Fetal Outcomes In Pregnant Women Research Articles

Possibilities of Predicting the Manifestation of HELLP Syndrome

Introduction. Despite the use of modern principles of treatment of severe preeclampsia, mortality rates for mother and newborn in the development of life-threatening complication of preeclampsia, such as HELLP syndrome, remains high. The introduction of accurate models of early diagnosis and prediction of the probability of manifestation and severity of the HELLP syndrome into everyday medical practice will improve the safety of delivery of pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.The aim of the study is to determine the current state of the issue and systematize current data on methods of predicting the probability of HELLP syndrome manifestation.Materials and methods. An analytical review of the literature. A qualitative analysis of clinical trials and reviews on prediction of HELLP syndrome was conducted using the following data sources: PubMed and Google Scholar. The search was carried out in Russian and English, using the keywords “predictors”, or “prediction”, and “HELLP syndrome”. The date of the last search query is 22 March 2024.Results. Anamnestic data and initial characteristics of patients with HELLP syndrome were analyzed.Discussion. The analytical review included publications devoted to the study of the influence of predictive capabilities of potential biochemical markers, clinical and anamnestic signs and instrumental examination data on the probability of HELLP syndrome development.Conclusion. Adequate prediction of the manifestation of HELLP syndrome is possible on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of all identified factors, allowing the identification of effective prognostic models to improve maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With Endometriosis [ID 2683578

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis, a prevalent disorder affecting around 10% of reproductive-aged women, has been linked to obstetric complications during pregnancy. This study aims to evaluate endometriosis prevalence in pregnancy and its effect on maternal and newborn outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) database from the United States between 1999 and 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for diverse baseline maternal characteristics, was used to investigate pregnancy and newborn outcomes in births to women diagnosed with endometriosis as compared to those without. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 16,911,497 births to women without endometriosis and 14,956 pregnant women diagnosed with endometriosis. Over the 20-year period, there was a significant upward trend in prevalence of endometriosis among births, rising from 34.9 to 160.6/100,000 births. Births to women with endometriosis exhibited distinctive demographic characteristics: being of advanced maternal age, predominantly of Caucasian ethnicity, belonging to higher income quartiles, obese, smokers, and having private insurance coverage. Births to women with endometriosis were at heightened risk of experiencing obstetric complications, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and postpartum hemorrhage. Neonates born to mothers with endometriosis also demonstrated an elevated likelihood of growth restriction and congenital anomalies. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the evolving prevalence of endometriosis among pregnant women and establishes a strong connection between endometriosis and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of vigilant monitoring to enhance obstetrical and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with endometriosis.

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women With COVID -19, A retrospective Study

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women With COVID -19, A retrospective Study

Obstetrics and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with beta-blocker treatment in maternal arrhythmia

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the pregnancy prognosis of patients taking beta-blockers for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
 Materials and Method: This study was a retrospective observational study involving 50 pregnant women with cardiac arrhythmias and 55 healthy pregnant women, admitted between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2022, to Ankara City Hospital. Beta-blockers were classified into three groups: metaprolol, propranolol, and bisoprolol. The use of beta-blockers was examined in two groups: high-dose and low-dose. For pregnancy outcome, birth week, birth weight and birth weight Z-score, the bHCG MoM and PAPP-A MoM, neonatal APGAR score, and neonatal intensive care unit admission rates were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were both used to evaluate normality of variables. Groups were compared using the Student t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test. P-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
 Results: The patient group taking beta-blockers had a statistically significant earlier delivery week than the group without beta-blocker use (p=0.000). The rate of primary cesarean deliveries was higher in the study group (p=0.007). Birth weight and APGAR score at the fifth minute was significantly lower in the study group, and NICU admission rate was significantly higher (p=0.006, p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively). 
 Conclusion: Beta-blockers, a first-line therapy for maternal arrhythmias, may affect fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. İt is recommended that these drugs to be administered are meticulously selected for appropriate subgroups, with lowest effective doses

Impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and fetal outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis

