Spontaneous Miscarriage Research Articles

Application of artificial neural networks to evaluate femur development in the human fetus.

The present article concentrates on an innovative analysis that was performed to assess the development of the femur in human fetuses using artificial intelligence. As a prerequisite, linear dimensions, cross-sectional surface areas and volumes of the femoral shaft primary ossification center in 47 human fetuses aged 17-30 weeks, originating from spontaneous miscarriages and preterm deliveries, were evaluated with the use of advanced imaging techniques such as computed tomography and digital image analysis. In order to ensure the data representativeness and to avoid introducing any hidden structures that may exist in the data, the entire dataset was randomized and separated into three subsets: training (50% of cases), testing (25% of cases), and validation (25% of cases). Based on the collected numerical data, an artificial neural network was devised, trained, and subject to testing in order to synchronously estimate five parameters of the femoral shaft primary ossification center, thus leveraging fundamental information such as gestational age and femur length. The findings reveal the formulated multi-layer perceptron model denoted as MLP 2-3-2-5 to exhibit robust predictive efficacy, as evidenced by the linear correlation coefficient between actual values and network outputs: R = 0.955 for the training dataset, R = 0.942 for validation, and R = 0.953 for the testing dataset. The authors have cogently demonstrated that the use of an artificial neural network to assess the growing femur in the human fetus may be a valuable tool in prenatal tests, enabling medical doctors to quickly and precisely assess the development of the fetal femur and detect potential anatomical abnormalities.

Determinants of Syphilis among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic at Public Hospital in South West Shoa, Ethiopia, Unmatched Case-control Study, 2023

Background: Syphilis is an infectious, sexually transmitted disease caused by the Spirochete Treponema palladium. Untreated maternal syphilis causes adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous miscarriage, low birth weight, neonatal death, and congenital syphilis. This is a limited case control study to identify determinants of syphilis infections at the study area. Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify determinants of syphilis infections among pregnant women attending ANC clinic at Public hospital in South West Shoa, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A facility based unmatched case-control study among 240 women (48 case and 192 control) with 1:4 ratios were conducted from March 10, 2023–May 20, 2023, among pregnant women attending antenatal care follow up at public hospital, South West Shoa. Cases were selected by convenience and systematic sampling techniques were employed to select control and data was collected by using structured and pretested questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi info version 7.2.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Variables having p-value <0.25 in the bi-variable analysis were entered into logistic regression model for multi variable analysis. Statistical significance was declared at p-value <0.05. Adjusted odd ratio along with 95% confidence interval was used to show strength of association. The results were presented using text, tables, and graphs. Results: In this study 235 women (47 cases and 188 controls) had completed the interview resulting in a response rate of 97.92%. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, significantly associated factors with syphilis infection were status of current pregnancy [AOR = 2.697, 95% CI (1.003-7.249, ANC follow-up [AOR = 4.556, 95% CI (1.759-11.80)], history of STI [AOR = 3.080, 95% CI (1.347-7.043)], alcohol intake [AOR = 3.965, 95% CI (1.56-10.078)], age at first sexual intercourse [AOR = 8.951, 95% CI (3.70-21.646)], and multiple sexual partners [AOR = 2.754, 95% CI (1.065-7.118)]. Conclusion: Status of current pregnancy, ANC follow-up, history of STI, alcohol intake, age at first sexual intercourse, and multiple sexual partners were variables significantly associated with syphilis infections among pregnant women. Therefore, health care providers and managers should focus to give health education on these determinants, and strengthening early diagnosis and treatment for syphilis infections among pregnant women.

CPY27B1-related vitamin D deficiency contributes to the impaired function of CD4+T cells in Recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

