Admission uric acid levels and length of expectant management in preterm preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Uric acid is known to be elevated in preeclampsia. We sought to determine if uric acid levels on admission correlate with the length of expectant management in preterm patients with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was conducted on singleton preeclamptic pregnancies delivered between 24 0/7 and 37 0/7 weeks' gestation at Tufts Medical Center between January 2005 and December 2007. Patients with a multiple gestation and those transferred or discharged before delivery were excluded. Data regarding signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, laboratory values, pregnancy complications and outcome were abstracted from the medical records. Correlation between admission uric acid level and days of expectant management was assessed. The relative risk (RR) was used to estimate the effect of uric acid levels on expectant management length >7 days. Mantel-Haenszel χ(2) values were used to construct 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around the RR. RESULT: Four hundred seventy-one charts were reviewed. Of these, 190 met inclusion criteria. In all, 55 patients (28.9%) were managed expectantly for >1 week. Admission uric acid level correlated with days of expectant management (P<0.0001). Uric acid levels at admission were categorized as ≤4.0 mg dl(-1) (low uric acid level), 4.1 to 6.0 mg dl(-1) (medium) and ≥6.1 mg dl(-1) (high). Relative to women with high uric acid levels at admission, we observed a sevenfold higher rate of extending expectant management for >1 week among women with low uric acid level (7.0; 95% CI: 3.34 to 14.68). Women with medium uric acid levels at admission also had a higher likelihood of prolonging pregnancy relative to women with high uric acid levels (RR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.32 to 5.96) (P-value for trend <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Admission uric acid levels correlate with the length of expectant management in preterm patients with preeclampsia. Pregnancy prolongation for >1 week is significantly more likely in patients with low and medium uric acid levels at the time of admission. Uric acid levels may be helpful in assessing disease severity and counseling preeclamptic patients regarding likelihood of extended expectant management.

Maintaining quality assurance for sonographic nuchal translucency measurement: lessons from the FASTER Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nuchal translucency measurement quality assurance techniques in a large-scale study. METHODS: From 1999 to 2001, unselected patients with singleton gestations between 10 + 3 weeks and 13 + 6 weeks were recruited from 15 centers. Sonographic nuchal translucency measurement was performed by trained technicians. Four levels of quality assurance were employed: (1) a standardized protocol utilized by each sonographer; (2) local-image review by a second sonographer; (3) central-image scoring by a single physician; and (4) epidemiological monitoring of all accepted nuchal translucency measurements cross-sectionally and over time. RESULTS: Detailed quality assessment was available for 37 018 patients. Nuchal translucency measurement was successful in 96.3% of women. Local reviewers rejected 0.8% of images, and the single central physician reviewer rejected a further 2.9%. Multivariate analysis indicated that higher body mass index, earlier gestational age and transvaginal probe use were predictors of failure of nuchal translucency measurement and central image rejection (P = 0.001). Epidemiological monitoring identified a drift in measurements over time. CONCLUSION: Despite initial training and continuous image review, changes in nuchal translucency measurements occur over time. To maintain screening accuracy, ongoing quality assessment is needed.

First- and second-trimester Down syndrome screening markers in pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technologies (ART): a FASTER trial study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether first- and second-trimester Down syndrome screening markers and screen-positive rates are altered in pregnancies conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). METHODS: ART pregnancies in the multicenter FASTER trial were identified. Marker levels were evaluated for five types of ART: in vitro fertilization with ovulation induction (IVF-OI), IVF with OI and egg donation (IVF-OI-ED), IVF with ED (IVF-ED), and intrauterine insemination with OI (IUI-OI) or without OI (IUI). Each group was compared to non-ART controls using Mann-Whitney U analysis. RESULTS: First-trimester marker levels were not significantly different between ART and control pregnancies, with the exception of reduced PAPP-A levels in the IUI-OI group. In contrast, second-trimester inhibin A levels were increased in all ART pregnancies, estriol was reduced and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was increased in IVF and IUI pregnancies without ED, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was increased in ED pregnancies. Second-trimester screen-positive rates were significantly higher than expected for ART pregnancies, except when ED was used. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that ART significantly impacts second-, but not first-, trimester markers and screen-positive rates. The type of adjustment needed in second-trimester screening depends on the particular type of ART used.

