Pregnancy Outcomes after Peri-conceptional Medication Exposure; 10 Years Experience: Study for Application of Reproductive Toxicity Information / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: In Korea, pregnancy termination is frequently reported among women who took medications for an acute or chronic disease during pregnancy, for fear of teratogenic risk. We have previously shown that a service providing evidence-based information is helpful for women who week counseling to make a rational decision regarding their pregnancies. This study aimed to evaluate whether termination of pregnancy based on such perceptions, is justified using the 'DRug Exposure and risk Assessment in Moms' (DREAM) registry. METHODS: The study included 5,032 consenting pregnant women from the clinic and call center at the Korean Motherisk Program, from November 1999 to October 2008. The DREAM registry recorded the pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine fetal death, and congenital anomaly) of 3,328 women. RESULTS: Among women exposed to medications, time of exposure ranged from 3.5-4.6 weeks of gestation. There were 1,308 different drugs prescribed to these women. The drug most frequently prescribed was acetaminophen followed by chlorpheniramine maleate, and pseudoephedrine. There were 4.7% (n=156/3,328) women who underwent a voluntary abortion for fear of birth defects. We compared frequency of birth defects between exposed women and unexposed pregnant women in our institution during gestation. The frequency of major congenital malformations was 2.5% (n=74/2,977) in exposed group and 2.9% (n=75/2,573) in unexposed group (P=0.32). There was no statistically significant difference between exposed and control group in the rate of preterm births, intrauterine fetal death and low-birth weight babies. CONCLUSION: We did not observe increased risk of congenital malformations and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a population of pregnant women exposed to a variety of medications. Therefore these medications are not considered teratogen.

Reduced Number of Endothelial Progenitor Colony-Forming Units in Patients with Preeclampsia

PURPOSE: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which mediates neovascularization of uterine endometrium may be involved in the neovascularization in the utero-placental circulation. Low numbers of endothelial progenitor colony-forming unit (CFU) in culture are predictive biomarker of vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the number of CFU in preeclampsia differed from that in normal pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women with singleton normal (n=26) or preeclamptic (n=20) pregnancies were studied during the third trimester. The number of EPCs was quantified by CFU methodology. Plasma levels of angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: CFU numbers were significantly decreased in the preeclamptic patients compared with the controls (median, 3; range 1-12 vs. 31; 3-81 CFU/well, P<0.001). A majority of the cells comprising individual colonies were positive for endothelial characteristics (Ulex europaeus lectin staining and acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake). Plasma levels of the sFlt-1 were highly elevated (P<0.001) in patient with preeclampsia compared to controls, whereas PlGF were highly reduced (P=0.004), but these factors did not associate with CFU numbers. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that reduced numbers of CFU obtained from maternal peripheral blood may contribute to the development of preeclampsia.

Perinatal mortality at Yongdong Severance Hospital, 1998~2003 / 대한주산의학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the perinatal mortality rate (PMR) and to evaluate the risk factors of perinatal deaths such as birth weight, gestational age, maternal age, fetal sex, number of antenatal visits, and cause of deaths. METHODS: Review of electronic medical records of 4,910 cases of singleton deliveries from 1998 to 2003 at Yongdong Severance Hospital was done. The perinatal period was defined according to the WHO definition and the cause of mortality was determined according to Aberdeen Classification. RESULTS: Crude (corrected) PMR was 22.8 (13.4). Among 4862 deliveries excluding termination of pregnancy and severe congenital anomalies, (1) stillbirths accounted for 78% (51/65) of perinatal deaths. (2) Distribution of neonatal birth weights less than 1,000 g, 1,000~1,499 g, 1,500 g~2,499 g were 0.3%, 0.7%, 5.6% with survival rates of 73.7%, 86.1%, and 99.6% respectively. (3) Deaths of preterm births accounted for 86% (12/14) of total neonatal deaths. (4) PMR of 494 cases of advanced maternal age was higher (20.2) than those of other age groups without statistical significance (p=0.273). (5) PMR of male-to-female ratio was 173:100 with statistical significance (p= 0.031). (6) PMR of infants with less than 2 antenatal visits was 152.0, in comparison with the rate (7.3) of infants with more than 2 antenatal visits (p<0.001). Among 112 cases of crude perinatal deaths, the leading causes were congenital anomalies (31.3%), prematurity cause unknown (28.6%), and maternal disease (10.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of births is decreasing, but no significant decrease of PMR was observed. Therefore, intensive care of preterm infants and congenital anomalous babies should be improved.

A Case of Fetal Herpes Simplex Encephalitis Diagnosed Prenatally by Ultrasonography in the Third Trimester

Almost all reported incidences of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in newborns result as a complication of rupture of the amniotic membranes or the delivery of the baby, but infection via the placenta and amniotic membranes is rare. Ventriculomegaly was detected at 36 weeks of gestation by prenatal ultrasonography, and an emergency cesarean section was then performed at 36 weeks of gestation. We report a case of herpes simplex encephalitis detected at 36 weeks of gestation by prenatal ultrasonography, which was confirmed by a postnatal serologic test and CSF test with a brief review of literature.

Laparoscopic management of asymptomatic ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified: A case report and literature review / 대한산부인과학회지

The steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified, constitutes only 0.1% of ovarian malignancies and was asymptomatic in 3.3-25% In Korea, three reported cases of steroid cell tumors were endocrinologically symptomatic and were managed with laparotomy. However, there was no reports of such case without any endocrinologically symptoms. We present a 17 years old patient with huge pelvic mass that were managed with combined ultrasonographically guided drainage and laparoscopically excision and proven to be an asymptomatic steroid cell tumor of ovary, with brief review of literature.