Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Due to Opioid Abuse in Pregnancy

Opioid abuse during pregnancy is increasing in women of childbearing age in Turkey. The frequency of clinical signs of withdrawal in infants who exposed to heroin in utero are varying between 16-90%. Here, we present five newborn infants presenting with neonatal abstinence syndrome who were hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Mersin Maternity and Children’s Hospital. All of the five infants were symptomatic including irritability, tremors, high-pitched cry, excessive sucking and seizure. Hyperirritability was the predominant sign. Seizure was observed two of the five infants which clinically presented between 1st-5th day of life and was controlled with phenobarbital. We have experienced seizure due to withdrawal of opioid more than the past reports and we thought that interrupting breastfeeding may facilitate seizure. Breastfeeding may slow down the decrease of opioid level in blood and may reduce the symptoms. In conclusion, opioid abuse in pregnancy is a growing sociological problem in Turkey and a protocol for management is required for neonatologists

Assessment of foetal ventriculomegaly from prenatal to early postnatal period: a single-centre retrospective cohort study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the early neonatal outcomes of cases with foetal ventriculomegaly (VM) and to investigate the aetiological and prognostic factors according to the degree of VM in a single tertiary referring centre. The medical records of 87 foetuses diagnosed with VM (≥10 mm) within 6 years were evaluated. Postnatal evaluation and early neonatal prognosis were determined in 39 cases divided into two groups as mild (10–15 mm, 30 cases) and severe (>15 mm, 9 cases) according to the ventricular size. The mean gestational age at which foetal VM was detected was 22 + 3 weeks. In terms of severity, severe cases of VM were more frequent in terminated pregnancies. There was no difference in gestational age, birth weight, fifth minute Apgar scores, or cord blood gases between mild and severe cases at delivery. Isolated VM was detected in 63% of mild and 22% of severe cases. In severe cases, the need for intensive care and surgery was higher than in mild cases. Antenatal VM regressed in 50% of mild cases and 22% of severe cases. Increasing knowledge about neonatal prognosis, the factors involved in aetiology, and the degree of VM will guide the management of foetal VM.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known in this subject? Some cases of foetal VM resolve spontaneously, and postnatal ultrasonography can detect normal ventricle sizes. While 74.6% of isolated VM cases show spontaneous regression, this rate is 52.1% in nonisolated cases. The gestational week at the time of diagnosis, the degree and cause of VM, intrauterine progression and the presence of any genetic, infectious, cerebral, or extracerebral disorders all influence the prognosis. What do the results of this study add? Antenatal VM regressed in 50% of mild cases and 22% of severe cases. In severe cases, the need for intensive care and surgery was higher than in mild cases. The higher frequency of accompanying cerebral findings in severe cases was striking. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The current study revealed that isolated VM with ventricular diameter less than 15 mm, after excluding out chromosomal abnormalities and prenatal infections, and no prior history of VM, has a favourable neonatal prognosis in terms of mortality and morbidity. In cases of foetal VM, increased knowledge of neonatal prognosis will guide pregnancy care and postnatal follow-up planning. Prospective multicentre studies on the neonatal period are required to bridge the gap between foetal VM and long-term consequence

22q13.3 Deletion Syndrome: An Underdiagnosed Cause of Mental Retardation

Phelan-McDermid syndrome, also known as 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, is characterized by global developmental delay, absent or delayed speech, generalized hypotonia, and minor physical anomalies. The deletion typically involves the terminal band 22q13.3 and has been associated with both familial and de-novo translocations. We report the case of an 11-year-old Turkish girl with 22q13.3 deletion syndrome presenting with repeated seizures during the course of a rubella infection. We also review the clinical features of 22q13.3 deletion syndrome and emphasize the importance of considering a rare microdeletion syndrome for idiopathic mental retardation when results of a routine karyotype analysis are normal. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Turkish patient with isolated 22q13.3 deletion syndrome

The relationship of foetal superior mesenteric artery blood flow and the time to first meconium passage in newborns with late-onset foetal growth restriction

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the foetal superior mesenteric artery (SMA) Doppler and the time to first meconium passage (FMP) in foetuses with late-onset foetal growth restriction. This single-centre, prospective, observational, cohort study included 57 patients with late-onset FGR. The newborn infants were divided into two groups: preterm (36.8%) and term (63.2%). The time to FMP of the infants was compared to the foetal SMA parameters obtained within a week before delivery. The median time to FMP was similar between two groups (p = .31). The SMA pulsatility index (PI) was higher in the preterm group (p < .01). There was no correlation between foetal SMA PI or resistance index and time to FMP. In late-onset FGR infants, our study found no association between SMA Doppler measurements and time to FMP. However, a significant difference was detected in SMA PI between preterm and term infants. Impact Statement What is already known in this subject? Foetal growth restriction (FGR) can affect splanchnic circulation of the foetus and this alteration can be associated with some disorders including necrotising enterocolitis. What do the results of this study add? Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) Doppler indices are not associated with first meconium passage in neonates with late-onset foetal growth restriction. The pulsatility index of SMA is significantly higher in foetuses delivered before term. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further research should be conducted to investigate the relationship between foetal SMA Doppler indices and neonatal gastrointestinal morbidities in foetuses with early onset FGR with Doppler anomalies. These studies can shed light from the prenatal to the postnatal period, allowing clinicians to predict potential problems and take precautions

Prenatal-Onset Niemann-Pick Type C Disease with Nonimmune Hydrops Fetails

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC; OMIM 257219) disease is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder characterized by accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in the lysosomal/late endosomal system. This autosomal recessive disorder occurs in approximately 1/150,000 births. The broad clinical spectrum ranges from a prenatal severe presentation to an adult-onset chronic neurodegenerative disease. Data about prenatal presentation of NPC are limited. A female newborn was born at 342 weeks' gestation with a birth weight of 3070 g, and transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit because of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (Nil-IF) and respiratory distress. On admission, a physical examination revealed skin edema, mild respiratory distress, and abdominal distention due to massive ascites. Hepatosplenomegaly and cholestasis increased progressively and bleeding diathesis occurred. Results of an abdominal ultrasonography showed hepatosplenomegaly and segmental multicystic dysplastic left kidney. Foamy cells with a lysosomal phospholipid storage pattern compatible with NPC were found in the bone marrow smear. Cultured fibroblasts showed a strongly elevated filipin staining (classical NPC cellular phenotype), establishing the diagnosis of NPC. The infant died on the 52nd day of life because of respiratory distress due to lung involvement of NPC, massive ascites, and progressive liver failure. Results of an autopsy showed multiorgan storage disease involving the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, lungs, and brain. Here, we present a preterm infant with NIHF as a. sign of severe prenatal-onset NPC and review the literature. Copyright (C) 2013, Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.WoSScopu