The study aimed to explore the relationship between the expression of cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1 (CYP27B1), vitamin D, and impaired T cell subsets in recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM). A Total of 779 healthy women of childbearing age and 1031 women with a history of RSM were involved in this study. The results of flow cytometry showed that the proportion of Tregs was higher in healthy women than in the women with RSM. For cytokines, the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were significantly higher in RSM patients than in healthy women, while IL-10 was notably lower in RSM patients. Furthermore, compared to healthy individuals, RSM patients had lower levels of serum 25(OH)D detected by chemiluminescence. The frequency of Tregs was negatively correlated with 25(OH)D. Specifically, for every 10 ng/ml increase in 25(OH)D, the percentage of Tregs increased by 0.58 as calculated. IL-17 and IFN-γ were inversely correlated with 25(OH)D, while the serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) level was positively correlated with 25(OH)D. CYP27B1 was found to be expressed in both cytotrophoblast and extracellular villi trophoblast cells. However, reduced expression of CYP27B1 was observed in the placenta with RSM. Notably, the level of 25(OH)D increased in the supernatant of CYP27B1 knockdown BeWo compared to normal cells, while human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was significantly reduced. The hCG secretion of CYP27B1 KO BeWo cells was partially restored after 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation. In addition, 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment could induce more CD4+ T cells to convert to Foxp3+iTreg, which in turn inhibited the secretion of IL-17, IFN-γ. In summary, this research unveiled a connection between reduced CYP27B1 and vitamin D deficiency in RSM. Our study underscores the potential benefits of vitamin D treatment supplementation in the context of RSM. However, it is important to note that further research is imperative to validate these observations.

Biochemical markers for prediction of the first half pregnancy losses: a review.

26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and up to 10% of clinically diagnosed pregnancies, and recurrent pregnancy loss is 5% among couples of childbearing ages. Although there are several known causes of pregnancy loss in the first half, including recurrent pregnancy loss, including parental chromosomal abnormalities, uterine malformations, endocrinological disorders, and immunological abnormalities, about half of the cases of pregnancy loss in its first half remain unexplained. The review includes observational controlled studies (case-control or cohort, longitudinal studies, reviews, meta-analyses), which include the study of biochemical factors for predicting pregnancy losses in the first half, in singlet pregnancy. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the research quality. Finally, 27 studies were included in the review, which has 134904 examined patients. The results of the review include estimates of β-human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone, pregnancy-associated protein - A, angiogenic vascular factors, estradiol, α-fetoprotein, homocysteine and CA-125 as a predictors or markers of the first half pregnancy losses. It may be concluded that to date, research data indicate the unavailability of any reliable biochemical marker for predicting pregnancy losses in its first half and require either a combination of them or comparison with clinical evidence. A fairly new model shall be considered for the assessment of α-fetoprotein in vaginal blood, which may have great prospects in predicting spontaneous miscarriages.

Decreased β-catenin Expression in First Trimester Villi and Decidua of Patients with Recurrent Spontaneous Miscarriage

Accumulating evidence suggests that Wnt/β-catenin pathways play an important role in the physiological processes of endometrial development and differentiation, preimplantation embryo development, and blastocyst implantation. The objective of the current study was to signify the association between Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and recurrent spontaneous miscarriage and examine the expression of β-catenin first-trimester villi and decidua in women with spontaneous miscarriage. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Saladin General Hospital from the 1st of January to the 1st of October 2021. A convenient sample of 80 pregnant women was enrolled in the current study and consisted of group A (40 pregnant women who were presented with first or second miscarriage) and group B (40 pregnant women who were presented with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage). There was a significant association between decreased β-catenin and recurrent miscarriage as 77.5% of the women who presented with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage had decreased levels of β-catenin, while only 32.5% of those with first or second miscarriage had decreased levels of β-catenin. The results of the current study implied that β-catenin is a valuable biomarker for unexplained recurrent spontaneous miscarriage. The women who presented with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage had a decreased expression of β-catenin .

Predictors of late spontaneous miscarriages depending on the phenotype of abortion

The aim. Assessment of risk factors for late miscarriages depending on the clinical phenotype of abortion.Materials and methods. The study included 156 women. The main group consisted of 66 patients with late spontaneous abortion at a gestational age of 12,0–21,6 weeks, 47 of them with miscarriage on the background of isthmic-cervical insufficiency or premature rupture of amniotic fluid, 19 with late miscarriage against the background of blood discharge. Control group – 90 patients whose pregnancy ended in term delivery.Results. Analysis of the prevalence of extragenital pathology revealed a high incidence of anemia (31,8 %; p = 0,000), obesity (12,12 %, p = 0,013), and gastrointestinal diseases (12,12 %; p = 0,004) in women with late miscarriage. When analyzing gynecological pathology, it was revealed that surgical treatment of the cervix was 9,6 times more common in patients of the main group compared to the control group (10,6 and 1,1 %; p = 0,008; OR = 10,68 CI 1,28–89,04), the frequency of abnormalities in the development of the uterus – 7,5 times more often in the group with bleeding compared to the group of patients with isthmic-cervical insufficiency (15,8 and 2.1 %; p = 0,035; OR = 8,63 CI 0,84–88,97). Significant risk factors for late miscarriages are preterm birth (18,2 %, p = 0,000), non-developing pregnancy (18,2 %; p = 0,026), medical abortions (42,6 %; p = 0,003). When analyzing the course of pregnancy, prognostically unfavorable markers of miscarriage were identified: the threat of termination of a real pregnancy (53,0 %; p = 0,000), isthmic-cervical insufficiency (19,1 %: p = 0,000) and violations of the vaginal biocenosis (71,2 %, p = 0,000).Conclusion. Thus, the presence of extragenital pathology, aggravated obstetric anamnesis and complicated course of pregnancy is typical for patients with late spontaneous abortions, which requires monitoring of this category of patients at the stage of preconception preparation, treatment of extragenital pathology, as well as timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment of complications at different stages of pregnancy.

