Indomethacin and corticosteroids: an additive constrictive effect on the fetal ductus arteriosus.

The objective of this paper is to study the possible additive effect of corticosteroids to the known effect of indomethacin on potency of the human ductus arteriosus. Systolic and diastolic blood flow of the fetal ductus arteriosus was measured by echo Doppler at 26-32 weeks of gestation. Four groups of patients were studied according to the treatment they have received: group A (exposure to indomethacin and betamethasone); group B (indomethacin alone); group C (betamethasone); and group D (controls). Children in whom ductal constriction was noted in utero were followed by repeat cardiac echo Doppler examinations at the age of 1 to 2 years. In group A (indomethacin and betamethasone) fetal ductal constriction was significantly higher (p = 0.02) and occurred in 11 out of 15 fetuses (73.3%), compared with 5 out of 14 (37.2%) of the fetuses in group B (indomethacin alone). In group C (betamethasone) and D fetuses (no treatment), no significant ductal constriction was observed. Pathological tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular dilation were found more frequently in fetuses from group A. No long-term sequella was noted in the infants in whom ductal constriction had been noted in utero. Corticosteroids and indomethacin have a synergistic effect on the frequency and severity of fetal ductus arteriosus constriction. In short-term treatment this effect is transient, and has no deleterious effects on fetal and neonatal cardiac function.

Prospective evaluation of endometrial thickness as a predictor of pituitary down-regulation after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue administration in an in vitro fertilization program.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pituitary down-regulation after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) administration can be accurately predicted by transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of endometrial thickness. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: An IVF unit of an academic medical center. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighty-one patients undergoing 265 IVF-ET treatment cycles using GnRH-a in the long protocol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum concentrations of E2 were determined, and endometrial thickness was measured by transvaginal sonography. The accuracy of endometrial thickness for predicting pituitary down-regulation was calculated. RESULT(S): Pituitary down-regulation, defined as a serum E2 concentration of < or = 55 pg/mL, was achieved in 77% (204 of 265) of the cycles. An endometrial thickness of < or = 6 mm was found in 92.2% (188 of 204) of cycles in which down-regulation was achieved. An estradiol level of < or = 55 pg/mL was present in 95.9% (188 of 196) of cycles with endometrial thickness of < or = 6 mm. CONCLUSION(S): A state of relative hypoestrogenism after GnRH-a administration, indicative of pituitary down-regulation, can be predicted with a high degree of accuracy by ultrasonographic measurement of endometrial thickness. Thus, routine testing for serum E2 concentration may be safely omitted. This may allow further simplification of IVF protocols and increase both cost-effectiveness and patients' convenience.

Unsuspected uterine leiomyosarcoma discovered during treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of a 37-year-old woman who had received five courses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (Decapeptyl) for presumed uterine leiomyomata associated with episodes of uterine bleeding. Submucous myoma (histologically proven) was partially removed on the first visit. After a period of significant reduction in the tumor size and cessation of uterine bleeding, the symptoms recurred along with rapid re-growth of the uterus. Total abdominal hysterectomy was performed and the pathologic evaluation revealed leiomyosarcoma with a high mitotic rate. This case and the literature review emphasize the problems encountered with the early diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma during GnRH agonist therapy.

Uriscreen, a rapid enzymatic urine screening test: useful predictor of significant bacteriuria in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the reliability of a new rapid enzymatic screening test, the Uriscreen, in the detection of significant bacteriuria in pregnancy. METHODS: During a 6-month period, from July 1 to December 30, 1993, 313 consecutive pregnant patients were evaluated. Randomly voided, midstream, clean-catch urine specimens were used. Each sample was tested by routine laboratory culture and four rapid screening tests: the nitrite and leukocyte esterase dipstick, microscopic examination for pyuria, and the Uriscreen test. Results of the four rapid tests were compared with those of the urine culture. RESULTS: Twenty-four women (7.6%) had urine culture results indicating significant bacteriuria. The sensitivity of the nitrite test, the leukocyte esterase test, and a microscopic examination for pyuria was low (37, 52, and 56%, respectively). The Uriscreen test showed very high sensitivity (100%), lower specificity (81%), a high predictive value of negative results (100%), and a low positive predictive value (30%). CONCLUSIONS: The Uriscreen test is a reliable alternative to culture screening of all pregnant patients. A policy of performing a urine culture during pregnancy only on patients with a positive Uriscreen test will save as much as 80% of unnecessary cultures.

Abnormalities in offspring associated with prenatal marihuana exposure.

5 newborn infants, whose mothers acknowledged steady use of marihuana prior to and during pregnancies, displayed symptoms of intrauterine growth retardation, neurological problems, and abnormal morphogenesis. These findings fit in with the experimental studies and surveys of pregnant human populations which have indicated that cannabis products have teratogenic potential, though rigorous proof must await further information.

Factors influencing outcome of pregnancy in heavy-drinking women.

18 pregnant women identified as heavy drinkers by the criteria of Cahalan et al., gave birth to 6 normal infants, 5 infants with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and 7 with partial FAS. Average daily alcohol consumption of mothers of normal infants was less than that of mothers of FAS and partial FAS infants. Lower socioeconomic class, higher parity and increased use of tobacco and other drugs were non-alcohol-related maternal factors which appeared to influence the outcome of pregnancy in heavy-drinking women.

Minimal brain dysfunction in childhood: outcome in late adolescence and early adult years.

Seventy-three patients, diagnosed in childhood as having minimal brain dysfunction syndrome and further classified as either developmental lag (38%) or organic brain syndrome (62%), were followed into late adolescence and early adult life. At follow-up 7% were free of psychiatric disorder, 80% had various types of personality disorder, and 14% were borderline psychotic. Global outcome was rated as satisfactory in 20%, unsatisfactory in 80%. Associated with an unsatisfactory outcome were these initial findings: low normal or borderline intelligence, multiplicity of behavioral and neuropsychological findings, learning disabilities, special class placement, and initial classification of organic brain syndrome. Initial differentiation between developmental lag and organic brain syndrome foreshadowed different psychopathological features having significant polarities and little overlap, as well as different global outcome.

Renal anomalies in fetal alcohol syndrome.

Six patients with fetal alcohol syndrome were found to have developmental abnormalities of the kidney. In only one patient was investigation for renal pathology made in the absence of clinical indication. Two had palpable masses in the left upper quadrant, one had pyelonephritis, one had painless hematuria, and the fifth patient had symptomatology suggestive of renal failure. Although the renal pathology was not of the same type in all cases, it is of interest that four patients had either unilateral or bilateral renal hypoplasia.