Fetal tachycardia: A role for amiodarone as first- or second-line therapy?

SummaryBackgroundFetal tachycardias result in serious prenatal and postnatal morbidity and mortality. Intrauterine treatment can improve prognosis dramatically and the therapeutic protocol is well defined. Currently, amiodarone is used as third-line therapy and is reserved for refractory cases.AimsOur aim was to review the management and outcome of fetal tachycardia, giving particular consideration to the efficacy and safety of amiodarone therapy.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 24 consecutive cases of sustained fetal tachycardia, treated mainly with digoxin and/or amiodarone administered by the transplacental route.ResultsThe 24 fetal tachycardias comprised 16 supraventricular tachycardias with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction, seven atrial flutters and one ventricular tachycardia. Seven fetuses were hydropic and eight experienced less severe cardiac failure. Digoxin monotherapy converted 5/12 non-hydropic fetuses and 0/2 hydropic fetuses, with one intrauterine death. Amiodarone monotherapy converted 5/5 fetuses, including two hydropic fetuses: one ventricular tachycardia, two atrial flutters and two supraventricular tachycardias. When administered with digoxin, amiodarone converted all but two fetuses (7/9). No deaths were associated with amiodarone, but there was moderate morbidity, with six transient elevations of thyroid stimulating hormone at birth, two of which required short-term thyroid hormonal substitution therapy.ConclusionMaternal oral amiodarone seems to be effective and relatively safe, even in hydropic fetuses. We suggest that this treatment could be used earlier than is currently advised

« Introduction. Une continuité dérangeante »

International audienc

Les hyperéchogénicités intestinales fœtales (Etude rétrospective de 1993 à 2003 au CHU d'Angers)

ANGERS-BU Médecine-Pharmacie (490072105) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Prenatal diagnosis of Desbuquois dysplasia type 1 by whole exome sequencing before the occurrence of specific ultrasound signs

International audienc

Influence of ultrasonographers training on prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases: a 12-year population-based study.

International audienceOBJECTIVE: Since 1998, French multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis centers (CPDPN) offer a training opportunity to first-level screening sonographers. This study measures the impact of this training on prenatal detection rates of congenital heart diseases (CHDs). METHODS: We analyzed the sensitivity of screening sonographers by comparing CHD prenatal diagnoses and CHDs observed after birth in the area of Angers from 1994 to 2006. Two groups of sonographers were compared, those who attended the training (n=19) and those who did not (control group. n=21). The evolution of CHD detection rate was compared between two successive periods of 6 years each. RESULTS: Of 947 CHDs, 438 (46%) were detected prenatally. The control group sensitivity was 16 versus 37% for the sonographers who had attended the training course (p<0.001).Between the two study periods, detection rates for all CHDs and significant CHDs remained unchanged in the control group, whereas they improved significantly in the other group (respectively 54% vs 33% and 75% vs 38%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study supports the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of CPDPN on prenatal diagnosis of CHDs. These centers not only fulfill their primary purpose but also operate as learning centers in which screening sonographers may improve their practice

Importance of the abomasum in digestion in the preruminant calf

Ice Storm 1998 damage survey for the Maine Forest Service Film roll Ice 1 Ice Storm Index A5857 14Chttps://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/sewell_aerial_all/1952/thumbnail.jp

Importance of the abomasum in digestion in the preruminant calf

International audienc

Binder phenotype in mothers affected with auto-immune disorders.

International audienceAbstract Objective: To report four foetal cases of the Binder phenotype associated with maternal autoimmune disorders. Patients and Methods: In three mothers with autoimmune diseases, 2D and 3D ultrasonographic measurements were made on four foetuses with the Binder profile, and were compared with postnatal phenotypes. Results: The Binder phenotype can be detected in early pregnancy (14.5 WG). All foetuses had verticalized nasal bones and midfacial hypoplasia. Punctuate calcifications were found in almost all the cases. No specific maternal auto-antibody has been associated with foetal Binder phenotype. Conclusion: Since the Binder phenotype can be diagnosed at ultrasound examination during pregnancy, it is important to establish the underlying cause so as to assess the foetal prognosis. This study stresses the importance of systematic checks for maternal autoimmune disease in cases of prenatally diagnosed Binder phenotypes

BRACAVENIR: an observational study of expectations and coping in young women with high hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer

Abstract Background In families with high risk of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (HBOC), women before age 30 do not yet undergo clinical screening, but they are exposed to contradictory information from diverse sources. They may be presented with surgical prevention options at a key moment of their identity construction, the start of a marital relationship and/or at the onset of procreation projects. We tested an original psychoeducational intervention to help these women better cope with these difficult issues. Methods Seven young female counselees (26.4 ± 2.9 years [23–30]) from the Oncogenetics Department at Jean Perrin Comprehensive Cancer Center were enrolled. A weekend group workshop composed of short conferences, group sharing and role playing activities was supervised by a psychotherapist. A longitudinal analysis of questionnaires over one year of follow-up was performed. The Herth Hope Inventory was evaluated, as well as self-esteem, anxiety, perceived control, coping, and quality of life. Participants’ comments were collected by a genetic counselor throughout the workshop. Results All participants were BRCA mutation carriers and six had lived with a close relative affected by breast/ovarian cancer. Hope, self-esteem and quality of life increased during the year after the workshop (p = 0.0003). Coping by focus on the problem increased in the first 6 months (p = 0.011) and returned to baseline values at one year, while coping by focus on emotions decreased steadily (p = 0.021). Debriefing from the workshop highlighted the new medical opportunities proposed and the challenges these young women face, such as whether to have prophylactic surgery, and if so before or after having children, and how surgery might affect their relationship with their partner. Conclusion A tailored two-day psychoeducational workshop may be sufficient to improve the way young women with BRCA mutations deal with the implications of HBOC risk. Trial registration BRACAVENIR was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with no NCT02705924