ABSTRACT
Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a complex and clinically heterogeneous condition that remains incompletely understood, leading to insufficient interventions to effectively prevent it from occurring. Cell-free ribonucleic acid signatures in the maternal circulation have the potential to identify biologically relevant subtypes of sPTB. These could one day be used to predict and prevent sPTB in asymptomatic individuals, and to aid in prognosis and management for individuals presenting with threatened preterm labor and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.
Subject(s)
Cell-Free Nucleic Acids , Premature Birth , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Cell-Free Nucleic Acids/blood , Premature Birth/prevention & control , Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture , Infant, Newborn , Obstetric Labor, Premature/diagnosis , Prognosis , Biomarkers/bloodABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether use of the B-Lynch suture is associated with subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This is a cohort study of women who experienced postpartum hemorrhage between January 2000 and June 2010 and had a subsequent pregnancy at a single university hospital. Women who had postpartum hemorrhage and B-Lynch suture were compared with those complicated by postpartum hemorrhage but no B-Lynch suture placement. The primary outcome was a composite adverse outcome related to placentation abnormalities and included placenta previa, placenta accreta, preeclampsia, preterm birth, or a small-for-gestational-age neonate. The study was powered to detect a twofold difference in the frequency of the composite outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-two patients met inclusion criteria, 63 of whom had a prior B-Lynch suture. Women with a prior B-Lynch had a higher mean estimated blood loss (1,800 mL compared with 1,200 mL, P<.001) and were more likely to have received a blood transfusion (29.2% compared with 13.3%, P=.01) in the index pregnancy. The composite outcome was not different between the groups (14.3% compared with 13.8%, P=.92). A logistic regression controlling for potential confounding factors did not show any association between exposure to a B-Lynch suture and adverse pregnancy outcome in a subsequent pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.34-2.28. CONCLUSION: Placement of a B-Lynch suture is not associated with an increased risk of future adverse pregnancy outcomes related to abnormal placentation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.