Background: In the general population, maternal COVID-19 is associated with worse maternal and fetal outcomes. Two previous studies have assessed COVID-19 clinical outcomes in pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS), but there are no data about maternal and fetal outcomes. Objectives: In this multicenter study, we aimed to assess maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with MS and COVID-19 infection. Methods: We recruited pregnant patients with MS who contracted COVID-19 and were followed up in Italian and Turkish Centers, during 2020–2022. A control group was extracted from a previous Italian cohort. Associations between group (COVID-19 or healthy patients) and clinical outcomes (maternal complications, fetal malformations, and spontaneous abortion) were investigated with a weighted logistic regression where propensity score–based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach was applied for adjusting for difference in baseline confounders. Results: In the multivariable analysis, COVID-19 during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of maternal complications (odd ratio (OR) = 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.32–3.48; p = 0.002), while it was not associated with higher risk of spontaneous abortion and fetal malformations. Conclusion: Our data indicate that COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal complications, while it seems to have no significant impact on fetal outcomes.

Significance of cervical secretion culture in predicting maternal and fetal outcome in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To investigate the clinical value of cervical secretion culture in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) in predicting maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of pregnant women who underwent obstetric examination and delivered in Fujian Maternal and Child Healthcare from December 2013 to December 2016. Pregnant women with a clear diagnosis of PROM, who underwent cervical secretion culture immediately after hospital admission were selected for the study. The primary outcome was the occurrence of chorioamnionitis. The secondary outcome was neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Correlation between maternal and fetal outcomes and the results of the cervical secretion culture was analyzed by one-way analysis and multifactorial analysis, respectively. The predictive efficacy of cervical secretion culture was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Results: A total of 7,727 pregnant women with PROM were included in the study. Of them, 1812 had positive cervical secretion cultures (635 positive for mycoplasma infection, 475 for bacterial, 637 for fungal, and 65 for chlamydial infections). Pregnant women with positive mycoplasma and bacterial cultures had higher rates of developing chorioamnionitis compared to women with negative cervical secretion cultures (9%, 12% vs. 1%, respectively). Similarly, positive mycoplasma and bacterial cultures were associated with higher rate of the preterm (before 34 weeks) labor (3%, 3% vs. 1% in women with negative cultures, respectively), and neonatal admission to the NICU (9%, 11% vs. 7%, respectively). After adjusting for various confounding factors, our analysis demonstrated that a positive cervical secretion culture for mycoplasma or bacterial pathogens remained an independent risk factor for chorioamnionitis. Cervical secretion culture outcome was less effective in predicting chorioamnionitis (AUC 0.569) compared to white blood count (WBC) (AUC 0.626) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (AUC 0.605). The IDI of the combined predictive model incorporating WBC, CRP, maternal fever and cervical secretion culture results was 0.0029. Conclusion: Positive cervical secretion cultures, especially for mycoplasma and bacteria, are associated with higher incidence of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. However, the predictive value of this test is poor, and cannot be efficiently used for predicting chorioamnionitis.

Evaluation of maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with gestational thrombocytopenia

Evaluation of maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with gestational thrombocytopenia

Characterization of cardiac arrhythmias and maternal–fetal outcomes in pregnant women: A prospective cohort study

Introduction and ObjectivesCardiovascular disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. Arrhythmias are common complications during pregnancy; however, the data are limited. Our goal was to characterize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and impact of cardiac arrhythmias on maternal–fetal outcomes. MethodsA prospective cohort study from the Colombian Registry of Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease was carried out from 2016 to 2019. All patients with tachyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia and a minimum follow-up of six months after delivery were included. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiac events defined as pulmonary edema, symptomatic sustained arrhythmia requiring specific therapy, stroke, cardiac arrest, or maternal death. Secondary outcomes were other cardiac, neonatal, and obstetric events. ResultsArrhythmias were the most common cause of referral to our dedicated cardio-obstetric clinic. A total of 92 patients were included, mean age 27±6 years; 8.7% had previous structural heart disease, and cardiology consultation was delayed in 79.4%. The most common arrhythmias were premature ventricular contractions (33%) and paroxysmal reentrant supraventricular tachycardias (15%); 11 patients (12%) had cardiac implantable electronic devices. Cardiac events occurred in 18.4% of patients, obstetric events occurred in 6.5%, and one caesarean was indicated in the context of symptomatic severe mitral stenosis. Adverse neonatal outcomes were observed in 24.3% of newborns. ConclusionsArrhythmias were the most common cause of referral to a dedicated cardio-obstetric clinic; most had a benign course. Adverse maternal cardiovascular outcomes were significant and there was a high rate of obstetric and neonatal adverse events, underlining the importance of multidisciplinary care.

Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with Takayasu’s arteritis: single center experience over ten years

Background: This study aims to assess pregnant women's maternal and fetal outcomes with Takayasu’s arteritis (TA).
 Material and Methods: The study comprised ten pregnant women at the time of diagnosis or afterwards among the 50 patients diagnosed with TA between 2003 and 2021. Twenty-one pregnancy outcomes of 10 patients were obtained from hospital records and telephonic interviews. Two pregnancies were excluded due to timing before diagnosis.
 Results: Based on the angiographic classification, six patients had type 1, two had type 2b, and two had type 1+4 TA. 63.15% of pregnancies were planned, and the rheumatologist approved 42.10%. Live birth occurred in 16 (84.2%) of 19 pregnancies, three pregnancies (15.7%) resulted in abortion and two (10.5 %) of 19 pregnancies ended in neonatal death. In five (26.3%) of the 19 pregnancies, the disease was activated during pregnancy. Two neonatal deaths were from the two patients diagnosed with preeclampsia during pregnancy. Pre-existing hypertension and active disease are shared features of these two patients. After one year of follow-up, six pregnancies (31.5%) had active disease, and four (66.6%) had active disease both before and during pregnancy. While fetal data analysis revealed no congenital anomalies, four pregnancies resulted in low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation (21.05%).
 Conclusions: The risk of developing preeclampsia and neonatal death should be considered, especially in TA patients with pre-existing hypertension who become pregnant during active disease.

Impact of mRNA-based vaccines in the prevention of adverse outcomes of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: a single-center cohort study.

Several data have suggested that pregnant women have an increased risk of severe COVID-19 compared to those who are not pregnant. Moreover, different studies have showed that severe COVID-19 is limited mostly to unvaccinated women. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the different maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 according to their vaccination status. A retrospective cohort study was carried out including all women admitted to the high-risk pregnancy unit of our center with COVID-19 between December 2021 and February 2022. Among the 163 women included in the study, 60 were vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine and 103 were unvaccinated. Pregnancy outcome and obstetrical and neonatal complications were encountered. Vaccinated women showed higher educational levels and lower prevalence of cases, with BMI >25 compared to unvaccinated women. Moreover, vaccinated women were admitted mostly for obstetrical indications rather than for COVID-related symptoms. In addition, the risk of developing COVID-19 pneumonia was significantly higher in unvaccinated women (p = 0.01) compared with vaccinated ones. Furthermore, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes showed some differences in the two cohorts. In unvaccinated women, the rate of C-section was higher (p = 0.03), and the mean birthweight percentile in their infants was impaired by COVID-19 infection (p = 0.01) when compared to those born to vaccinated women. Based on these results, we suggest that women who received a full course of vaccination were protected from the severity of the disease, having milder symptoms of SARS-Cov2 infection, while also presenting a more favorable pregnancy outcome.

