Vitamin D deficiency and adverse fetal outcome

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as the most untreated nutritional deficiency in the world. It is plausible that vitamin D deficiency could make the fetal heart more vulnerable to distress/birth asphyxia. Vitamin D deficiency has been hypothesized to be associated with low birth weight, low Apgar score at birth, higher rates of still births and admission to NICU. The aim of present study was to study prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy and evaluate perinatal outcome.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, India over a period of 12 months. Six hundred women were included in the study.Results: All the mothers who had still births suffered from vitamin D deficiency and the severe vitamin D deficiency was there in 90.91% (30) of these subjects. Severe vitamin D deficiency was seen in 78.95% (75) of the subjects having babies with birth weights <2.5 kg compared to 61.16% (288) subjects of the other group.Conclusions: Adverse fetal outcome are more common in vitamin D deficient group.

Vitamin D deficiency and maternal complications

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in India, a finding that is unexpected in a tropical country with abundant sunshine. Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as the most untreated nutritional deficiency currently in the world. Several studies reported the relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labour, low birth weight and increased rate of caesarean section.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India over a period of 12 months. Six hundred women were included in the study.Results: Forty-eight (8%) subjects developed preeclampsia-eclampsia syndrome, of which none had sufficient vitamin D levels, whereas 48 (100%) subjects had vitamin D deficiency.Conclusions: Maternal antenatal complications are more common in vitamin D deficient group.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of abnormal pap smear in pregnant women

Background: The Papanicolaou test is a method of cervical screening used to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes. The incidence of cervical cancer in India is alarmingly high and is the leading cause of cancer in women in India accounting for 147 deaths per lakh women. Cervical cytological abnormalities are found in up to 5% of all pregnancies. In Indian settings, published data on abnormal Pap smear in pregnancy is lacking. The present study was designed to know the prevalence of abnormal Pap smear in pregnant women and its associated risk factors.Methods: This prospective study included 450 pregnant and 450 non-pregnant women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After a detailed history, clinical examination and investigations, Pap smear was collected as per conventional method and reported using 2014 Bethesda system.Results: 53.6% pregnant and 44.6% non-pregnant subjects had abnormal Pap smear. Out of the abnormal smears in pregnant women, 31.18% had inflammatory cytology, 15.37% had bacterial vaginosis, 4.01% had Trichomonal and 3.34% Monilial pathology. No epithelial cell abnormality was seen. Rural residence, lower class, age at first intercourse less than 21 years and having more than one sexual partner were important risk factors observed in our study and were statistically significant.Conclusions: Bacterial vaginosis, the most common infection detected on Pap smear is strongly associated with previos preterm labour and delivery. This opportunity for screening of cervical cancer and counselling should not be missed in the antenatal period.

Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy induced hypertensive patients and normotensive patients

Background: Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy complicates 5 to 8% of pregnancies and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy account for nearly 18% of all maternal deaths worldwide, with an estimated 62000-77000 deaths per year.Methods: This one-year prospective case control study total 200 pregnant women attending antenatal care and admitted in Eclampsia ward fulfilling the inclusion criteria were studied. Fetal and maternal outcomes data recorded and documented. Statistical analysis of data was done by student’s t-test and p-value.Results: In PIH 68% women had normal vaginal delivery (p=0.004) 10% women had instrumental delivery. In PIH group 22% women had emergency caesarian section and in normotensive group 10% women had emergency caesarian section. In PIH group 58% delivered at term and 42% had preterm delivery. In normotensive 95% delivered at term and 5% had preterm delivery (p <0.001). PIH group 29% women developed IUGR whereas in normotensive group all women had normal growth velocity (p <0.001). In PIH group 69% mothers had newborn with birth weight <2.5 kg and 31% women had newborn with birth weight >2.5 kg (p=0.0009). While In normotensive group only 9% women had newborn with birth weight <2.5 kg. In PIH group, 24% newborn babies needed NICU admission and in normotensive group only 5% newborn needed NICU admission (p=0.001). In PIH group 76% women had normal maternal outcome (p <0.001). 11% had associated abruption (p=0.0019). In the rest 13% patient develop PRES.Conclusions: We concluded that there is a significant rise of complication in mothers having PIH and also there is an increased risk of delivering low birth weight and preterm babies. The early use of antihypertensive drugs, optimum timing of delivery and strict fluid balance, anticonvulsants in cases of eclampsia will help to achieve successful outcome.

Assessment of maternal serum β hCG level in pregnancy induced hypertension and normotensive patients and to correlate between the level of β hCG with the severity of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia

Background: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are one of the most common medical complication seen during pregnancy, affecting around 5-10% of all pregnancies. Spectrum of this disease ranges from mildly elevated blood pressure with minimal clinical significance to severe hypertension with multi organ dysfunction. Pre-eclampsia complicates about 2-8% of all pregnancies. Pre-eclampsia incidence in India is about 8-10%. Various studies have depicted that, there is a strict relationship between PIH and elevated serum β-hCG level.Methods: This one-year prospective case control study toteled 200 pregnant women attending antenatal care and admitted in eclampsia ward fulfiling the inclusion criteria were studied. Serum βhCG levels were estimated by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Statistical analysis of data was done by student’s t-test and p-value.Results: The mean β hCG level in PIH patients was found to 36851.59 mIU/ml with standard deviation of 22916.58 while the mean β hCG in normotensive patient was 15433.26 mIU/ml with standard deviation of 6861.56. (p <0.001). The mean β hCG level in gestational hypertensive patients was 25206.19 mIU/ml with a standard deviation of 8696.9. The mean β hCG level in pre-eclamptic patients was 61697.67 mIU/ml with standard deviation of 18498.57. The mean β hCG level were 84106.38 mIU/ml with standard deviation of 11295.05 in the eclamptic patient. The above values were statistically significant (p <0.001).Conclusions: We concluded that there was a striking relation between the PIH including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia with the elevated serum βhCG level. Concluding that early detection of altered serum βhCG shell aid in better management of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia cases which would play a pivotal role in improving the maternal and fetal outcome.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women

Background: Vitamin D has an increasingly recognised repertoire of non-classical actions, such as promoting insulin action and secretion, immune modulation and lung development. It therefore has the potential to influence many factors in the developing fetus. Several studies reported the relationship between maternal vitamin D deficiency and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labour, low birth weight and increased rate of caesarean section. The present study was undertaken to study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women of Shimla, India.Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, India over a period of 12 months. Six hundred women were included in the study.Results: Out of 600 subjects, 568 (94.67%) subjects had vitamin D deficiency and only 32 (5.33%) subjects had sufficient vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency was more common in the vegetarians, dark skinned subjects and in those who were taking vitamin D supplements.Conclusions: It is concluded from this study that there is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in antenatal women of Shimla, India.