The anesthetic management of triplet cesarean delivery: a retrospective case series of maternal outcomes.

UNLABELLED: Spinal anesthesia for the cesarean delivery of triplets is associated with an increased incidence of maternal hypotension and placental hypoperfusion. We performed a retrospective case series analysis between January 1992 and June 2000 to evaluate the effects of regional anesthetic techniques for cesarean delivery in triplet pregnancies on maternal and neonatal outcome. Spinal and epidural anesthesia were compared with respect to intraoperative hemodynamics and neonatal outcomes. Ninety-six triplet pregnancies were delivered by cesarean section, of which 91 received regional anesthesia. A statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was demonstrated immediately after the induction of spinal as compared with epidural anesthesia. The total volume of IV crystalloid used was significantly larger in the Spinal Anesthesia group. The number of patients receiving more than 15 mg of ephedrine and the cumulative dose of ephedrine was significantly larger in the Spinal group compared with the Epidural group. There were no differences in the rate of perioperative complications between the Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia groups. Neonatal Apgar scores were similar in both groups. The data suggest that both epidural and spinal anesthesia for triplet cesarean delivery are safe techniques, but the latter is associated with a larger initial decrease in systolic blood pressure. This decreasing of systolic blood pressure, however, remained within the physiological range and did not seem to be clinically significant. The need for more crystalloid fluids and ephedrine should be anticipated when spinal anesthesia is used for these cases. IMPLICATIONS: A large retrospective case series of the effects of spinal and epidural anesthesia on maternal hemodynamic profile during cesarean delivery for triplet gestation was performed. Our findings suggest that spinal anesthesia results in outcomes comparable to epidural anesthesia for both mother and newborns.

Pregnancy outcomes after prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the benefits of antenatal diagnoses of fetal aneuploidy in women who continued their pregnancies. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 51 mothers of children with aneuploidy. Women whose fetuses were diagnosed prenatally comprised the study group and those whose infants were diagnosed at birth were controls. Outcomes measured included an assessment of pregnancy management, neonatal outcome, subjective measures of depression and anxiety, and evaluation of women's emotional and physical experience of the pregnancy. For outcomes measured by nonparametric survey questions, 20 women were needed in each arm to achieve a power of 80% to detect a 2-point difference on a 6-point scale; for our neonatal outcomes, 100 women were needed in each arm to achieve 80% power to detect a difference in length of stay (less than 1 week versus greater than 1 week) or need for surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-eight women (75%) responded. Most (86%) had children with trisomy 21. Seventeen women (45%) received their child's diagnosis at birth; 21 (55%) had prenatal diagnoses. Demographic measures were similar except that women with prenatal diagnoses attended religious services more frequently (1--3 times per month versus once to several times per year, P =.04). Women with prenatal diagnosis had better perceptions of their physical experience of pregnancy (median score of 10 versus 6 on a 10-point visual analog scale, P =.005) and their emotional experience of the birth (median score of 7.5 versus 2, P =.001). Mental Health Inventory scores were similar between groups. Neonates without prenatal diagnoses were more likely to be transferred to tertiary centers after birth (70% versus 24%, P =.004); lengths of hospital stays and need for surgery were similar. Seventy-one percent (95% confidence interval [CI] 48, 89%) of women with prenatal diagnoses said they would have done nothing differently in the pregnancy compared with 29% (95% CI 10, 56%) of women with diagnoses at birth. CONCLUSION: Early knowledge of fetal aneuploidy is beneficial to women who continue their pregnancies. These results might be useful when counseling women who do not intend to terminate abnormal pregnancies, but are considering prenatal diagnosis.