Associations between Serum CRP Concentration, Maternal Hypertension, and Fetal Outcome: A Comparative Analysis in Pregnant Women

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is a complex disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, posing risks to maternal and fetal health. It is linked to adverse outcomes worldwide, with varying incidence rates across regions. Risk factors include history, maternal age, and socioeconomics. The pathophysiology involves issues with spiral artery adaptation. The study aimed to analyze the associations between serum CRP concentration, maternal hypertension, and fetal outcomes in pregnant women. Methods: This cross- sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Child and Mother Health (ICMH), Matuail, Dhaka. It took place from January to December 2018. The study population comprised 120 pregnant women within the gestational age of 28-40 weeks. The women were categorized into three groups: Group A (control) consisted of normotensive pregnant women, Group B included pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia, and Group C comprised pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia. Ethical guidelines were followed, including IRB approval and participant consent. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version, 22.0. Chi-Square, t-test, and ANOVA test were performed to determine associations among the study variables of the groups, where p<0.05 considered as the level of significance. Results: The study enrolled 120 participants divided into Groups A, B, and C. The majority fell within the 18-25 age range. The mean ages were 24.23±4.52 (Group A), 24.73±4.01 (Group B), and 24.26±3.07 (Group C). BMI was significantly higher in Groups A and B compared to Group C (p < 0.05). Gestational age was lower in mild and severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancies (p < 0.05). Cesarean section delivery was significantly more frequent in preeclamptic mothers (p < 0.001). CRP levels varied, with means of 3.07 (Group A), 9.67 (Group B), and 13.15 (Group C), showing significant differences (p < 0.05). Fetal birth weight was lowest in Group C (2.61) and highest in Group A (2.95). Severe preeclampsia patients had elevated CRP levels, with 93.3% exhibiting this trend (p < 0.05). Adverse neonatal outcomes were more common in preeclampsia cases, including prematurity, LBW, and neonatal complications (p < 0.05). Increased CRP levels were associated with low birth weight (p < 0.001) and lower APGAR scores (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Pre- eclampsia shows raised serum CRP levels, particularly pronounced in severe cases, with about 83% of patients affected. This heightened CRP connects to adverse fetal outcomes.

Association between disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis and maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundA meta-analysis has compared the pregnancy outcomes between women with and without RA, while the effect of disease severity on pregnancy outcomes within women with RA has not been explored. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between disease activity of RA and pregnancy outcomes.MethodsFour English databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], VIP, and Wan Fang) was searched for eligible studies up to August 13, 2023. Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic were used to assess the heterogeneity of the included studies. The odds ratio (OR) (for counting data) and weighted mean difference (WMD) (for measurement data) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) using random-effect model (I2 ≥ 50%) or fixed-effect model (I2 < 50%). Subgroup analysis based on study design and regions was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed for all outcomes and the publication bias was assessed using Begg’s test.ResultsA total of 41 eligible articles were finally included. RA women had higher odds to suffer from preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, spontaneous abortion, and cesarean delivery (all P < 0.05). The infants born from RA mother showed the higher risk of stillbirth, SGA, LBW, congenital abnormalities, diabetes type 1, and asthma (all P < 0.05). The high disease activity of RA was significantly associated with the higher risk of cesarean delivery (OR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.02–5.15) and premature delivery (OR: 5.61, 95%CI: 2.20–14.30).ConclusionsHigh disease activity of RA was associated with the high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting that it was important to control disease for RA women with high disease activity who prepared for pregnancy.

