ABSTRACT
Aim This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the incidence, sociodemographic profile, feto-maternal outcomes, and associated risk factors of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) among all the deliveries. Methods This retrospective cohort study included all women diagnosed with PAS either preoperatively or intraoperatively. Data on maternal high-risk factors such as previous surgical history, association with placenta praevia, parity and primary outcomes such as the operative procedure carried out, transfusion requirements and ICU admission, as well as neonatal variables such as Apgar score, NICU admission and birthweight, were among the primary outcomes of this study. The study was carried out over a period of 10 months at our centre. Results A cohort of 32 women were identified with placenta accreta, increta, or percreta. The mean maternal age was 31 years. The mean gestational age at the time of diagnosis was 32.75 weeks. Around 50% of patients had risk factors for the abnormally invasive placenta, such as placenta praevia, and 75% had a history of previous caesarean sections. Hysterectomy was done in 28 cases (87.5%). Blood transfusion was done in all the cases. There were two maternal deaths in the study group. The perinatal outcome was better in the antenatally detected cases. Conclusion An increased incidence of PAS has been seen. Early risk factor identification and strategic management improve maternal and foetal outcomes. Our findings demonstrated that PAS pregnancies managed in our centre had maternal and neonatal outcomes comparable to those in developed countries. It is hypothesized that this is because pregnancies with PAS are managed using a multidisciplinary approach.
ABSTRACT
PROBLEM: Decline in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and Th2 cytokines levels lead to early miscarriage (EM) but how the hormonal milieu of the body regulates MDSCs and Th1/Th2 cytokine balance is still a matter of investigation. METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood and decidua samples were collected from 20 EM patients, and 20 healthy pregnant women opted for elective abortion. MDSCs and G-MDSCs levels were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and Th1/Th2 cytokines levels were determined in serum via flow cytometry. Estrogen (E2), Progesterone (P4), and Testosterone levels were measured via ELISA. Further, proliferation and apoptosis in decidual samples were checked via immunoblot/immunohistochemistry of estrogen receptor -α (ER-α), STAT-3/pSTAT-3, and caspase-3, respectively. RESULTS: Our results clearly indicate that in EM patients; decline in E2 and P4 significantly correlates with decline in MDSCs, particularly with subtype granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) and skewness of the Th1/Th2 cytokines balance toward Th1 response. Downregulation of ER- α and increased caspase-3 expression in endometrium decidua signifies poor endometrial receptivity in EM. STAT-3 activation regulates proliferation, differentiation and suppressive potency of MDSCs. In decidua of EM, significantly lower expression of pSTAT-3 indicates that these processes pertaining to MDSCs are compromised. CONCLUSION: Altogether, this unfavorable systemic milieu may drive toward early breakdown of maternal-fetal tolerance in EM. Therefore, regulated crosstalk of E2, P4 with MDSCs and balanced Th1/Th2 cytokines is prerequisite for successful pregnancy.
