 11,310, in only 9% it was greater than 15,000, immature forms were present in 10 cases (28%). Clinical chorioamnionitis occurred in 71%, being three times more frequent in parous women. Bacteriuria was present in 2 of 30 cases (6.6%). Two women developed laboratorial and clinical signs of sepsis, none of them needed hysterectomy. There were no maternal deaths. Mean gestational age at delivery was 24 weeks, ranging from 16 to 39 weeks. In the expectant group, preterm delivery rate was 68%. There was one case of abruption. Cesarean rate was 31%. Neonatal mortality was 42% (8 cases). Overall neonatal survival was 35% (11 in 32 newborns).ConclusionPerinatal mortality is high in pregnancies complicated by previable rupture of membranes, however gestational age at occurrence is a strong predictor of outcome. An individualized approach is the best management option regarding maternal risks and fetal outcomes.

Gestational prognostic factors in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks and is associated with several etiological factors related to genetics, anatomy, hormones, infections and immunology, for example. Many cases of RSA remain unclear. New factors or their associations may influence gestational results. The aim was to identify possible single or associated causes of RSA that could predict gestational prognosis for women undergoing investigation and treatment. DESIGN AND SETTING Case-control study, at the Recurrent Abortion Outpatient Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology School of Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp). METHODS Two hundred and forty-six medical records of women with RSA seen at the Recurrent Abortion Outpatient Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology School of Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), between 1994 and 2003, were evaluated. Data on age, obstetric history, possible etiological factors, treatment and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using odds ratios (OR), logistic regression analysis and decision trees. RESULTS Two hundred and twenty-nine women were included in the study. The most frequently found etiological factors were immunological, particularly alloimmune factors (93.9%). Women with a single alloimmune factor had better gestational results (77.7% deliveries) than those with other associated factors. Autoimmune factors were associated with a higher abortion rate (OR: 4.30; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.36-13.63). No association was found between the number of abortions prior to treatment and pregnancy results. Women aged 40 or over presented the highest rate of spontaneous abortion (OR: 5.83; 95% CI: 1.12-30.40). CONCLUSION Age over 40 years old, immunological factors and two or more concomitant factors were associated with poor gestational outcomes among the women studied.

Selective versus non-selective culture medium for group B streptococcus detection in pregnancies complicated by preterm labor or preterm-premature rupture of membranes

The objective of this study was to identify group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization rates and compare detection efficiency of selective versus non-selective culture media and anorectal versus vaginal cultures in women with preterm labor and preterm-premature rupture of membranes (PROM). A prospective cohort study of 203 women was performed. Two vaginal and two anorectal samples from each woman were collected using sterile swabs. Two swabs (one anorectal and one vaginal) were placed separately in Stuart transport media and cultured in blood-agar plates for 48 hours; the other two swabs were inoculated separately in Todd-Hewitt selective media for 24 hours and then subcultured in blood-agar plates. Final GBS identification was made by the CAMP test. A hundred thirty-two cultures out of 812 were positive. The maternal colonization rate was 27.6%. Colonization rates were 30% for preterm PROM and 25.2% for preterm labor. Todd-Hewitt selective medium detected 87.5% and non-selective medium 60.7% GBS-positive women. Vaginal samples and anorectal samples had the same detection rate of 80.3%. Anorectal selective cultures detected 75% of carriers; 39% of GBS-positive women were detected only in selective medium. A combined vaginal-anorectal selective culture is appropriate for GBS screening in this population, minimizing laboratory costs.

Association of anticardiolipin antibody and C677T in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions: a new path to thrombophilia?

CONTEXT Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has been associated with venous thrombosis in the mother. Acquired and inherited thrombophilia factors are possible causes. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between thrombogenic factors and recurrent spontaneous abortion. TYPE OF STUDY Case-control study. SETTING Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, Universidade Estadual de Campinas. METHODS 40 ml of blood was collected from 88 women attending an RSA clinic and 88 fertile women attending a family planning clinic, to evaluate the presence of acquired and inherited thrombophilia factors. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), lupus anticoagulant and deficiencies of proteins C and S and antithrombin III were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dilute Russell Viper Venom time (dRVVT), coagulometric and chromogenic methods. DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study factor V Leiden and G20210A mutations in the prothrombin gene and C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Data were analyzed using odds ratios and a regression model for age adjustment. Fishers exact test was used to evaluate statistical relationships between associated factors and RSA. RESULTS ACA was detected in 11 women with RSA and one fertile woman. Heterozygous C677T was detected in 59 women with RSA and 35 fertile women. Concomitant presence of ACA and C677T was found in eight women with RSA and no fertile women (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION The meaning of the association between C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene and ACA is still not clear. It is possible that an inherited factor that alone would not strongly predispose a woman to thrombosis could, when associated with an acquired factor, start the process and increase the likelihood of thrombosis expression. CONCLUSIONS ACA and C677T in the MTHFR gene are statistically associated with RSA. The association of these two conditions is a new finding in thrombogenic factors and RSA.