Placenta accreta on non-scarred uterus: About a case

Placenta accreta is an abnormally adherent placenta (abnormal adhesion of the placenta to the myometrium), due to the localized or diffuse absence of the decidua basalis. Its incidence increases with increasing cesarean section rates. Placenta accreta in a non-scarred uterus is very rare but remains possible due to other risk factors which are age, smoking, placenta preavia and finally invasive endouterine procedures. Among its consequences, we first note the hemorrhage of delivery which can be associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality, uterine rupture and also the invasion of adjacent organs by the placental trophoblast. We report an interesting case of placenta accreta on a non-scarred uterus discovered during a planned cesarean section for placenta previa. This is a 41-year-old patient with no history of scarred uterus, 5th procedure, 3rd parity, with history of spontaneous miscarriage cured at 2 months, pregnant at 39 weeks, unmonitored pregnancy, admitted to the maternity emergency room for two days before for delivery method where the parturient benefited from a clinical examination and an obstetric ultrasound showing a completely covering anterior placenta, amniotic fluid of normal quantity and an estimate of the fetal weight at 2800g, then scheduled for a cesarean section. The diagnosis of placenta accreta is made during cesarean section. We opted for radical treatment. Placenta accreta is a pathology at risk of serious hemorrhagic complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This should encourage us to systematically search for ultrasound criteria for placenta accreta. The ultrasound report, in these patients, must explicitly mention this. Adequate care in the presence of a multidisciplinary team makes it possible to limit the mortality and morbidity associated with this pathology.

Clinical application of single nucleotide polymorphism microarray analysis in pregnancy loss in Northwest China.

Background: Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of early pregnancy. In this study, we aim to investigate the clinical application value of genetic diagnosis using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analysis on the products of conception and to characterize the types of genetic abnormalities and their prevalence in pregnancy loss in Northwest China. Methods: Over 48months, we selected 652 products of conception, which included chorionic villi, fetal tissues, germ cell samples, amniotic fluid samples, cord blood samples, and a cardiac blood sample. We analyzed the distribution of chromosomal abnormalities leading to fetal arrest or abortion using SNP array. The patients were then categorized divided into groups based on maternal age, gestational age, number of miscarriages, and maternal ethnic background. The incidences of various chromosomal abnormalities in each group were compared. Results: Of the 652 cases, 314 (48.16%) exhibited chromosomal abnormalities. These included 286 cases with numerical chromosomal abnormalities, 24 cases with copy number variation, and four cases with loss of heterozygosity. Among them, there were 203 trisomy cases, 55 monosomy cases, and 28 polyploidy cases. In the subgroup analysis, significant differences were found in the frequency of numerical chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variation between the advanced and younger maternal age group as well as between the early and late abortion groups. Furthermore, we identified significant differences in the frequency of numerical chromosomal abnormalities between the first spontaneous abortion and recurrent miscarriage groups. However, there were no significant differences in the frequency of numerical chromosomal abnormalities between the Han and Uighur groups. Conclusion: Our research highlights chromosomal abnormalities as the primary cause of spontaneous abortion, with a higher incidence in early pregnancy and among women of advanced age. The use of SNP array analysis emerges as an effective and reliable technique for chromosome analysis in aborted fetuses. This method offers a comprehensive and dependable genetic investigation into the etiology of miscarriage, establishing itself as a valuable routine selection for genetic analysis in cases of natural abortions.

