92 research outputs found

    A Signature of Maternal Anti-Fetal Rejection in Spontaneous Preterm Birth: Chronic Chorioamnionitis, Anti-Human Leukocyte Antigen Antibodies, and C4d

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    Chronic chorioamnionitis is found in more than one-third of spontaneous preterm births. Chronic chorioamnionitis and villitis of unknown etiology represent maternal anti-fetal cellular rejection. Antibody-mediated rejection is another type of transplantation rejection. We investigated whether there was evidence for antibody-mediated rejection against the fetus in spontaneous preterm birth.This cross-sectional study included women with (1) normal pregnancy and term delivery (n = 140) and (2) spontaneous preterm delivery (n = 140). We analyzed maternal and fetal sera for panel-reactive anti-HLA class I and class II antibodies, and determined C4d deposition on umbilical vein endothelium by immunohistochemistry. Maternal anti-HLA class I seropositivity in spontaneous preterm births was higher than in normal term births (48.6% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.005). Chronic chorioamnionitis was associated with a higher maternal anti-HLA class I seropositivity (p<0.01), significant in preterm and term birth. Villitis of unknown etiology was associated with increased maternal and fetal anti-HLA class I and II seropositivity (p<0.05, for each). Fetal anti-HLA seropositivity was closely related to maternal anti-HLA seropositivity in both groups (p<0.01, for each). C4d deposition on umbilical vein endothelium was more frequent in preterm labor than term labor (77.1% vs. 11.4%, p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that chronic chorioamnionitis (OR = 6.10, 95% CI 1.29–28.83), maternal anti-HLA class I seropositivity (OR = 5.90, 95% CI 1.60–21.83), and C4d deposition on umbilical vein endothelium (OR = 36.19, 95% CI 11.42–114.66) were associated with preterm labor and delivery.A major subset of spontaneous preterm births has a signature of maternal anti-fetal cellular and antibody-mediated rejections with links to fetal graft-versus-host disease and alloimmune reactions

    Surgical management of fusiform aneurysms of the peripheral posteroinferior cerebellar artery

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    OBJECTIVE: To describe the management and outcomes of seven patients with fusiform aneurysms of the peripheral posteroinferior cerebellar artery (PICA). METHODS: Medical records and neuroimaging studies of seven patients who underwent surgical treatment of fusiform aneurysms of the peripheral PICA were reviewed. Average follow-up time was 1.5 years, and no patient was lost to follow-up. RESULTS: All patients presented with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, and most had acute hydrocephalus. All underwent surgery, which entailed distal revascularization in six of the seven patients. Revascularization techniques included occipital artery-PICA bypass, side-to-side PICA-PICA anastomosis, and aneurysm excision with direct endto-end PICA reanastomosis. Outcome was good in six patients and fair in one. CONCLUSION: Fusiform, peripheral PICA aneurysms are rare lesions. Distal revascularization was used in most cases because of the uncertain adequacy of collateral supply. Careful, individualized management allows for a good outcome in the majority of cases
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