Comparing difference in mean total protein, albumin and globulin based on severity of rhesus isoimmunization: a prospective study

Background: Maternal RBC alloimmunization results from exposure and response to a foreign RBC antigen. Transplacental fetal to maternal hemorrhage is the most common cause of alloimmunization. Rh incompatibility can lead to either fetuses with hydropic features or non-hydropic. The precise mechanism leading to the development of hydrops is uncertain. Biochemical markers have the potential to be used to assess the severity of problem. But of the mechanisms proposed none have been able to totally explain the phenomenon or predict the prognosis. Objective of this study wads to compare the difference in mean total protein, albumin and globulin bases on severity of isoimmunization and comparing it with normal controls.Methods: A Total of 40 pregnant patients were enrolled which included 10 hydropic fetuses of Rh isoimmunised mothers, 10 non hydropic fetuses of Rh isoimmunized mothers. Control group included 18 Rh positive women without any fetal complication and 2 fetuses in women undergoing cordocentesis. Blood sampling was done at time of intrauterine transfusion and sent for estimation of total proteins, albumin, globulin in fetal blood. Pregnancies were followed up till delivery and fetal outcome noted.Results: Mean total protein, albumin and globulin between hydropic, non hydropic group and control group (3.25, 2.17 and 1.18 g/dl) in hydropic, (4.14, 2.70 and 1.44 g/dl) in non hydropic and (4.42, 2.95 and 1.47 g/dl) in control group respectively. Mean total protein, albumin and globulin between mild hydropic (3.43, 2.30 and 2.10 g/dl) and severe hydropic group (2.59, 1.6 and 1.3 g/dl) respectively.Conclusions: There was significantly lower levels of serum total proteins, albumin and globulin in hydropic fetuses as compared to non hydropic fetuses. Thus, hypoproteinemia can be considered a strong marker for development of hydrops in Rh isoimmunized fetuses

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome presenting with infertility: Role of MRI in diagnosis

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome (HWWS), characterized by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis, is an uncommon combined Mullerian and mesonephric duct anomaly, and its presentation in adulthood is even rarer. We report here a 22-year-old female presenting with primary infertility where magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested the diagnosis of HWWS with endometriosis. In a patient of infertility with endometriosis and unilateral renal agenesis, diagnosis of HWWS should be suspected and MRI is the investigation of choice for such anomalies

Paternal factors and embryonic development: Role in recurrent pregnancy loss

The events occurring at the maternal-foetal interface define a successful pregnancy but the current paradigm has shifted towards assessing the contribution of spermatozoa for embryogenesis. Spermatozoa with defective DNA integrity may fertilise the oocyte but affect subsequent embryonic development. The present case-control study was conducted in male partners of couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) to assess the gene expression of spermatozoal FOXG1, SOX3, OGG1, PARP1, RPS6, RBM9, RPS17 and RPL29. This was correlated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). Semen samples were obtained from 60 cases and 30 fertile controls. Gene expression was done by qPCR analysis, and relative quantification was calculated by the 2 method. Chemiluminescence and the sperm chromatin structure assay were used to measure the ROS and DFI levels respectively. FOXG1, OGG1, RPS6 and RBM9 were seen to be upregulated, while SOX3 and PARP1 were downregulated. Relative expression of SOX3, OGG1, RPS6 and RPS17 showed a significant difference between patients and controls (p 27.8; p = 0.001) and DFI (>30.7; p < 0.0001) with respect to controls. Sperm transcript dysregulation and oxidative DNA damage can be "carried over" after implantation, thus affecting embryogenesis and health of the future progeny