Genetic analysis of chorionic villus tissues in early missed abortions

Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common etiology of early spontaneous miscarriage. However, traditional karyotyping of chorionic villus samples (CVSs) is limited by cell culture and its low resolution. The objective of our study was to investigate the efficiency of molecular karyotyping technology for genetic diagnosis of early missed abortion tissues. Chromosome analysis of 1191 abortion CVSs in early pregnancy was conducted from August 2016 to June 2021; 463 cases were conducted via copy-number variations sequencing (CNV-seq)/quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) and 728 cases were conducted using SNP array. Clinically significant CNVs of CVSs were identified to clarify the cause of miscarriage and to guide the couples’ subsequent pregnancies. Among these, 31 cases with significant maternal cell contamination were removed from the study. Among the remaining 1160 samples, 751 cases (64.7%) with genetic abnormalities were identified, of which, 531 (45.8%) were single aneuploidies, 31 (2.7%) were multiple aneuploidies, 50 (4.3%) were polyploidies, 54 (4.7%) were partial aneuploidies, 77 (6.6%) had submicroscopic CNVs (including 25 with clinically significant CNVs and 52 had variants of uncertain significance), and 8 cases (0.7%) were uniparental disomies. Our study suggests that both SNP array and CNV-seq/QF-PCR are reliable, robust, and high-resolution technologies for genetic diagnosis of miscarriage.

Spontaneous miscarriage driven by maternal genetic mutation at position of PAI-1-844G/A: shed light on a race-specific genetic polymorphism

ObjectiveAssociation between a genetic polymorphism and disease, either positively or negatively, within a population may not necessarily predict association in other race-ethnic populations. The aim of this study was to genotype well recognized thrombophilia associated polymorphisms as common risk factors for miscarriage and investigate their benefit to use as risk factors in southwest region of Iran females (Khuzestan) in the Arabs ethnic minority group with spontaneous miscarriage. We developed a Reverse Dot Blot Assay for the genotyping of four polymorphisms.ResultsThere were significant differences in the genotype distribution and allelic frequencies of the MTHFR 1298 A > C, MTHFR 677 C > T, Factor V Leiden 1691 G > A, PAI-1-844G > A polymorphisms between the case and control groups. The MTHFR 1298 A > C, MTHFR 677 C > T and Factor V Leiden 1691 G > A polymorphisms were significantly associated with spontaneous miscarriage risk. Unlike some other race-ethnic populations, PAI-1-844G > A polymorphism was associated with risk of developing unplanned miscarriage in Iranian Arabs ethnic minority group females.

Analysis of perinatal consequences against the background of the proposed treatment complex in pregnant women after the application of assisted reproductive technologies

The course of pregnancy that occurs as a result of the application of assisted reproductive technologies is accompanied by numerous complications that affect the indicators of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Nowadays in Ukraine, there is no unified approach to the management of women whose pregnancy occurred as a result of ART application, which determined the direction of this work.The objective: to assess perinatal consequences against the background of the introduction of the proposed treatment complex in women whose pregnancy occurred as a result of the application of assisted reproductive technologies.Materials and methods. 249 pregnant women were examined, which were divided into: group I – 94 women with tubo-peritoneal, group II – 87 women with endocrine and group III – 68 women with male types of infertility. Depending on the prescribed therapy, women of groups I, II and III are divided into: subgroup IA – 49 pregnant women with tubo-peritoneal, subgroup IIA – 48 pregnant women with endocrine, subgroup IIIA – 36 pregnant women with male factor of infertility who received the proposed therapeutic and preventive complex; subgroup IB – 45 pregnant women with tubo-peritoneal, subgroup IIB – 39 pregnant women with endocrine, subgroup IIIB – 32 pregnant women with male factor of infertility, which were observed in accordance with generally accepted standards of obstetric care.Results. Against the background of prescribing the proposed complex, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of threatened miscarriage in women of Group I by 41.6%, in women of Group II by 37.1% (p<0.05). In the second and third trimesters, there was a significant decrease in the number of cases of threatening late spontaneous miscarriages, threatening premature birth, placental dysfunction, preeclampsia, and fetal growth retardation syndrome (p<0.05). A significant indicator of the effectiveness of the proposed treatment complex is a significant increase in the proportion of urgent labor in women of subgroups IA and IIA. Thus, 46 (93.8%) women of subgroup IA and 46 (95.8%) women of subgroup IIA had urgent labor.Assessing the pathological conditions of newborns, it should be noted that in children from women in labor of subgroups who received the proposed complex, respiratory disorders syndrome (p<0.05), intraventricular hemorrhages (p<0.05), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (p<0.05), and cases of antenatal infection (p<0.05) were determined in a significantly smaller number of cases.Conclusions. The effectiveness of the proposed treatment complex and the complex of psychoemotional correction in pregnant women after the use of assisted reproductive technologies is confirmed by a reliably better course of the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, a reliably better course of Labor, which was reflected in an increase in cases of urgent labor and a decrease in cases of complications in childbirth, which was reflected in a significant decrease in the number of cesarean sections.Improvement of perinatal consequences against the background of the use of the proposed treatment complex and the complex of psychoemotional correction in newborns from women in labor after the use of assisted reproductive technologies is confirmed by a significantly larger mass of newborns, a significantly smaller number of newborns with low gestational weight, a significantly higher Apgar score, a significantly smaller number of cases of pathological and transient conditions, and a significantly shorter duration of stay of women in labor and newborns in an obstetric hospital, as well as the absence of cases of early neonatal and perinatal mortality among newborns.