Specific Biomarkers Associated With Neurological Complications and Congenital Central Nervous System Abnormalities From Zika Virus–Infected Patients in Brazil

Summary The first systematic large-scale analysis of immune mediators reported in patients with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Several key immune mediators have been identified for the control of ZIKV pathogenesis. This will clarify the molecular mechanisms of ZIKV infection in patients.

Group B streptococcus maternal and neonatal colonization in preterm rupture of membranes and preterm labor

PURPOSE To identify the prevalence and risk factors of maternal colonization by group B streptococcus (GBS) in pregnant women with premature labor (PL) and/or premature membrane rupture (PMR). METHODS Two anal and two vaginal swabs were collected from 203 pregnant women with diagnosis of PL or PMR assisted at the practice along one year. Pregnant women with imminent labor at admission were excluded. One swab of each source was placed in a transfer milieu and sent for culture in blood-agar plates; the two remaining swabs were incubated for 24 hours in Todd-Hewitt milieu for further sowing in blood-agar plates. Risk factors were analyzed by the chi-square test, Students t-test (p-value set at 0.05 and 95% confidence interval) and logistic regression. The following variables were analyzed: age, race, parity and mother schooling; culture results by source and type of culture; admission diagnosis; gestational age at admission; asymptomatic bacteriuria; gestational age at delivery; type of delivery; neonatal GBS colonization rate and immediate neonatal condition. RESULTS Prevalence of maternal GBS colonization was 27.6% (56 cases). The colonization rates according to gestational complications were 30% for PMR, 25.2% for PL and 17.8% for PL + PMR. Univariate analysis has shown that the variables Caucasian race, low level of schooling and bacteriuria were associated with higher colonization rates. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of urinary infection was the only variable associated with maternal colonization. The GBS detection rate was significantly higher with the use of a selective milieu and collection from both anal and vaginal sources. The neonatal colonization rate was 3.1%. Two cases of early sepsis by GBS occurred in the sample, with prevalence of 10.8 cases per one thousand live births and 50% mortality rate. CONCLUSION The studied sample showed high maternal colonization rates by Streptococcus agalactiae. To increase GBS detection rate, it is necessary to use a selective culture milieu and to combine anal-rectal and vaginal cultures. There was a high incidence of early neonatal sepsis.

Colonização bacteriana do canal cervical em gestantes com trabalho de parto prematuro ou ruptura prematura de membranas

PURPOSE to study cervical colonization in women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. METHODS two hundred and twelve pregnant women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes were studied. Two cervical samples from each woman were collected and bacterioscopy and culture were performed. Association of cervical microorganisms and urinary tract infection, chorioamnionitis, fetal stress, antibiotic use, prematurity, neonatal infection, and neonatal death were evaluated. RESULTS the prevalence of endocervical colonization was 14.2% (CI95%=9.5-18.9%), with similar results in preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. Group B streptococcus was the most prevalent organism (9.4%). Other organisms isolated were Candida sp, Streptococcus sp, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus sp. The most common findings of bacterioscopy were a reduced number of lactobacilli and a great number of leukocytes. Endocervical colonization was associated with a higher occurrence of urinary tract infection (23.8 versus 5.4%; p<0.01), early-onset neonatal infection (25.0 versus 7.3%; p<0.01) and neonatal mortality (two cases in colonized women; p<0.02) when compared with a negative culture of endocervical mucus. CONCLUSIONS this study showed high prevalence of endocervical colonization despite the use of a nonselective culture media. The main microorganism isolated was group B streptococcus, but other organisms were present in one third of the studied population. More studies are needed to evaluate the influence of endocervical colonization on obstetrical outcome and on neonatal infection and mortality.

Análise da Mortalidade Evitável de Mulheres em Idade Reprodutiva

Purpose: to evaluate the avoidable mortality among women in reproductive age, living in Campinas, SP, comparing two five-year periods: 1985-89 and 1990-94. Methods: death certificates of 3.086 women aged 10 to 49 years were studied, representing the total number of deaths during the period from January 1985 through December 1994. The criteria for avoidance were applied to these deaths using preventive, sanitary, early diagnosis and treatment, and mixed measures. The deaths were also classified as: with hardly avoidable causes, not well-defined causes and other causes. The specific mortality coefficient for each period of five years and the ratio between these coefficients were calculated. Results: there was a 20% increase in the avoidable mortality rate from the first to the second period. The main failure was observed among the group of avoidable causes by preventive and sanitary measures. The main increase in death causes by preventive measures resulted from AIDS. Among the causes of death avoidable by mixed measures, the increase of 50% in maternal mortality caused by abortion, as well as causes due to violence specially homicides, are emphasized. Conclusion: there was an increase in the proportion of avoidable death causes. Measures to prevent AIDS, abortion and to reduce violent deaths, specially homicides, should be political and social priorities in our Country.