The role of platelet counts in the assessment of inpatient women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Platelet count has been proposed as a screening test for generalized coagulopathy in women with preeclampsia. We performed this study to determine the relationship between platelet counts and the risk of abnormal coagulation and adverse maternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia. METHODS: We used data from women in the PIERS (Pre-eclampsia Integrated Estimate of RiSk) database. Abnormal coagulation was defined as either an international normalized ratio result greater than and/or a serum fibrinogen level less than the BC Women's Hospital laboratory's pregnancy-specific normal range. The relationship between platelet counts and adverse maternal outcomes was explored using a logistic regression analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of platelet counts in identifying abnormal coagulation or adverse maternal outcomes were calculated. RESULTS: Abnormal coagulation occurred in 105 of 1405 eligible women (7.5%). The odds of having abnormal coagulation were increased for women with platelet counts < 50 × 10(9)/L (OR 7.78; 95% CI 3.36 to 18.03) and between 50 and 99 × 10(9)/L (OR 2.69; 95% CI 1.44 to 5.01) compared with women who had platelet counts above 150 × 10(9)/L. Platelet counts < 100 × 10(9)/L were associated with significantly increased odds of adverse maternal outcomes, most specifically blood transfusion. A platelet count of < 100 × 10(9)/L had good specificity in identifying abnormal coagulation and adverse maternal outcomes (92% [95% CI 91% to 94%] and 92% [95% CI 91% to 94%], respectively), but poor sensitivity (22% [95% CI 15% to 31%] and 16% [95% CI 11% to 23%], respectively). CONCLUSION: A platelet count < 100 × 10(9)/L is associated with an increased risk of abnormal coagulation and maternal adverse outcomes in women with preeclampsia. However, the platelet count should not be used in isolation to guide care because of its poor sensitivity. Whether or not a platelet count is normal should not be used to determine whether further coagulation tests are needed

Abnormal liver function tests as predictors of adverse maternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether (1) the absolute magnitude of liver function test values, (2) the percentage change in liver function test values over time, or (3) the rate of change in liver function test values over time predicts adverse maternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia. METHODS: We used data from the PIERS (Pre-eclampsia Integrated Estimate of RiSk) study, a prospective multicentre cohort study assessing predictors of adverse maternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia. Women with at least one liver function test performed at the time of hospital admission were included. Liver functions were tested by serum concentrations of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin, total bilirubin, and the international normalized prothrombin time ratio. Parameters investigated were absolute levels, change within 48 hours of hospital admission, change from admission to delivery or outcome, and rate of change from admission to delivery or outcome of each liver function test. The ability of these parameters to predict adverse outcomes was assessed using logistic regression analyses and by calculating the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of the 2008 women, 1056 (53%) had at least one abnormal liver function test result. The odds of having an adverse maternal outcome were higher in women with any abnormal liver function test than in women with normal results. When test results were stratified into quartiles, women with results in the highest quartile (lowest quartile for albumin) were at higher risk of adverse outcomes than women in the lowest quartile for all parameters (highest for albumin). The absolute magnitude of AST, ALT, and LDH predicted adverse maternal outcomes (AST: ROC AUC 0.73 [95% CI 0.67 to 0.97]; ALT: ROC AUC 0.73 [95% CI 0.67 to 0.79]; LDH: ROC AUC 0.74 [95% CI 0.68 to 0.81]). Neither change of liver function test results, within 48 hours of admission or from admission to delivery or outcome, nor rate of change were predictive. CONCLUSION: We found abnormal liver function test results to be associated with an increased risk for adverse maternal outcomes. Levels of AST, ALT, and LDH were found to be modestly predictive of these outcomes

Preventing deaths due to the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy:Ending Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths

In this chapter, taking a life cycle and both civil society and medically oriented approach, we will discuss the contribution of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) to maternal, perinatal and newborn mortality and morbidity. Here we review various interventions and approaches to preventing deaths due to HDPs and discuss effectiveness, resource needs and long-term sustainability of the different approaches. Societal approaches, addressing sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2.2 (malnutrition), 3.7 (access to sexual and reproductive care), 3.8 (universal health coverage) and 3c (health workforce strengthening), are required to achieve SDGs 3.1 (maternal survival), 3.2 (perinatal survival) and 3.4 (reduced impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)). Medical solutions require greater clarity around the classification of the HDPs, increased frequency of effective antenatal visits, mandatory responses to the HDPs when encountered, prompt provision of life-saving interventions and sustained surveillance for NCD risk for women with a history of the HDPs