A minority of women of childbearing potential are tested for pregnancy before chemoimmunotherapy: an Australian cancer centre experience.

Chemotherapy is potentially harmful to a developing foetus, and there are limited data on the foetal impact of chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). Therefore, determining pregnancy status prior to initiation of CIT should be standard of care. To determine how many women of childbearing age are tested for pregnancy prior to immunochemotherapy administration. A retrospective chart review at a large Australian metropolitan cancer referral centre, including 304 women aged 18-51 years with a diagnosis of cancer receiving outpatient-based CIT between 1 May 2015 and 12 June 2020. We assessed the uptake of pregnancy screening and contraception counselling prior to and during first-line CIT. Only 17.3% of CIT cycles (n = 416) screened patients for pregnancy no more than 90 days prior to administration, and the median time between pregnancy screening and treatment was approximately 3 weeks. One patient with early breast cancer had a spontaneous miscarriage estimated at 3-4 weeks' gestation, and neither the patient nor the treating oncologist was aware of this event. This was also the only patient who had a pregnancy test beyond the first cycle of CIT during their treatment. Our results highlight a concerningly low rate of pregnancy screening in women of childbearing age receiving CIT. The implication of missing a positive pregnancy test in this group of women could result in foetal complications, accidental miscarriage, potential bleeding risks and avoidable psychosocial stress. This highlights the urgent need for guidelines to mandate pregnancy testing in women of childbearing age receiving CIT and evidence-based implementation tools.

Future risk of metabolic syndrome after recurrent pregnancy loss: a cohort study using UK Biobank

To evaluate the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) after recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) using UK Biobank data. A history of pregnancy loss is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases in the future. However, the association between RPL and subsequent MS is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to check the risk of MS after RPL. The study population was divided into 2 groups according to reproductive history: women with a history of RPL and women without a history of RPL. Recurrent pregnancy loss was defined as 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages, and MS was defined as at least 3 of the following: abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, high-blood pressure, and hyperglycemia. UK Biobank resource. The UK Biobank is a prospective cohort study that enrolled individuals aged between 40 and 69 years whose medical and reproductive histories were retrieved at enrollment. In this cohort, only women with a history of at least one pregnancy were selected. Recurrent pregnancy loss. The primary outcome was the prevalence of MS. The secondary outcomes were 5 diagnostic components of MS. We analyzed 228,674 women, including 15,702 with a history of RPL and 212,972 without a history of RPL. Women with a history of RPL have a higher prevalence of MS between the ages of 40 and 60 years (33.0% vs. 31.5%). After adjusting for covariates (age, race, number of live births, early menopause, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity), the increased risk of MS after RPL remained significant (adjusted odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.15). Furthermore, in the analysis of the 5 diagnostic components of MS, a history of RPL significantly increased the risk of abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and hyperglycemia. Middle-aged women with a history of RPL have an increased risk of MS.

Визначення особливостей перебігу вагітності та пологів, стану плода і новонародженого у вагітних після застосування допоміжних репродуктивних технологій (дані ретроспективного аналізу)

