Reduced placental volume and flow in severe growth restricted fetuses

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate placental volume and vascular indices in pregnancies with severe fetal growth restriction and determine their correlations to normal reference ranges and Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. METHODS: Twenty-seven fetuses with estimated weights below the 3rd percentile for gestational age were evaluated. Placental volume and vascular indices, including vascularization, flow, and vascularization flow indices, were measured by three-dimensional ultrasound using a rotational technique and compared to a previously described nomogram. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight were calculated. Placental parameters correlated with the Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. RESULTS: The mean uterine artery pulsatility index was negatively correlated with the observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age, vascularization index and vascularization flow index. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight and vascularization index were significantly lower in the group with a bilateral protodiastolic notch. No placental parameter correlated with the umbilical artery pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction are associated with reduced placental volume and vascularization. These findings are related to changes in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. Future studies on managing severe fetal growth restriction should focus on combined results of placental three-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler studies of uterine arteries

Venous thromboembolism risk score during hospitalization in pregnancy: results of 10694 prospective evaluations in a clinical trial

Objectives: Hospitalization during pregnancy and childbirth increases the risk of Venous Thromboembolism Risk (VTE). This study applied a VTE risk score to all hospitalized pregnant women to ascertain its effectiveness in preventing maternal death from VTE until 3 months after discharge. Methods: In this interventional study, patients were classified as low- or high-risk according to the VTE risk score (Clinics Hospital risk score). High-risk patients (score ≥ 3) were scheduled for pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis (TPX). Interaction analysis of the main risk factors was performed using Odds Ratio (OR) and Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The data of 10694 cases (7212 patients) were analyzed; 1626 (15.2%, 1000 patients) and 9068 (84.8%, 6212 patients) cases were classified as high-risk (score ≥ 3) and low-risk (score < 3), respectively. The main risk factors (Odds Ratio, 95% Confidence Interval) for VTE were age ≥ 35 and < 40 years (1.6, 1.4–1.8), parity ≥ 3 (3.5, 3.0–4.0), age ≥ 40 years (4.8, 4.1–5.6), multiple pregnancies (2.1, 1.7–2.5), BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 (5.1, 4.3–6.0), severe infection (4.1, 3.3–5.1), and cancer (12.3, 8.8–17.2). There were 10 cases of VTE: 7/1636 (0.4%) and 3/9068 (0.03%) in the high- and low-risk groups, respectively. No patient died of VTE. The intervention reduced the VTE risk by 87%; the number needed to treat was 3. Conclusions: This VTE risk score was effective in preventing maternal deaths from VTE, with a low indication for TPX. Maternal age, multiparity, obesity, severe infections, multiple pregnancies, and cancer were the main risk factors for VTE

Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV2 during pregnancy: A high-risk cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the potential for and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission. METHODS: Symptomatic pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosis in whom PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was performed at delivery using maternal serum and at least one of the biological samples: cord blood (CB), amniotic fluid (AF), colostrum and/or oropharyngeal swab (OPS) of the neonate. The association of parameters with maternal, AF and/or CB positivity and the influence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in AF and/or CB on neonatal outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: Overall 73.4% (80/109) were admitted in hospital due to COVID-19, 22.9% needed intensive care and there were four maternal deaths. Positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was observed in 14.7% of maternal blood, 13.9% of AF, 6.7% of CB, 2.1% of colostrum and 3.7% of OPS samples. The interval between COVID-19 symptoms and delivery was inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in the maternal blood (p = 0.002) and in the AF and/or CB (p = 0.049). Maternal viremia was associated with positivity for SARS-CoV-2 in AF and/or CB (p = 0.001). SARS-CoV-2 positivity in the compartments was not associated with neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Vertical transmission is possible in pregnant women with COVID-19 and a shorter interval between maternal symptoms and delivery is an influencing factor

Dopplervelocimetria dos Compartimentos Arterial e Venoso da Circulação Fetal e Umbilical em Gestação de Alto-Risco: Análise dos Resultados Perinatais Dopplervelocimetry of the Arterial and Venous Compartments of the Fetal and Umbilical Circulation in High-Risk Pregnancy: Perinatal Results