A Surgical Virtual Reality Simulator Distinguishes Between Expert Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgeons and Perinatologists

Laparoscopic virtual reality simulators can measure relevant surgical skills and so distinguish between subjects having different skills level

Smooth values of polynomials

Given $f\in \mathbb{Z}[t]$ of positive degree, we investigate the existence of auxiliary polynomials $g\in \mathbb{Z}[t]$ for which $f(g(t))$ factors as a product of polynomials of small relative degree. One consequence of this work shows that for any quadratic polynomial $f\in\mathbb{Z}[t]$ and any $\epsilon > 0$, there are infinitely many $n\in\mathbb{N}$ for which the largest prime factor of $f(n)$ is no larger than $n^{\epsilon}$

Early onset pre-eclampsia is associated with altered DNA methylation of cortisol-signalling and steroidogenic genes in the placenta.

Placental cortisol is inactivated in normotensive pregnancies, but is frequently present in pre-eclampsia associated placentae. Since glucocorticoids are strongly associated with the programming of long-term health, we assessed DNA methylation of genes involved in cortisol signalling and bioavailability, and hormonal signalling in the placenta of normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies. Candidate genes/CpG sites were selected through analysis of Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array data on control (n = 19) and early onset pre-eclampsia (EOPET; n = 19) placental samples. DNA methylation was further quantified by bisulfite pyrosequencing in a larger cohort of control (n = 111) cases, in addition to EOPET (n = 19), late onset pre-eclampsia (LOPET; n = 18) and normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (nIUGR; n = 13) cases. DNA methylation (percentage points) was increased at CpG sites within genes encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1 exon 1D promoter; +8.46%; P<0.01) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) binding protein (CRHBP intron 3; +9.14%; P<0.05), and decreased within CRH (5' UTR; -4.30%; P = 0.11) in EOPET-associated placentae, but not in LOPET nor nIUGR cases, compared to controls. Differential DNA methylation was not observed among groups at the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD11B2) gene promoter. Significant hypomethylation was observed in pre-eclampsia but not nIUGR placentae for steroidogenic genes, including CYP11A1 (exon1; EOPET; -9.66%; P<0.00001, and LOPET; -5.77%; P<0.001), 3β-hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD3B1 exon 2; EOPET; -12.49%; P<0.00001, and LOPET; -6.88%; P<0.001), TEA domain family member 3 (TEAD3 intron 1; EOPET; -12.56%; P<0.00001) and CYP19 (placental-specific exon 1.1 promoter; EOPET; -10.62%, P<0.0001). These data represent dysregulation of the placental epigenome in pre-eclampsia related to genes involved in maintaining the hormonal environment during pregnancy and highlights particular susceptibility in the early onset syndrome

Low-dose calcium supplementation for preventing pre-eclampsia: a systematic review and commentary.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data link low dietary calcium with pre-eclampsia. Current recommendations are for 1.5-2 g/day calcium supplementation for low-intake pregnant women, based on randomised controlled trials of ≥1 g/day calcium supplementation from 20 weeks of gestation. This is problematic logistically in low-resource settings; excessive calcium may be harmful; and 20 weeks may be too late to alter outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To review the impact of lower dose calcium supplementation on pre-eclampsia risk. SEARCH STRATEGY AND SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors extracted data from eligible randomised and quasi-randomised trials of low-dose calcium (LDC, <1 g/day), with or without other supplements. MAIN RESULTS: Pre-eclampsia was reduced consistently with LDC with or without co-supplements (nine trials, 2234 women, relative risk [RR] 0.38; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.28-0.52), as well as for subgroups: LDC alone (four trials, 980 women, RR 0.36; 95% CI 0.23-0.57]); LDC plus linoleic acid (two trials, 134 women, RR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09-0.60); LDC plus vitamin D (two trials, 1060 women, RR 0.49; 0.31-0.78) and a trend for LDC plus antioxidants (one trial, 60 women, RR 0.24; 95% CI 0.06-1.01). Overall results were consistent with the single quality trial of LDC alone (171 women, RR 0.30; 95% CI 0.06-1.38). LDC plus antioxidants commencing at 8-12 weeks tended to reduce miscarriage (one trial, 60 women, RR 0.06; 95% CI 0.00-1.04). CONCLUSIONS: These limited data are consistent with LDC reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia; confirming this in sufficiently powered randomised controlled trials would have implications for current guidelines and their global implementation