Impact of COVID-19 on Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic causing respiratory symptoms, taste alterations, olfactory disturbances, and cutaneous, cardiovascular, and neurological manifestations. Recently, research interest has shifted to reproductive health to understand the factors predisposing to COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, the consequences of the infection on the fetus and on the mother, and possible vertical transmission through the placenta. Pregnancy does not increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to studies. However, contrary to non-pregnant women, pregnancy worsens the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Studies investigating the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy women are heterogeneous, and the results are often conflicting. Objectives: The goal of the current work was to offer a thorough and up-to-date systematic review of, and meta-analysis on, the impact of COVID-19 on ovarian function, pregnancy, and fetal outcomes. Search strategy: This meta-analysis (PROSPERO n. CRD42023456904) was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocols. The search for relevant material was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase databases, through to 15 December 2022. Selection criteria: Original articles on fertile pregnant women or women attempting to become pregnant, with an active case of, or history of, SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, and reproductive function was compared to that of uninfected women. Data collection and analysis: The effects of COVID-19 on female reproductive function, particularly ovarian function, the profile of female sex hormones, pregnancy outcomes and fetal outcomes were the focus of our search. Quantitative analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. The standard difference of the mean was calculated for the statistical comparison between cases and controls. Cochran's Q test and heterogeneity (I2) indexes were used to assess statistical heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests were also performed. Main Results: Twenty-eight articles met our inclusion criteria, for a total of 27,383 patients pregnant or looking to have offspring, with active or anamnestic COVID-19, and 1,583,772 uninfected control women. Our study revealed that there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients and the control group in terms of maternal characteristics such as age, body mass index (BMI) and comorbidities that could affect pregnancy and fetal outcomes. The risk of a miscarriage or Cesarean delivery was significantly lower, while the risk of fetal death or premature delivery was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in the controls. None of the included studies evaluated hormonal profiles or investigated the presence of infertility. Conclusions: Maternal comorbidities, age, and BMI do not raise the risk of COVID-19. However, pregnant women with COVID-19 had a lower risk of miscarriage and Cesarean delivery, possibly because of better prenatal care and high levels of observation during labor. COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal death and premature delivery.

Effect of low-glycemic index diet advice on pregnant outcomes in women with elevated risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trails

The beneficial effect of low-glycemic index (GI) diet on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been suggested in many observational studies; however, results from intervention trials remain inconsistent. This study aims to estimate the effect of interventions with low-GI dietary advice on pregnant outcomes in women with elevated risk of GDM. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) through March 2022. Studies reporting the effect of low-GI diet advice intervention on maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with increased risks of GDM were included. Random or fixed effects model was used to calculate combined treatment effects. Publication bias was assessed via Begg's and Egger's tests and funnel plot inspection. Nine RCTs recruiting 3416 participants were included. Low-GI diet advice did not modulate the risk of GDM. Compared with control diets, low-GI diet advice significantly reduced gestational weight gain (GWG) (weighted mean differences, WMD=-0.93kg, 95% CI:-1.31,-0.55; p<0.001; n=7) and the risk of premature birth (RR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.88; p=0.012; n=5). In subgroup analyses, the effect of low-GI diet interventions on premature birth was significant only in women with BMI higher than 30kg/m2 (RR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.77, p=0.014; n=3); the significant effect on GWG was not altered by stratification of BMI and the type of GDM risk factors. No significant changes in other maternal and newborn outcomes were found. Low-GI diet advice interventions during pregnancy decreased GWG and the risk of premature birth in women with elevated GDM risk; however, the interventions did not significantly prevent GDM development in these women.

Risk Factors of Fetal/Infant Outcome in Pregnant Women with Cancer in East Java Indonesia: Epidemiological Study

Background: Cancer during pregnancy is a rare event, despite its rarity, its incidence nowadays keeps on increasing worldwide. Objective: This study aims to describe the available data on pregnant women with cancer in East Java- Indonesia, maternal outcomes and fetal outcomes, and knowing the risk factors of bad fetal outcomes in pregnant women with cancer from an epidemiological point of view. Method: This is a quantitative observational study of pregnant women with cancer in East Java Indonesia. Its design is a Cross-sectional study. Data collection was obtained from secondary data (the medical report in the Obgyn department at Dr. Seotomo Hospital from 2016 – 2020). Data were analyzed statistically by using SPSS program version 25. Result: The results showed that from 2016 to 2020, 54 cases of pregnant women with cancer had been extracted with an incident rate 0.8%. The incident rate of Non-Obgyn Cancer (55.6%) is higher than Obgyn Cancer (44.4%). The highest incident rates in non-Obgyn Cancer are Breast cancer (7.5%) and Leukemia (3.7%), while the highest incident rates in Obgyn Cancer are Cervical and Ovarian (8.4%). There was no relationship between cancer type and fetal outcomes, while there is a relationship between cancer stage and fetal outcomes. Conclusion: Cancer stage could be risk factor for fetal outcomes in Indonesian pregnant women with cancer.