Antenatal therapy of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a recessively inherited disorder caused by an inborn error of cholesterol metabolism that results in deficiency of cholesterol and accumulation of the cholesterol precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol (DHC) and its epimer, 8-DHC. Affected patients present with congenital anomalies, growth restriction, and mental retardation. Postnatal treatment with cholesterol supplementation has been shown to improve plasma sterol levels and has resulted in improved growth and development in many patients. We hypothesized that prenatal supplementation of cholesterol could potentially arrest some of the adverse consequences of cholesterol deficiency at an earlier stage of development. METHODS: SLOS was diagnosed in the third trimester in a fetus initially identified by sonography with intrauterine growth restriction and ambiguous genitalia and confirmed by elevated levels of 7- and 8-DHC in amniotic fluid. Antenatal supplementation of cholesterol was provided by fetal intravenous and intraperitoneal transfusions of fresh frozen plasma (cholesterol level = 219 mg/dl). RESULTS: The in utero transfusions resulted in increased levels of fetal cholesterol, as measured in blood samples obtained by cordocentesis. In addition, fetal red cell mean corpuscular volume rose, which further indicated that the exogenous cholesterol was incorporated into the fetal erythrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal treatment of SLOS by cholesterol supplementation is feasible and results in improvement in fetal plasma cholesterol levels and fetal red cell volume. SLOS may be added to the growing list of human genetic disorders for which prenatal diagnosis is available and therapeutic intervention may be possible.

Cost issues surrounding the use of computerized telemedicine for obstetric ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the cost implications of converting an established videotape review network for obstetric ultrasonography to one based on telemedicine technology. DESIGN: Retrospective review of fixed and non-fixed costs associated with interpreting obstetric ultrasound examinations using both videotape and telemedicine transmission. SUBJECTS: A network of three community offices transmitting 600 obstetric ultrasound examinations per month to a central tertiary level facility. METHODS: Sonographers at the community offices record ultrasound examinations onto videotape, which are then sent by courier to a central facility for interpretation. At the completion of this videotaped examination, sonographers repeat the ultrasound scan while transmitting real-time images over a telemedicine link to the central facility. Costs associated with the videotape review technique that can be avoided by converting to telemedicine interpretation were derived and compared with the fixed and non-fixed costs associated with establishing the telemedicine network. RESULTS: For this network, the fixed costs for establishing telemedicine are $101,750. Monthly non-fixed cost savings by eliminating videotape review include $1620 to $2700 for printing still images, $1200 for courier charges and $7000 for fewer repeat ultrasound examinations. Monthly non-fixed costs for the telemedicine network are $2415. Net monthly savings in non-fixed costs for a telemedicine network are therefore $7405 to $8585, which may pay for the initial fixed costs in 12 to 14 months. CONCLUSIONS: The high cost of a telemedicine network may be offset by possible savings in non-fixed costs compared with alternative systems for interpreting obstetric ultrasonography.

Suggested ultrasound parameters for the assessment of fetal well-being during chronic hemodialysis.

There are no published guidelines on how to assess fetal well-being during hemodialysis. We have developed a specific protocol of renal and obstetric interventions to ensure that hemodialysis is associated with minimal changes in fetal status. We tested this protocol serially over a 9-week period in a pregnant patient who was undergoing chronic hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease. Testing involved serial assessments of uterine and umbilical artery blood flow with Doppler velocimetry and continuous fetal heart rate tracings, before, during and after each hemodialysis session. We found that, by strict adherence to these guidelines, there were no significant alterations in maternal mean arterial blood pressure, continuous fetal heart rate tracings, uterine artery systolic/diastolic ratios, or umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratios. We conclude that stable uteroplacental and fetal perfusion can be maintained during chronic hemodialysis in pregnancy by adhering to a specific set of precautions.

Cirrhosis and portal hypertension in pregnancy.

Cirrhosis and portal hypertension infrequently coincide with pregnancy but increase maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality when present. Chronic liver disease and portal hypertension are not contraindications to pregnancy but necessitate intensive monitoring throughout pregnancy. The complications of liver disease are numerous and pose additional risks. Management of complications arising during pregnancy is similar to management in the nonpregnant patient. Provision of optimal care for mother and fetus can require the skills of multiple specialties such as maternal fetal medicine, gastroenterology, nutrition, and surgery. This report provides guidelines for the management of cirrhosis and portal hypertension in pregnancy.

Liver masses in pregnancy.

Liver masses in pregnancy are rare but when encountered pose a difficult clinical scenario with many diagnostic and management uncertainties. They can be classified as nonneoplastic and neoplastic and further subdivided into benign and malignant. Fortunately, benign hepatic adenomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hemangiomas appear to be the more common sources of liver masses identified in this generally young and healthy patient population, but the actual incidence of each type is unknown during pregnancy. In some areas of the world infectious causes are more prevalent. Malignant causes of hepatic masses carry a grave prognosis, similar to that for the nonpregnant population. The clinical presentation of a liver mass during pregnancy is similar in presentation to a nonpregnant patient, although symptoms may initially be attributed to pregnancy, and diagnosis is therefore delayed. Management varies depending on the etiology and size of the mass and on gestational age.