The rapid growth in the number of infertile couples leads to the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Among the most common forms of infertility are tubo-peritoneal, endocrine, and caused by the male factor, and prevention of pregnancy complications caused by ART treatment cycles becomes one of the main tasks of practicing clinicians. Purpose - to determine the features of the course of pregnancy and childbirth; to assess the condition of the fetus and newborn in pregnant women after the application of ART to improve the perinatal outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. Materials and methods. A retrospective clinical and statistical analysis of 334 histories of pregnancy and childbirth of women, as well as medical records of newborns from women, was conducted over the past five years, which formed the ART group - 221 history of pregnancy and childbirth, and the group of spontaneous pregnancy - 113 history of pregnancy and childbirth. Results. The structure of the subjects was statistically significant dominated by pregnant women over the age of 35 years and pregnant women in late reproductive age. The main characteristics of women after the ART application were a statistically significant predominance of somatic and gynecological pathology. The structure of pregnancy complications in women after ART application was dominated by threatening late spontaneous miscarriages, isthmic-cervical insufficiency and vaginitis, and in the structure of labor complications - anomalies of labor activity and premature rupture of fetal membranes. Among newborns from women in the ART group, perinatal mortality was 18.0%. Conclusions. The revealed features of somatic and gynecological anamnesis, as well as aspects of the course of pregnancy and childbirth and the condition of newborns in women after ART application are the basis for an in-depth examination of this category of pregnant women in order to improve approaches to predicting, diagnosing and optimizing preventive measures, as well as to improve the perinatal consequences of pregnancy and childbirth. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Adenomyosis and obstetric complications: A retrospective case–control study

ObjectiveAdenomyosis is a uterine pathology affecting an increasing number of women of childbearing age. Its diagnosis is based upon histology or imaging [ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)]. Several studies have investigated the impact of adenomyosis on obstetric complications, with its diagnosis based on clinical symptoms, ultrasound or composite criteria. The aim of this study was to identify potential obstetric complications related to adenomyosis in women with an MRI-confirmed diagnosis. MethodsA single centre retrospective case–control study was undertaken in pregnant patients with an MRI-confirmed diagnosis of adenomyosis between January 2013 and December 2017 at the University Hospitals of Strasbourg. Controls were matched in a 4:1 ratio for age, parity and body mass index. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify obstetric complications. ResultsIn total, 291 women with an MRI-confirmed diagnosis of adenomyosis were identified during the study period. Of these, 89 patients achieved pregnancy after 24 weeks of gestation. The mean age of patients was 30.8 years. The adenomyosis group and the control group were comparable for matching criteria. Adenomyosis was found to be associated with increased risk of caesarean section [odds ratio (OR) 1.1, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.0–1.2; p = 0.03], intrauterine growth restriction (OR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.1–1.4; p < 0.001), postpartum haemorrhage (OR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.1– 1.4; p < 0.01), pre-eclampsia (OR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0–1.6; p = 0.004) and previous spontaneous miscarriage (OR 2.09, 95 % CI 1.36–3.33; p < 0.001). Premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery, severe intrauterine growth restriction and the risk of placenta praevia were not significantly higher in the adenomyosis group compared with the control group on multivariate analysis. ConclusionThis study demonstrates increased risk of several obstetric complications (caesarean section, intrauterine growth restriction, postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, history of spontaneous miscarriage) in women with adenomyosis. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use MRI as the sole criterion for diagnosis. These results could be complemented by larger-scale prospective studies in order to manage these patients more effectively during pregnancy.

Factors That Determine the Successful Management of Ectopic Pregnancy Through Methotrexate Injections

&#x0D; Ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs when the gestational sac is located outside the uterus. Methotrexate administered intramuscularly (IM) is the standard management in the therapy of ectopic pregnancies. The success of managing ectopic pregnancies using methotrexate is influenced by various factors. This literature review aims to provide related information because a sufficient understanding of the factors that affect the success of methotrexate use in ectopic pregnancies is crucial to prevent complications, reduce morbidity and mortality rates resulting from ectopic pregnancies. In this literature review we conducted a search on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and Google Scholar database using the search keyword factors, methotrexate, and ectopic pregnancy. The success of treating ectopic pregnancies using methotrexate is influenced by various factors, such as the initial β-hCG levels, the size of the ectopic mass, peritoneal fluid, maternal age, gestational age, previous spontaneous miscarriage, gravida, parity, abortion, and the percentage of a history of previous ectopic pregnancies. However, most studies have found that the primary factor influencing success is the initial β-hCG levels.&#x0D;

Safety and effectiveness of bDMARDs during pregnancy in patients with rheumatic diseases: Real-world data from the BIOBADASER registry