Objetivos: estudar o perfil hemodinâmico fetal em gestantes de alto risco e avaliar a relação das suas alterações com os resultados perinatais. Métodos: realizou-se estudo prospectivo transversal em 108 gestantes atendidas no ambulatório de pré-natal da Clínica Obstétrica do HCFMUSP. Tais gestantes foram encaminhadas ao Setor de Avaliação de Vitalidade Fetal, onde foram submetidas à dopplervelocimetria das artérias umbilicais, cerebral média, aorta, ducto venoso e veia cava inferior. Os critérios de inclusão foram gestantes que apresentavam qualquer doença ou intercorrência na gravidez encaminhadas para avaliação da vitalidade fetal, nas quais a resolução da gestação ocorreu nas próximas 24 horas após os exames. Foram excluídas as pacientes com gestação gemelar ou com malformação fetal. Resultados: as repercussões hemodinâmicas na circulação fetal foram demonstradas pela observação de alterações na dopplervelocimetria das artérias umbilicais, aorta, artéria cerebral média, ducto venoso e veia cava inferior. Valores alterados do índice de pulsatilidade (IP) da artéria umbilical foram observados em 25,9% dos casos, da aorta em 24,0% e da artéria cerebral média em 34,2%. O IPV do ducto venoso estava alterado em 18,2% dos casos e o da veia cava inferior em 46,6%. Os segmentos da circulação fetal que melhor se correlacionaram com os resultados perinatais foram a artéria umbilical e o ducto venoso. O IP alterado da artéria umbilical correlacionou-se significativamente com índices de Apgar de 1&ordm; minuto inferior a 7 em 42,8% e com necessidade de UTI neonatal em 50,0% dos casos. O IPV (indice de pulsatilidade para veias) do ducto venoso alterado apresentou associação significativa com o índice de Apgar de 1&ordm; minuto inferior a 7 (52,6%), Apgar de 5&ordm; minuto inferior a 7 (15,7%), acidemia no nascimento (60,0%), necessidade de UTI neonatal (52,6%) e óbito neonatal (21,1%). Os valores de predição da alteração do IPV do ducto venoso para o diagnóstico de acidemia foram: sensibilidade de 39,1; especificidade de 90,4; valor preditivo positivo de 60,0 e valor preditivo negativo de 80,2. Conclusão: a dopplervelocimetria permite avaliar a hemodinâmica fetal nas mais variadas situações e o estudo do ducto venoso constitui exame importante na avaliação das alterações hemodinâmicas decorrentes da hipoxia fetal.<br>Purpose: to study the fetal hemodynamic profile in high-risk pregnancy and correlate it with perinatal results. Methods: transverse prospective study of 108 patients of the Obstetric Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University School of Medicine. The patients were evaluated at the Fetal Surveillance Unit, and Doppler examinations of umbilical, aorta, middle cerebral artery, inferior vena cava and ductus venosus were performed. The criteria for inclusion were patients whose delivery was in the next 24 hours after evaluation. Twin pregnancies and fetal malformations were excluded. Results: the hemodynamic implications in the fetal circulation were demonstrated by changes in the Doppler ultrasonographic results in the umbilical artery, aorta, middle cerebral artery, ductus venosus and in the inferior vena cava. The Doppler examinations were abnormal in the umbilical artery (25.9%), fetal aorta (24%), middle cerebral artery (34.2%), ductus venosus (18.2%) and inferior vena cava (46,6%). Segments of the fetal circulation which best correlated with the perinatal results were the umbilical artery and the ductus venosus. The abnormal results in the umbilical artery were significantly associated with 1st minute Apgar score <7 in 42.8% and need of neonatal intensive care unit in 50% of the cases. The abnormal results in the ductus venosus Doppler ultrasonography showed statistical association with 1st minute Apgar score <7 (52.6%), 5th min Apgar <7 (15.7%), acidemia at birth (60%), need of neonatal intensive care unit (52.6%) and neonatal death (21.1%). The predictive values of the ductus venosus Doppler for fetal acidemia were: sensitivity of 39.1; specificity of 90.4; positive predictive value of 60.0 and negative predictive value of 80.2. Conclusion: the Doppler ultrasonography allowed us to evaluate the fetal hemodynamics in the most varied situations and the study of the venous duct is an important examination in the evaluation of fetal hemodynamic response to hypoxia

