Plasma lipids relationship with results of Oral Glucose Challenge Test in pregnancy

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between plasma lipid levels at first trimester of pregnancy and results of Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT). Materials and methods:  In a cross - sectional descriptive analytic study, two hundred eligible primigravida women without history of Diabetes Mellitus referring to Vali-e-Asr Hospital were evaluated. Plasma levels of triglyceride and cholesterol were measured at first trimester of pregnancy and Oral Glucose Challenge Test was done for all women at  24th - 28th gestational week. Pre-pregnancy BMI, and plasma levels of triglyceride and cholesterol at first trimester of pregnancy were compared with the results of OGCT. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 14. p-values ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In 45 (22.5%) of the women OGCT was positive.  Pre pregnancy BMI and the rate of positive result for OGCT were both correlated with the plasma levels of triglyceride and cholesterol at first trimester of pregnancy. Conclusion: Plasma lipid levels in first trimester can predict the result of OGCT at 24- 28 weeks of pregnancy

Cervical consistency index is a valid predictor of preterm birth in low-risk pregnant women

Background Preterm birth (PTB) remains a global problem associated with perinatal morbidity, including low birth weight, growth retardation and irreversible damage to the nervous system. The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of cervical consistency index (CCI) to indicate the occurrence of PTB in mid trimester screening of low risk pregnant women. Methods This was a prospective study conducted on low-risk pregnant women at 14-28 weeks of pregnancy. The cervical length (CL) and AP cervical diameter were measured and the CCI determined according to the formula AP2/AP1*100. The ROC curves were drawn according to gestational age and the sensitivity and the specificity were calculated for optimal cut-off for 1st, 5th, 10th, 21th, and 24th centiles of CCI. The inter-observer agreement was validated by interclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Results A total of 149 participants were enrolled in this study. Among them, 12.08% had PTB (<37weeks) and 87.92% had normal birth. Mean CCI for all subjects was 68.60%, but was lower in PTB (48.9%). The best cutoff for predicting PTB based on CCI was 59.46% with 99.18% sensitivity and 85% specificity. The AUC for CCI for prediction of PTB <37weeks was 0.936. There was no inter-observer difference in measurement of CCI and CL (ICC values for CCI and CL were 0.997 and 0.990 respectively). Conclusion In women with normal CL the CCI could predict PTB in the second trimester in low risk women. So, CCI is a valid predictor of PTB in low risk women