Maternal Characteristics, Short Mid-Trimester Cervical Length, and Preterm Delivery

We aimed to determine the maternal characteristics (demographics, an obstetric history, and prior cervical excisional procedure) associated with a short mid-trimester cervical length (CL, defined as a CL of ≤ 25 mm) and whether having a short cervix explains the association between these maternal characteristics and spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD, defined as a delivery before 34 weeks). This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of 3,296 consecutive women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent routine CL measurement between 20 and 24 weeks. Data were collected on maternal age, weight, height, parity, obstetric history (nulliparity; a history of at least 1 SPTD; and at least 1 term birth and no preterm birth [low-risk history group]), and prior cervical excisional procedure. In the multivariate regression analysis, an obstetric history, prior cervical excisional procedure, and gestational age at measurement were the variables significantly associated with short CL. In contrast, maternal weight, height, age, and parity were not significantly associated with short CL. By using the likelihood of SPTD as an outcome variable, logistic regression indicated that short CL and obstetric history, but not prior cervical excisional procedure, were significantly associated with SPTD after adjustment for potential confounders. A history of SPTD and prior cervical excisional procedure were associated with an increased risk of a short mid-trimester CL. A history of SPTD, but not prior cervical excisional procedure, is associated with an increased risk of SPTD, independent of a short CL.

Effects of Drospirenone 2 mg with 17-beta-Estradiol 1 mg on blood pressure and body weight in postmenopausal Korean women / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of Drospirenone 2 mg (DRSP) with 17-beta-Estradiol 1 mg (E2) on blood pressure (BP) and body weight in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: BP and body weight were measured at baseline and 3 months of the treatment. We compared the change in BP and body weight between normotensive (group 1, control) and high-normotensive (group 2) group during treatment. And we compared the change in BP and body weight between hypertensive group receiving anti-hypertensive with (group 3) and without (group 4, control) DRSP/E2 during treatment. RESULTS: The mean systolic BP/diastolic BP of group 1 was not significantly decreased from baseline (116.9/75.0 mmHg) after treatment with DRSP/E2 for 3 months (116.1/73.2 mmHg) (P<0.152/P=0.088), however that of group 2 was significantly decreased from baseline (128.8/81.8 mmHg) after treatment with DRSP/E2 for 3 months (126.2/79.3 mmHg) (P<0.001/P=0.002). The mean systolic BP/diastolic BP of group 3 was significantly decreased from baseline (133.5/82.5 mmHg) after treatment with DRSP/E2 for 3 months (129.3/77.9 mmHg) (P<0.001/P<0.001), and that of group 4 was also significantly decreased from baseline (133.2/80.7 mmHg) after treatment with DRSP/E2 for 3 months (131.0/78.3 mmHg) (P=0.002/P<0.001). However change in the mean systolic BP/diastolic BP of group 3 was greater than that of group 4 (P=0.041/P=0.024). There was no weight change in all four groups. CONCLUSION: The use of DRSP/E2 showed a tendency to decrease the BP of high-normotensive or above in postmenopausal Korean women, and hypertensive patients receiving anti-hypertensive showed greater decline in BP. However there was no statistical significance in body weight change.