IntroductionInflammatory rheumatic diseases usually affect women of childbearing age treated with biologic drugs. However, there is a lack of literature on the efficacy and toxicity of biologic disease-modifying drugs during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of pregnant patients treated with bDMARDs in a real-world dataset and to examine the impact of pregnancy and lactation on the evolution of rheumatic disease in a registry of Spanish patients. MethodThis was a multicentre prospective study with a real-world setting. Information was obtained from BIOBADASER registry. Patients included are women who got pregnant until November 2020 from 19 rheumatology units. We conducted proportions, means, and standard deviations (SD) to describe the study population and the use of treatments. T-test and Chi-square test were applied to assess differences between groups. ResultNinety cases of pregnancy were registered (n=68 full-term pregnancies; n=22 spontaneous miscarriages). Most of the cases discontinued bDMARDs during pregnancy (78.9%) but 13 cases continued treatment during pregnancy, mainly using certolizumab pegol. These cases were obtaining better management of rheumatic disease, although the differences were not statistically significant [DAS28-CRP, 2.9 (SD: 1.6) vs. 2.0 (1.2), p=.255; DAS28-ESR, 2.2 (1.0) vs. 1.7 (.5), p=.266]. No serious adverse events were reported during pregnancy and lactation. ConclusionBeing pregnant is still an uncommon condition in patients with rheumatic diseases and using bDMARDs. Our results show that rheumatic disease tended to progress better during pregnancy in patients who continued to take bDMARDs.

Clinical assessment of the placenta function in women at risk and threat of premature delivery

Premature birth, despite the significant achievements of perinatal medicine in recent decades, remains an urgent global and national medical and social problem, as it is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. According to modern views, placental dysfunction can be one of the causes of premature birth, and its frequency, according to randomized studies, can be from 78 to 91%, depending on the gestational age. At the same time, the research conducted to date does not provide a clear understanding of the role of timely diagnosis and prevention of placental dysfunction in preventing premature birth.The objective: to perform clinical evaluation of the prevalence of placental dysfunction in women at risk of preterm birth and with threat of preterm birth.Materials and methods. 180 pregnant women were took part in the study. To achieve the research aim, three research groups were formed. I group – 73 pregnant women with threat of premature birth; II group – 77 pregnant women with risk factors for premature birth. Women with risk factors for premature birth were included in the study at the stage of pregnancy planning (IIA subgroup, 39 women) or from the moment of applying to a women’s outpatient clinic to monitor the course of pregnancy (IIB subgroup, 38 pregnant women). The control group included 30 pregnant women with an uncomplicated course of pregnancy.Transabdominal ultrasound examination with color Doppler mapping, determination of free estriol, progesterone and placental lactogen levels in blood serum were performed at 18–21+6 and 28–30 weeks of gestation.Results. Analysis of the prevalence of risk factors for placental dysfunction and preterm birth in patients of the studied cohort showed that in pregnant women with preterm birth (I group), the combination of risk factors was 5.2; in pregnant women who received pre-gravid training (IIA subgroup) – 3.2; in pregnant women who were included in the study in the I trimester of pregnancy (IIB subgroup) – 4.7, while in pregnant women of the control group – only 0.8 (p&lt;0.05).The threat of early spontaneous miscarriage with the formation of a retrochorial hematoma as a clinical manifestation of primary placental dysfunction was determined in 43.8% of pregnant women whose premature delivery was carried out for medical reasons. Placenta abruption in these patients can be considered as decompensation of the primary dysfunction of the placenta with the transition to acute placental insufficiency.The formation of chronic placental dysfunction, clinically manifested by the syndrome of fetal growth retardation, was most often observed in patients whose pregnancy ended in spontaneous premature birth at 34–36+6 weeks in the presence of an untouched amnion, – 68.6% compared to births at 28–33+6 weeks of gestation – 25.9% and with childbirth at 22–37+6 weeks – 13.3%.Conclusions. Clinical manifestations of placental dysfunction were detected in 30.6% of patients with premature birth, with morphological signs in 60.4% of cases, which indicates the hidden course of placental insufficiency before the development of premature birth.Morphological signs of placental dysfunction were determined in 87.5% of cases of premature births for medical reasons and in 100.0% of cases of spontaneous births at 22–27+6 weeks of gestation (with a combination of risk factors from 2.1 to 3.0), in 66.7% – with premature births at 28–33+6 weeks of pregnancy, in 40.0% – with premature births at 34–36+6 weeks of pregnancy and only in one (5.6%) case – with term births.The frequency of fixation of morphological characteristics of placental dysfunction correlates with the frequency of early pregnancy complications, primarily with the formation of retrochorial hematomas in the first half of pregnancy.