Gender differences in twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a gender discrepancy in severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome. METHODS: All cases of twin-twin transfusion syndrome evaluated between 1989 and 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The following sonographic criteria were used: a single placenta, a thin membrane, the same gender, a combination of polyhydramnios-oligohydramnios, a stuck twin, and an estimated weight discordance exceeding 20%. At least five of six sonographic criteria were required for inclusion in the study. Only severe cases, which were defined as early onset (before 30 weeks' gestation), a combination of polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios, a stuck twin, fetal hydrops, fetal death, or the requirement of medical or invasive treatment, were included. Chorionicity was confirmed by placental examination when available. RESULTS: Thirty-seven twin pregnancies met the above criteria, of which 33 (89%) twin pairs were female. The median gestational age at presentation was 19 weeks (range, 15-29; standard deviation, 5.6). A single placenta, thin membrane, same gender, and polyhydramnios-oligohydramnios were present in every case. A stuck twin was noted in 34 of 37 cases (92%), and a growth discordance exceeding 20% was present in 26 of 36 (72%). Placental pathology, which was available in 31 (84%) cases, confirmed a monochorionic placentation in 29. Twenty-five (68%) cases had reduction amniocentesis, two were treated with indomethacin, one underwent a cord ligation, and in four cases, fetal death occurred before treatment was instituted. CONCLUSION: There is a significant female preponderance in pregnancies complicated by severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome. The reasons for this are nuclear, but they may be related to either placental or fetal gender-specific differences affecting a subset of monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Validation of fetal telemedicine as a new obstetric imaging technique.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to establish whether obstetric ultrasonography interpreted by a live video telemedicine link is comparable to interpretation by videotape review in a low-risk patient population. STUDY DESIGN: An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN 6) was established from three satellite offices to our central prenatal diagnostic center. Patients seen at these satellite offices had a complete fetal anatomic survey recorded onto videotape by a trained ultrasonographer. A live interactive video telemedicine link was then established to our center by the digital network, and a perinatologist directed the ultrasonographer through the anatomy survey. Subsequently a different perinatologist, blinded to the telemedicine interpretation, reviewed the videotaped examination. The reports from the videotaped and telemedicine scans were then compared on the basis of a score of 33 anatomic items. RESULTS: The first 200 patients seen at the satellite offices were included. Telemedicine and videotape interpretations provided similar scores in 84% of scans. In 17 of the 33 anatomic categories telemedicine provided significantly better scores than videotape, whereas in the remaining 16 anatomic categories the scores were equivalent. More videotape than telemedicine examinations required repeat ultrasonography because of suboptimal imaging (10% vs 3%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The interpretation of obstetric ultrasonography with use of live video telemedicine is comparable to videotape review. Fetal telemedicine may prove to be a useful tool for providing ultrasonographic interpretation of fetal anatomy to a network of low-risk obstetric practices.

A comparison of neonatal outcomes of age-matched, growth-restricted twins and growth-restricted singletons.

A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine whether growth-restricted fetuses of a twin gestation are at increased risk of adverse neonatal outcome compared with growth-restricted singletons. One cohort was comprised of 48 growth-discordant twin pregnancies in which the birth weight of the smaller twin was less than the tenth percentile. The neonatal outcomes of the 48 growth-restricted twin infants were compared with a cohort of 96 singleton infants matched by gestational age, degree of growth restriction, and gender. Outcomes evaluated included: length of stay, days of assisted ventilation, and diagnoses of morbidities of prematurity, congenital abnormalities, and neonatal death. No significant difference was detected in rates of neonatal morbidity or mortality. The overall neonatal death rate in the twins was 125 of 1000 and in the singletons was 104 of 1000 (Odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.4-3.3). Growth-restricted twins have similar rates of adverse neonatal outcomes as compared with growth-restricted singletons. Both have high rates of morbidity and neonatal death. Twins and singletons should receive comparable diagnostic evaluation and antepartum management for growth restriction.

