Perinatal results in fetal macrosomia

Introdução: A gestação de fetos macrossômicos aumenta o risco complicações perinatais. Método: Análise retrospectiva de 306 partos ocorridos no HU/USP entre 2002 e 2004, cujos recém-nascidos apresentaram peso = 4000 gramas. Resultados: A idade das gestantes foi de 14 a 43 anos (27,4 ± 6,0 anos) e 33,9% com paridade > 2 partos. A idade gestacional variou de 36 a 43 semanas (40,1 ± 1,1) sendo 54,2% gestações pós-data, e o peso ao nascimento variou de 4000 a 5085 gramas (4195,5 ± 188,9). O tipo de parto foi vaginal em 141 (46,1%) gestantes e cesárea em 165 (53,9%) gestantes. As principais intercorrências materno-fetais foram mecôneo (4,9%), traumatismo no recém-nascido (2,3%), laceração vaginal (1,9%), atonia uterina (1,6%) e distocia do bisacromial (1,6%). Não houve diferenças ignificativa na ocorrência de intercorrências (OR = 0,95; IC = 0,52-1,74) entre partos cesáreo e vaginal, e entre recém-nascidos com peso < ou > a 4500 gramas (OR = 1,09; IC = 0,38-3,10). Conclusão: Identificou-se o pós-datismo, a multiparidade e a idade materna avançada relacionados a macrossomia. Esta também associa-se a cesárea, a trauma de parto e a morbidade perinatal, porém, não demostrou-se a correlação entre a via de parto ou peso de nascimento< ou > de 4500gramas e a freqüência de intercorrências materno-fetais.Background: Pregnancy of macrosomic fetus increases risk of several complications. Methods: Retrospective analyse of 306 deliveries occurred in HU/USP between 2002 and 2004 whose newborns had weight = 4000 gram. Results: Gestational age was between 14 and 43 years (27,4 ± 6,0 years) and 33,9% with parity > 2 deliveries. The gestational age varied from 36 to 43 weeks (40,1 ± 1,1) being 54,2% postdate gestations, and the born weight was from 4000 to 5085 grames (4195,5 ± 188,9). Delivery was vaginal in 141 (46,1%) pregnants and cesarean in 165 (53,9%) pregnants. The main maternofetal problems were meconeo (4,9%), trauma in newborns (2,3%), vaginal laceration (1,9%), uterus atonia (1,6%) and bisacromial distocia (1,6%). There were not significative difference on the occurrence of problems (OR=0,95;IC=0,52-1,74) between cesarean and vaginal delivery, and between newborns with weight <ou > de 4500 gram (OR=1,09; IC=0,38-3,10). Conclusion: Postdate, multiparity and advanced maternal age were related with macrosomia. Fetal macrosomia is also related to cesarean, delivery trauma and perinatal morbity, however, it is not show the correlation in delivery way orbirth weight < or > of 4500gram and the frequency of maternofetal problems

Longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters in twin pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 200 uncomplicated twin pregnancies before 21 weeks of gestation were recruited for this prospective, longitudinal study. Women who abandoned follow-up, pregnancies with unknown outcomes or pregnancies with complications were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed every three weeks, and biparietal and occipitofrontal diameters, head and abdominal circumferences, and femur diaphysis length measurements were obtained for each fetus at each visit. Estimated fetal weight, biparietal/occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference/abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length/abdominal circumference ratios were also calculated. Multilevel regression analysis was performed on normalized data. RESULTS: A total of 807 ultrasound examinations were performed in 125 twin pregnancies between 14 and 38 weeks of gestation (6.5±1.4 scans/pregnancy). Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations for all variables with gestational age, namely log of the biparietal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the occipitofrontal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the head circumference (r = 0.99), log of the abdominal circumference (r = 0.98), square root of the femur length (r = 0.99), log of the estimated fetal weight (r = 0.99), biparietal/occipitofrontal ratio (r = -0.11), head/abdomen circumference ratio (r = -0.56), and log of the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (r = 0.61). Values corresponding to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for estimated fetal weight at 28, 32, and 36 weeks, respectively, were as follows: 937, 1,096, 1,284 g; 1,462, 1,720, 2,025 g; and 2,020, 2,399, 2,849 g. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters show a significant correlation with gestational age

Validation of QF-PCR for prenatal diagnoses in a Brazilian population

OBJECTIVES: Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) is a rapid and reliable method for screening aneuploidies, but in Brazil, it is not used in public services. We investigated the accuracy of QF-PCR for the prenatal recognition of common aneuploidies and compared these results with cytogenetic results in our laboratory. METHOD: A ChromoQuant QF-PCR kit containing 24 primer pairs targeting loci on chromosomes 21, 13, 18, X and Y was employed to identify aneuploidies of the referred chromosomes. RESULTS: A total of 162 amniotic fluid samples analyzed using multiplex QF-PCR were compared with karyotyping analysis. The QF-PCR results were consistent with the results of cytogenetic analysis in 95.4% of all samples. CONCLUSION: QF-PCR was demonstrated to be efficient and reliable for prenatal aneuploidy screening. This study suggests that QF-PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method. However, rearrangements and some mosaic samples cannot be detected with this test; thus, those exceptions must undergo cytogenetic analysis

Longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters in twin pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 200 uncomplicated twin pregnancies before 21 weeks of gestation were recruited for this prospective, longitudinal study. Women who abandoned follow-up, pregnancies with unknown outcomes or pregnancies with complications were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed every three weeks, and biparietal and occipitofrontal diameters, head and abdominal circumferences, and femur diaphysis length measurements were obtained for each fetus at each visit. Estimated fetal weight, biparietal/occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference/abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length/abdominal circumference ratios were also calculated. Multilevel regression analysis was performed on normalized data. RESULTS: A total of 807 ultrasound examinations were performed in 125 twin pregnancies between 14 and 38 weeks of gestation (6.5 +/- 1.4 scans/pregnancy). Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations for all variables with gestational age, namely log of the biparietal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the occipitofrontal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the head circumference (r = 0.99), log of the abdominal circumference (r = 0.98), square root of the femur length (r = 0.99), log of the estimated fetal weight (r = 0.99), biparietal/occipitofrontal ratio (r = -0.11), head/abdomen circumference ratio (r = -0.56), and log of the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (r = 0.61). Values corresponding to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for estimated fetal weight at 28, 32, and 36 weeks, respectively, were as follows: 937, 1,096, 1,284 g; 1,462, 1,720, 2,025 g; and 2,020, 2,399, 2,849 g. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters show a significant correlation with gestational age

Use of cell-free fetal nucleic acids in maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis: the reality of this scenario in Brazil

A descoberta de ácidos nucleicos fetais livres no plasma de gestantes possibilitou o desenvolvimento de novos testes de diagnóstico pré-natal não invasivo para a determinação do sexo e do Rh fetal. Esses testes foram implantados no sistema de saúde pública de diversos países da Europa há mais de cinco anos. As novas possibilidades de aplicação diagnóstica dessas tecnologias são a detecção de aneuploidias cromossômicas fetais, de doenças monogênicas fetais e de distúrbios relacionados com a placenta, temas pesquisados intensivamente por diversos grupos ao redor do mundo. O objetivo deste estudo é expor a situação brasileira no âmbito de pesquisa e utilização clínica dos testes disponíveis comercialmente que utilizam esses marcadores moleculares plasmáticos, ressaltando as vantagens, tanto econômicas quanto de segurança, que os testes não invasivos têm em relação aos atualmente utilizados em nosso sistema de saúde pública

Cuidados paliativos em medicina fetal

Fetal malformations affect approximately 3% of pregnancies, and the possibility of this diagnosis is one of the main concerns of parents and family members. When a malformation that implies potential mortality for the child is diagnosed, the pregnancy’s follow-up needs to be planned, including diverse aspects such as thorough evaluation of the prognosis, organization of post-partum care, and follow-up with the family in a broad and integrated manner. Recently, palliative care concepts have been introduced into perinatology for this purpose. This article discusses the application of the palliative care model to the care of pregnant women and family members of fetuses with malformations.Malformações fetais acometem cerca de 3% das gestações, e a possibilidade desse diagnóstico é uma das principais preocupações vivenciadas pelos pais e familiares. Quando é diagnosticado uma malformação que implique em possível mortalidade da criança, é necessário o planejamento do seguimento da gestação, o que abrange diversos aspectos que incluem avaliação minuciosa do prognóstico, organização do cuidado após o parto, e seguimento da família de forma abrangente e integrada. Recentemente os conceitos de cuidados paliativos foram introduzidos na perinatologia com essa finalidade, e o presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir o modelo de cuidado paliativo aplicado no atendimento a gestantes e familiares de fetos com malformação

Predicting pH at birth in pregnancies with abnormal pulsatility index and positive end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery

Objectives: To identify potential associations between fetal surveillance tests and acidosis at birth in pregnancies with abnormal but positive end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery. Methods: A prospective case-control study [group 1: pH < 7.2; group 2: pH >= 7.2] including 46 fetuses with abnormal but positive end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery was conducted between February 2007 and March 2009. Outcome variables were evaluated by univariate analysis and compared between the two groups. Clinically relevant and statistically significant variables were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Abnormal nonstress test, presence of deceleration, and absent fetal breathing movements were statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis revealed that fetal heart rate (FHR) deceleration in the nonstress test is the only predictor of fetal acidosis at birth (p = 0.024; OR = 8.2; 95% CI: 1.2-52). Conclusions: In fetuses with positive end-diastolic flow velocity, acute variables of the antenatal surveillance tests are correlated with acidosis at birth and FHR deceleration in the nonstress test is the only predictor of fetal acidosis