Perinatal outcomes of birth weight discordance according to the chorionicity / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intrapair birth weight discordance and perinatal outcomes according to the chorionicity. METHODS: Twin births in St. Vincent's Hospital of Catholic University of Korea for the period 2000~2007 were retrospectively studied. Discordance was defined as an intertwin birth weight difference > or =20% and concordance was defined as weight difference <20% calculated from the larger newborn. Perinatal outcomes were compared between discordant and concordant pairs in monochorio-diamnionic and dichorionic twins. RESULTS: Among 38 monochorionic twin births, 34.2% was discordant and 66.8% was concordant. Among 144 dichorionic twin birth, 9.9% was discordant and 91.9% was concordant. The incidences of intrauterine fetal death (FDIU), twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and neonatal hypoglycemia of discordant group of monochorionic twins were statistically increased compared with concordant group of monochorionic twins. The incidences of IUGR and neonatal hypoglycemia were statistically increased in the discordant group of dichorionic twins compared with concordant group of dichorionic twins. The others were not shown statistically significant between two groups in the both chorionic twins. CONCLUSIONS: Birth weight discordance in monochorionicity seems to predict fetal death, TTTS, IUGR and newborn hypoglycemia. Birth weight discordance in dichorionicity does not seem to be good predictor of adverse perinatal outcomes except IUGR and neonatal hypoglycemia.

Clinical course and obstetrical outcomes of 94 pregnancies in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate clinical and laboratory markers for preterm birth and lupus flares. METHODS: 94 pregnancies of 60 patients were retrospectively evaluated from Jan 1997 to Sep 2004. We used clinical and laboratory data from the medical records and statistics analysis by Chi-square test, using SPSS 15.0 V. RESULTS: Pregnancy resulted in 74 (78.7%) live births, 11 (11.7%) spontaneous abortions, 2 (2.1%) therapeutic abortion, and 4 (4.2%) stillbirths. Thirty-seven cases (47.4%) were delivered by cesarean section. Obstetric complications included 17.9% of preterm births, 26.9% of preeclampsia, and 20.5% of IUGR. There were 31 (39.7%) uncomplicated cases among the pregnancies over 20 gestational weeks. There were 12 of transient neonatal lupus, 2 of neonatal death due to prematurity, and 51 of normal births. Low C4, myocarditis, pleural effusion prior to pregnancy, activity at conception, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome were significantly associated with preterm birth. The maternal long-term effect of pregnancy was poor, because 44.7% were in deterioration of cardiovascular, hematologic or renal function after delivery. Lupus nephritis, proteinuria, hematuria, and activity at conception were significantly associated with lupus flare during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with active SLE at conception should be intensively monitored with maternal and fetal surveillance. It is essential to control disease activity during pregnancy. However, adequate pregnancy follow-up and delivery care by multidisciplinary effort with experience in management of patients with SLE resulted in a better outcome of lupus pregnancy.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of cornual pregnancy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of ultrasonogram in the detection of cornual pregnancy and the factors that might be affected on early diagnosis. METHOD: We studied 26 cases which were diagnosed as a cornual pregnancy from Jan, 1, 2000 to Dec, 31, 2004 at department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, the Catholic University of Korea. We compared two groups about clinical characteristics and outcomes. One group (A group) was diagnosed as cornual pregnancy before beginning of treatment, another group (B group) was not diagnosed as cornual pregnancy until operation. RESULTS: A group was 8 cases (30.8%) and B group was 18 cases (69.2%). There were no significant differences in age (33.0+/-6.21 years : 31.0+/-5.82 years), duration of amenorrhea (7.32+/-1.07 weeks : 8.90+/-5.44 weeks), previous cesarian section history (25.0% : 27.8%), present myoma (12.5% : 11.1%) and abdominal pain (50% : 77.78%), vaginal bleeding (50% : 55.6%), shock (0% : 27.8%) between two groups. There were significant differences in parity (1.63+/-0.74 : 1.0+/-0.77, p=0.032), number of abortions (2.25+/-1.16 : 1.11+/-1.18, p=0.016), previous history of ectopic pregnancy (37.5% : 0%, p=0.022). Of the method of treatments, only cornual resection (50% : 94.4%) showed significant differences between two groups. CONCLUSION: 30.8% of cornual pregnancy was early diagnosed by ultrasonogram. The important early detective factors for cornual pregnancy might be parity, previous ectopic pregnancy history and abortion history. Therefore if the patient has the previous ectopic pregnancy and abortion history, she can visit early to the hospital and the doctors do pay attention to the possibility of cornual pregnancy.

The significance of maternal serum and umbilical cord blood leptin concentration with intrauterine fetal growth restriction and/or preeclampsia / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether fetal growth restriction with or without preeclampsia is associated with alteration of leptin concentration in maternal and umbilical cord serum. METHODS: Maternal serum and umbilical cord blood leptin concentrations were determined by ELISA assay in 25 women with singletone pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction without preeclampsia (IUGR), in 11 women with singletone pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction with preeclampsia (IUGR+PE), in 9 women with singletone pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia without fetal growth restriction (PE), and in 13 women with uncomplicated singletone pregnancies (Control). RESULTS: Maternal weight and BMI before pregnancy and in delivery were significantly different among groups. The lowest weight and BMI before pregnancy and in delivery was group IUGR. Neonatal birth weight was significantly different among groups. The lowest birth weight was group IUGR+PE. Maternal serum leptin concentration and umbilical cord leptin concentration were not significantly different among groups. Maternal serum leptin levels were not significantly correlated with maternal BMI or with neonatal birth weight. Umbilical cord blood leptin levels were significantly correlated with neonatal birth weight. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum leptin concentration and umbilical cord blood leptin levels were independent of presence of preeclampsia and/or IUGR. Umbilical cord blood leptin reflects neonatal birth weight.