Evaluation of Maternal Fetal Outcomes of Pregnant Women and Mothers with Suspected Infection by SARS-CoV-2 Treated at the Municipal Hospital of São Bernardo do Campo (HMU-SBC), Brazil.

The impact of Covid-19 infection on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes is not fully known. To describe the risk factors and perinatal outcome of pregnant women with suspected COVID-19 infection. We evaluated medical records of women with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who received health care services at the University Hospital of São Bernardo do Campo from March 1 to July 31, 2020, and personal, clinical, and laboratory data of these women and their newborns. Of the 219 women identified, 29% were asymptomatic. Considering the total population, 26% and 17% had obesity and hypertensive syndrome, respectively. Fever measured in the emergency room was the main reason for hospitalization. The presence or not of flu-like symptoms did not impact on perinatal outcomes. Pregnant women requiring hospitalization had newborns with lower birth weight (p < 0.01), shorter length (p = 0.02), and smaller head circumference (p = 0.03), and, in these cases, a higher number of cesarean section deliveries was observed. COVID-19 infection did not affect the prognosis of pregnancy and newborns. However, the worst clinical outcome, requiring hospitalization, had an impact on the anthropometric measurements of newborns.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on fetal health: A systematic review.

Ramadan fasting (RF) is mandatory for all healthy Muslims in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Although pregnant women are exempt from fasting, many make the decision to practise it. Concerns that fasting during pregnancy harms the fetus remain, as there are no firm recommendations regarding its safety. To provide a systematic review on the effects of RF on fetal health. We conducted a literature search for peer-reviewed articles through Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) until 31 December 2021. All case-control and observational cohort studies that reported on fetal outcomes of pregnant women who underwent RF for at least one day during pregnancy are included. Two researchers independently reviewed the eligibility of all studies. A third researcher resolved any conflict between researchers. Findings are extracted from eligible papers and presented as narratives. Fourteen articles are included based on eligibility criteria, with a total sample size of 2889. Studies demonstrate negative associations between RF and neonatal weight, amniotic fluid index, preterm birth and growth parameters mainly during the second and third trimesters. However, the evidence is not strongly supported. There is limited data to elucidate the relationship between RF and fetal health, hence the need for more studies to provide a better understanding.

Clinical analysis of 11 cases of pregnancy with aortic dissection

Objective: To investigate the treatment and maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women with aortic dissection (AD). Methods: The clinical data of 11 pregnant women with AD treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 1st, 2011 to August 1st, 2022 were collected, and their clinical characteristics, treatment plans and maternal and fetal outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Results: (1) Clinical characteristics: the age of onset of 11 pregnant women with AD was (30±5) years old, and the week of pregnancy of onset was (31.4±8.0) weeks. Clinical manifestations: the main symptoms were sudden onset of chest and back pain or low back pain. Type of AD: 8 cases of Stanford type A, and 3 cases of type B. The aortic width was (42±11) mm. Diagnostic methods: the diagnosis of AD was confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), computed tomography angiography (CTA) or enhanced CT examination, among which 4 cases were confirmed by CTA examination, 4 cases by TTE examination, and 3 cases by enhanced CT examination. Laboratory results: white blood cell count was (15.4±8.7) ×109/L, neutrophil count was (13.5±8.5) ×109/L, the median D-dimer level was 2.7 mg/L (2.1-9.2 mg/L), and the median fibrin degradation products level was 12.0 mg/L (5.4-36.1 mg/L). (2) Treatments: all 11 patients were admitted to hospital in emergency. Before operation, the departments of cardiac surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics and anesthesiology cooperated to develop individualized treatment plan. Aortic surgery was performed in 11 pregnant women with AD. In 6 of them, pregnancy termination was performed at the same time as aortic surgery, and aortic surgery was performed after cesarean section. Four cases of pregnancy termination and aortic operation were performed by stages, including aortic operation after cesarean section in 2 cases, and cesarean section after aortic operation in 2 cases. One case (12+6 weeks of gestation) had spontaneous abortion on the day after aortic surgery. The gestational age of the 11 patients on pregnancy termination was (32.9±7.4) weeks. Aorta surgical methods: 7 patients received under extracorporeal circulation ascending aorta replacement ± aortic valve replacement ± coronary artery transplantation (or coronary artery bypass transplantation)± left and right coronary Cabrol + total arch replacement (or aortic arch replacement)± stent implantation, 1 patient received under extracorporeal circulation aortic root replacement, and 3 patients underwent aortic endoluminal isolation. (3) Maternal and fetal outcomes: among the 11 pregnant women with AD, 9 (9/11) survived, 2 (2/11) died with lower limb ischemia before the onset of the disease. A total of 10 newborns were born in 9 pregnant women after delivery (1 of them was twins), and the 2 cases were spontaneous abortion after aortic surgery in the first trimester (12+6 weeks) and fetal death after hysterotomy in the second trimester (26+3 weeks), respectively. Among the 10 surviving neonates, 3 were full-term infants and 7 were premature infants. The birth weight of newborn was (2 651±784) g. Respiratory distress syndrome was found in 6 cases. The newborns were followed up for (5.6±3.6) years after birth, and the infants developed well during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pregnancy complicated with AD is dangerous, and chest and back pain is the main clinical manifestation of this disease. With early identification and selection of appropriate diagnostic methods, multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment, mother and children could obtain good outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics, Maternal and Fetal Outcomes of Pregnant Women with COVID-19