Reduced placental volume and flow in severe growth restricted fetuses

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate placental volume and vascular indices in pregnancies with severe fetal growth restriction and determine their correlations to normal reference ranges and Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. METHODS: Twenty-seven fetuses with estimated weights below the 3rd percentile for gestational age were evaluated. Placental volume and vascular indices, including vascularization, flow, and vascularization flow indices, were measured by three-dimensional ultrasound using a rotational technique and compared to a previously described nomogram. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight were calculated. Placental parameters correlated with the Doppler velocimetry results of uterine and umbilical arteries. RESULTS: The mean uterine artery pulsatility index was negatively correlated with the observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age, vascularization index and vascularization flow index. The observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for gestational age and observed-to-expected placental volume ratio for fetal weight and vascularization index were significantly lower in the group with a bilateral protodiastolic notch. No placental parameter correlated with the umbilical artery pulsatility index. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction are associated with reduced placental volume and vascularization. These findings are related to changes in uterine artery Doppler velocimetry. Future studies on managing severe fetal growth restriction should focus on combined results of placental three-dimensional ultrasound and Doppler studies of uterine arteries

Expression of angiogenic factors in placenta of stressed rats

The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of stress on pregnant rats, particularly in terms of maternal, placental and fetal weight, placental morphology and placental gene expression of the angiogenic factors Vegfa and Pgf and their receptors. The parameters were evaluated on gestation Day 20. Maternal, fetal and placental weights were statistically lower in stressed animals than controls, suggesting abnormalities in gestational physiology. Morphologically the placentas of rats subjected to stress were reduced in size and weight, with few glycogen cells and a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Stress caused an increase in placental gene expression of Vegfa (P &lt; 0.05) and a reduction in Pgf, Flt1 and Kdr expression (P &lt; 0.05). It has been suggested that increased VEGF is associated with vasodilatation and hypotension, but in this model persistent hypertension was present. This study suggests that the limited hypotensive Vegfa response to stress-induced hypertension could result from reduced expression of Flt1/Kdr disrupting specific VEGF pathways. These findings may elucidate one of the multiple possible factors underlying how stress modulates placental physiology, and could aid the understanding of stress-induced gestational disorders.FAPESPFAPESPCNPqCNPqCAPESCAPE

Risk assessment of venous thromboembolism and thromboprophylaxis in pregnant women hospitalized with cancer: Preliminary results from a risk score

OBJECTIVES: Hospitalized patients with cancer are at high risk of developing venous thromboembolism, and the risk increases with pregnancy. The aim of this study was to apply a thromboprophylaxis protocol with a venous thromboembolism risk score for hospitalized pregnant women with cancer and to evaluate the effects on maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A longitudinal and prospective study was conducted from December 2014 to July 2016. The venous thromboembolism risk score was modified from the guidelines of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Patients were classified as low (score <3) or high risk (score ≥3). The high-risk group received thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin, unless the patient had a contraindication for anticoagulation. One patient could have undergone more than one evaluation. RESULTS: Fifty-two ratings were descriptively analyzed: 34 (65.4%) were classified as high risk, and 28/34 (82.3%) received low-molecular-weight heparin, 1 received unfractionated heparin, and 5 did not receive intervention. Most patients (23/52; 44.2%) had breast cancer. The main risk factors for venous thromboembolism in the high-risk group were chemotherapy (within 6 months; 22/34; 64.7%). No patient exhibited venous thromboembolism, adverse effects of anticoagulation or death up to three months after hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnant women with cancer had a high risk for venous thromboembolism at the time of hospitalization. Breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer, and recent chemotherapy was the main risk factor for anticoagulation. The application of a thromboprophylaxis protocol and determination of a venous thromboembolism risk score for these patients was useful for the prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality due to venous thromboembolism