Validation of first-trimester telemedicine as an obstetric imaging technology: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether first-trimester obstetric ultrasonography interpreted by a live video telemedicine link is comparable to an established videotape review network in a low-risk patient population. METHODS: An integrated services digital network was established from three satellite offices to our central prenatal diagnostic center. All patients had a sonographic evaluation of the uterus, adnexa, and gestational sac recorded onto videotape by a trained sonographer. A live, interactive video telemedicine link was established, and a perinatologist directed the sonographer through the scan. Subsequently, a different perinatologist, blinded to the telemedicine interpretation, reviewed the original videotaped examination. The reports generated from both modalities then were compared by means of a score of 12 sonographic characteristics. RESULTS: The first 100 patients were included. The mean gestational age (+/-standard deviation) was 8.9 +/- 2.3 weeks (range 5.7-14.4), and the mean duration for telemedicine scans was 7.8 +/- 2.9 minutes (range 3.8-20.1). Telemedicine and videotape review scores were the same in 95 cases, and the final diagnosis was identical in 98 cases. This study had 80% power to detect a 10% difference in diagnosis at a significance level of .05. The ability to detect abnormalities was equivalent using both systems. CONCLUSION: The interpretation of first-trimester obstetric ultrasonography using live video telemedicine is equivalent to a system of videotape review. Obstetric telemedicine may prove to be a useful tool for providing sonographic imaging for low-risk obstetric patients.

Fetal ovarian cyst decompression to prevent torsion.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Neonates who have ovarian torsion caused by an ovarian cyst often lose their ovary because the torsion and infarction occurred antenatally. Because ultrasound scan has been so effective in diagnosing ovarian cysts in utero, we have a better understanding of their natural history and can select appropriate cases for cyst decompression in utero to prevent torsion. The authors reviewed experience with seven fetuses who had fetal ovarian cyst. METHODS: During a 26-month period, seven patients were referred for the evaluation of fetal ovarian cyst. The mean gestational age at presentation was 31.9 +/- 3.6 weeks (+/-SD; range, 27 to 37 weeks). There was no history of maternal risk factors such as diabetes mellitus or fetal risk factors such as hyperthyroidism or placentomegally. All seven cases involved isolated unilateral cysts without associated anomalies or chromosomal abnormalities. Mean initial cyst diameter was 3.4 +/- 1.7 cm (+/-SD; range, 1 to 6.1). Indications used for ovarian cyst decompression included anechoic cysts with a diameter > or =4 cm, a cyst "wandering" about the abdomen on serial sonograms, or demonstrating rapid enlargement (>1 cm/wk). RESULTS: All but one cyst progressed in size during observation. One fetal ovarian cyst (diameter, 2 cm) subsequently regressed spontaneously and another (diameter, 2.1 cm) stabilized during prenatal ultrasound surveillance. One "cyst" observed with a diameter of 3.5 cm proved to be a persistent cloaca. Four fetal ovarian cysts met criteria for decompression. Because of fetal position, decompression could not be performed in one. One cyst (seen before defining criteria for decompression) with a diameter of 5 cm was observed only and underwent torsion. Two cysts (diameters, 6.1 cm and 4 cm) were decompressed in utero under local anesthesia with ultrasound guidance, of 95 mL and 35 mL, respectively. High cyst fluid progesterone (12,041 and 1,990 ng/dL, respectively) and testosterone (1,298 and 2,900 ng/dL, respectively) confirmed the etiology of the cyst as ovarian. Neither cyst recurred, and postnatal ultrasound scan confirmed resolution. There was no maternal or fetal morbidity or mortality and only the patient observed before development of criteria for decompression lost her ovary because of torsion. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal ovarian cysts tend to present as isolated unilateral lesions in normal fetuses in the third trimester. Spontaneous regression of fetal ovarian cysts may occur. Fetal ovarian cyst decompression, in select cases, may preserve ovaries at risk for torsion.

Ultrasound predictors of neonatal outcome in intrauterine growth restriction.