Background: Pregnant woman are more vulnerable to COVID infection due to physiological changes in the immune and cardiopulmonary system. The aim of the study is to assess the clinical characteristics, maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant patients with COVID-19 in Patan hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Patan hospital from 1 August 2020 to 30 July 2021 following approval from ethical committee. The study population comprised of all pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test. There were total of 171 cases. The data were obtained from medical records and hospital database system. The statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 16. Results: In Patan hospital, there were a total of 171 patients who were COVID-19 positive by PCR test. There were total deliveries of 4,277 during one year period and hence the incidence was 3.99%. There were 101 (59.06%) caesarean section and 70 (40.93%) vaginal deliveries among which one was vacuum assisted delivery. There were two peripartum hysterectomies. Majority of the patients were asymptomatic, common symptoms were cough 29 (16.95%), fever 27 (15.78%) and shortness of breath 13 (7.6%). Prematurity was the common fetal complication seen in 28 (16.37%) of the cases. Maternal mortality was seen in 7 (4.09%) patients. Conclusions: COVID-19 is associated with increase maternal morbidity and mortality. Symptoms can be from mild form to much more severe course of illness. Proper treatment and timely referral of severe cases to higher center can improve both maternal and fetal outcomes in COVID-19 in pregnancy. Keywords: COVID-19; outcome; pregnancy; reverse transcriptase PCR

Maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infection in women of reproductive age group because of vaginal dysbiosis. The impact of BV during pregnancy is still not well defined. The objective of this study is to assess the maternal-fetal outcome in women with BV. A prospective cohort study over one-year duration was conducted from December, 2014 until December, 2015, involving 237 women who presented with abnormal vaginal discharge, preterm labour or preterm prelabour rupture of membrane between 22- and 34-weeks period of gestation. Vaginal swabs were sent for culture and sensitivity, BV® Blue testing and PCR for Gardnerella vaginalis (GV). BV was diagnosed in 24/237 (10.1%) cases. The median gestational age was 31.6 weeks. GV was isolated from 16 out of 24 (66.7%) in the BV positive group. There was a significantly higher preterm birth rate, below 34 weeks (22.7% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.019) in women with BV. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal outcome such as clinical chorioamnionitis or endometritis. However, placental pathology revealed more than half (55.6%) of women with BV had histologic chorioamnionitis. Neonatal morbidity was significantly higher with exposure to BV, with a lower median birth weight, higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission (41.7% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.010), increased intubation for respiratory support (29.2% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.004) and respiratory distress syndrome (33.3% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.002). More research is needed to formulate guidelines for prevention, early detection and treatment of BV during pregnancy to reduce intrauterine inflammation and the associated adverse fetal outcomes.