Platelet Glycoprotein Receptor Ia-C807T and IIIa-PlA1/PlA2 Genetic Polymorphisms Are Associated With Enhanced Platelet Function in Women With Recurrent Miscarriages.

Thrombophilic genetic polymorphisms of the platelet glycoproteins Ia (GpIa) and IIIa (GpIIIa) have been associated with an increased risk of recurrent miscarriages. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms GpIa-C807T and GpIIIa-T1565C-PlA1/PlA2 with platelet function in women with unexplained spontaneous recurrent miscarriages. This cross-sectional study comprised 196 unrelated nulliparous Greek women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Patients were genotyped for the presence of the GpIa-C807T (rs1126643) and GpIIIa-T1565C-PlA1/PlA2 (rs5918) genetic polymorphisms by pyrosequencing, and the collagen/epinephrine closure time (COL/EPI CT) of the subjects was assessed using the platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100. In the total population of women with recurrent miscarriages, the COL/EPI CT ranged from 70 to 160 seconds (median: 122 seconds, interquartile range (IQR): 102.3-138 seconds). In comparison with the double homozygotes CC/PlA1PlA1 that had the most prolonged CT (mean: 131.9 ± 17.5 seconds), the COL/EPI CT was statistically significantly shorter for the GpIa-807T single carriers (mean: 120.3 ± 20.9 seconds) (p=0.011) (absolute difference: 11.6 seconds, 95% confidence interval (CI): 21.2 to -2.0 seconds;relative difference: -9%, 95% CI: -16% to -2%), and the GpIIIa-PlA2 single carriers also displayed a trend for shorter COL/EPI CT (mean:121.3 ± 23.7 seconds) (p=0.141) (absolute difference: -10.6 seconds, relative difference: -8%), whereas the combined carriers of the GpIa-807T and the GpIIIa-PlA2 alleles exhibited the shortest COL/EPI CT (mean: 104.1 ± 19.7 seconds) (absolute difference: -27.7 seconds, 95% CI: -39.1 to -16.3 seconds; relative difference: -21%, 95% CI: -30% to -12%) (p<0.001). In comparing genotype frequencies in the lower half with those in the upper half of the COL/EPI CT range, the GpIa-807T and the GpIIIa-PlA2 single carriers were associated with higher odds of COL/EPI CT < 122 seconds (odds ratio (OR)=3.4, 95% CI: 1.5 to 7.5, p=0.002, and OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.0 to 7.2, p=0.053, respectively). The association was strongest for the combined carriers with OR of 15.0 (95% CI: 5.2 to 43.2, p<0.001) for COL/EPI CT below the medianand OR of 35.5 (95% CI: 4.4 to 284.5, p<0.001) for COL/EPI CT < 100 seconds. The GpIa-C807T and GpIIIa-PlA1/PlA2 polymorphisms and more pronouncedly the combined carriers of the risk variants are associated with enhanced platelet reactivity expressed via shorter COL/EPI CT. These findings provide further evidence for the role of platelet-associated genetic thrombophilia in the pathogenesis of recurrent miscarriages and promotethe analysis of platelet function as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of this disorder.

Preimplantation genetic testing using comprehensive genomic copy number analysis is beneficial for balanced translocation carriers.

Balanced chromosomal translocation is one of chromosomal variations. Carriers of balanced chromosomal translocations have an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage. To avoid the risk, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) using comprehensive genomic copy number analysis has been developed. This study aimed to verify whether and how embryos from couples in which one partner is a balanced translocation carrier have a higher ratio of chromosomal abnormalities. A total of 894 biopsied trophectoderms (TEs) were obtained from 130 couples in which one partner was a balanced translocation carrier (Robertsonian translocation, reciprocal translocation, or intrachromosomal inversion) and grouped as PGT-SR. Conversely, 3269 TEs from 697 couples who experienced recurrent implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss were included in the PGT-A group. The transferable blastocyst ratio was significantly lower in the PGT-SR group, even when bias related to the sample number and patient age was corrected. Subgroup analysis of the PGT-SR group revealed that the transferable blastocyst ratio was higher in the Robertsonian translocation group. Because the PGT-SR group had a higher proportion of untransferable embryos than the PGT-A group, PGT using comprehensive genomic copy number analysis was more beneficial for balanced translocation carriers than for infertility patients without chromosomal translocations. The frequencies of de novo aneuploidies were further analyzed, and the frequency in the PGT-SR group was lower than that in the PGT-A group. Therefore, we could not confirm the existence of interchromosomal effects in this study.