Our purpose was to assess the value of commonly performed ultrasound parameters in predicting neonatal outcome of fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). One hundred twenty-seven patients were identified on ultrasound examination to have IUGR. Estimated weight percentile, amniotic fluid volume, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry, and head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio were compared with neonatal outcome. Thirty infants had severely adverse courses. The degree of growth restriction was strongly associated with adverse outcome and neonatal death. Umbilical artery Doppler waveforms with absent or reverse end-diastolic flow were predicted of neonatal death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and adverse outcome in general. Oligohydramnios was predictive of adverse outcome and neonatal death. Logistic regression also showed that absent or reverse end-diastolic flow and oligohydramnios were independent predictors of adverse outcome. Ultrasound findings of low estimated weight percentile, absent or reverse end-diastolic umbilical blood flow, and oligohydramnios are independent predictors of adverse neonatal outcome of growth restricted fetuses.

Outcome of twin gestations complicated by a single anomalous fetus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of twin gestations complicated by a single anomalous fetus with twin gestations with no fetal anomalies. METHODS: The study included all patients with twin gestations diagnosed with a fetal anomaly in one fetus during 1990-1994, and excluded twin gestations with anomalies in both fetuses. The control twin group was composed of all other normal twin pregnancies followed and delivered at our center in the preceding 2 years. RESULTS: We reviewed 24 twin gestations with at least one anomalous fetus. Five cases were excluded because of anomalies in both fetuses, and a further five pregnancies had selective termination or termination of the entire pregnancy. There were 14 ongoing twin pregnancies with one anomalous fetus, and their median gestational age at diagnosis was 18 weeks (range 16-20). All twin anomalies were correctly diagnosed antenatally. Gestational age at delivery and birth weight were significantly lower for twins complicated by an anomaly compared with control twins (P = .008 and P = .001, respectively). The cesarean delivery and perinatal mortality rates of twin pregnancies with anomalies were significantly higher than those of normal twins (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The presence of a single anomalous fetus in a twin gestation significantly increases the risk of preterm delivery compared with nonanomalous twin gestations.

The natural history of meconium peritonitis diagnosed in utero.

The authors reviewed their experience with meconium peritonitis (MP) diagnosed in utero to define criteria for prenatal and postnatal management. Prenatal diagnosis was made by identifying abdominal calcification on serial ultrasound examinations in nine fetuses, between 18 and 37 weeks' gestation. Cases without associated bowel abnormalities were considered "simple MP" and those with bowel abnormalities were considered "complex MP." Five cases of simple MP were identified at 18, 23, 30, 34, and 37 weeks' gestation. These five fetuses were delivered at term and had normal abdominal examinations. Abdominal radiographs were obtained in three showing normal bowel gas patterns, and abdominal calcifications in only two. All five patients were fed uneventfully. Four cases of complex MP were identified at 26, 26, 31, and 31 weeks' gestation. All four fetuses had dilated loops of bowel. Two of the four had meconium cysts, one of which was associated with ascites and the other with polyhydramnios. Shortly after birth both infants with meconium cysts required ileal resection and ileostomy for ileal atresia and ileal perforation, respectively. The remaining two infants had no evidence of dilated bowel, meconium cyst, or ascites on postnatal radiograph and were fed uneventfully. These data suggest that only 22% of fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of MP develop complications that require postnatal operation. Gestational age at diagnosis does not correlate with postnatal outcome. Fetuses with complex MP are at increased risk for postnatal bowel obstruction and perforation.

Demonstration of spontaneously dividing male fetal cells in maternal blood by negative magnetic cell sorting and fish.

We investigated a case of massive feto-maternal bleeding by using negative magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A 37-year-old pregnant woman had an uncomplicated amniocentesis for advanced maternal age at 16 weeks' gestation. The fetal karyotype was 46,XY. At 19 weeks' gestation, she had a minor car accident and slight vaginal bleeding. A subsequent Kleihauer-Betke test showed a 140 ml feto-maternal haemorrhage. Serial sonographic examinations indicated a normal fetus and placenta. We performed FISH analysis on maternal peripheral blood at 25 weeks. Anti-CD45 and MACS were used to deplete maternal leucocytes, enriching the proportion of fetal nucleated erythrocytes present. The isolated cells were analysed by using dual-colour FISH with X and Y specific probes. Approximately 65,800 nucleated cells were obtained after MACS depletion. A total of 234 cells were analysed by FISH. The results revealed that 70 of the nucleated cells (30 per cent) were male with one X and one Y signal. Among these cells, six male metaphases were observed in spontaneously dividing cells.