COVID-19 related complete blood count changes among asymptomatic pregnant women

Objective: To evaluate complete blood count (CBC) changes that suggest coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) among asymptomatic pregnant women attending routine antenatal care Methods: A cross-sectional study included 187 healthy pregnant women who were attending the antenatal care clinic of a tertiary University hospital between March and June 2020. After a thorough history and examinations, a venous blood sample was taken from each participant for complete and differential blood counts. Those who showed CBC findings suggestive of COVID-19 were further scheduled for a nasopharyngeal swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antigens through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: We found 5.3% (n=10) of the study population showed CBC changes that are suggestive of COVID-19. When they were scheduled for nasopharyngeal swab for a PCR confirmatory test, 30% (n=3) of them were PCR positive (which represented 1.6% of the entire study population). The most frequently encountered COVID-19-suggestive change in peripheral blood leukocyte differential counts was leucopenia (100%), followed by decreased eosinophil count (50%), then neutropenia and lymphocytopenia (30%). Conclusions: Certain differential leucocyte count changes (leucopenia, neutropenia, lymphocytopenia and decreased eosinophil count) among asymptomatic pregnant women might be related to COVID-19 infection and may indicate a need for further testing

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of obstetricians towards vaginal birth after caesarean in Egypt

This was a cross sectional study surveying a total of 451 physicians. A questionnaire was constructed and distributed electronically to the participants. The main outcome measure was evaluation of physicians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice towards VBAC in Egypt. Although 76.3% of the physicians agreed to present VBAC as an option, 38.1% disagreed with encouraging it. Also, a large proportion of them advised against the induction of labour and refused it if post-term (69.4% and 76.1%, respectively). The physicians’ attitude towards VBAC was to allow vaginal birth if the patient went into spontaneous labour (72.3%) and perform repeat CS if not in labour (86.7%). Fear of complications (78.71%) was the most common cause of not conducting VBAC. The consensus of practice was to present VBAC as an option for women with a single Caesarean scar; however, one-third of them did not encourage VBAC. They strongly refused the induction of labour. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? This is the first study to evaluate physicians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice towards VBAC in Egypt and the Arab world. What do the results of this study add? From the current survey of the practice of the obstetricians in Egypt, the consensus of practice was to present VBAC as an option for women with a single Caesarean scar; however, one-third of them did not encourage VBAC. They strongly refused the induction of labour. The presence of labour pain is the strongest determinant to allow VBAC, while the vast majority of obstetricians were willing to conduct ERCS in the absence of labour pain. This contributed significantly to the rising rates of CS in Egypt. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Physicians’ attitude towards VBAC should be evaluated in countries with higher rates of CS deliveries. Women's perspectives and attitude towards VBAC should be evaluated

Metformin versus levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in the management of endometrial hyperplasia: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Endometrial hyperplasia is one of the common causes of bleeding in perimenopausal women. Variable treatment options aim to induce regression. The current study evaluated the regression rate of endometrial hyperplasia after treatment with levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG- IUS) versus Metformin. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the obstetrics and gynecology department of Suez Canal University hospital. We recruited women diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. Patients were allocated into two groups. Group one included patients treated with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system and group two treated with Metformin. The rate of regression of hyperplasia in both groups after six months of intervention was the main outcome measure. Results Significant regression of hyperplasia was noted in the LNG-IUS group (96% versus 64%, p-value 0.009). There was a significant decrease in the endometrial thickness after treatment in both groups (17.65 ± 4.62 and 5.3 ± 2.01 in the LNG- IUS with a p-value < 0.001) (19.57 ± 6.84 and 11.22 ± 7.51 in the metformin group with a p-value < 0.001). Factors that correlated with the Δ endometrial thickness included parity in the LNG- IUS group (p-value 0.019) and age and BMI in the metformin group (p-value 0.043 and 0.004 respectively). Conclusion Metformin had a regressive effect on endometrial hyperplasia; however, it was not significant as that achieved with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system. Trial registrations PACTR201908498370196. Date of registration: 21/8/2019. Date of first patient enrollment: 25/8/2019. URL: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/Researcher/TrialRegister.aspx?TrialID=933