Association between diminished ovarian reserve and luteal phase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between biomarkers of ovarian reserve and luteal phase deficiency (LPD). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a prospective time-to-conceive cohort study. SETTING: Not applicable. PATIENT(S): Women attempting conception, aged 30-44 years, without known infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Measurement of early follicular phase serum levels of antimüllerian hormone, FSH, inhibin B, and E2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The primary outcome was LPD, defined by luteal bleeding (LB) (≥1 day of LB) or a short luteal phase length (≤11 days). RESULT(S): Overall, 755 women provided information on 2,171 menstrual cycles and serum for measurement of at least one biomarker of ovarian reserve. There were 2,096 cycles from 754 women in the LB cohort, of which 40% experienced LB. After adjusting for age, race, previous miscarriages, and previous pregnancies, diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) was not significantly associated with LB. Low early follicular phase FSH levels increased the odds of LB (odds ratio [OR] 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-2.71), as did high early follicular phase E2 levels (OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.26-2.01). A total of 608 cycles from 286 women were included in the analysis of luteal phase length, of which 13% had a short luteal phase. After adjusting for age, there was no significant association between DOR and a short luteal phase. The risk of a short luteal phase decreased with increasing inhibin B (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.45-0.81). CONCLUSION(S): Although DOR is not associated with LPD, hormone dysfunction in the early follicular phase may contribute to LPD in women of older reproductive age.

Suture thickness and transvaginal cervical cerclage outcomes.

Background: Cervical cerclage placement has been shown to benefit women who have cervical insufficiency, however, the best type of suture to use for transvaginal cerclage placement is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the association between transvaginal cerclage suture thickness and pregnancy outcomes. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study of women with a singleton, non-anomalous gestation who underwent history-, ultrasound- or physical exam-indicated transvaginal cerclage at a single tertiary care center (2013-2016). The primary outcome was gestational age at delivery. Secondary outcomes included preterm birth less than 34 weeks, chorioamnionitis, neonatal intensive care unit admission and composite neonatal morbidity. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared by thickness of suture material: thick 5mm braided polyester fiber (Mersilene® tape) versus thin polyester braided thread (Ethibond®) or polypropylene non-braided monofilament (Prolene®) with selection of suture type at the discretion of the provider. The association between thick suture and gestational age at delivery was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between thick suture and the secondary outcomes. Effect modification of cerclage indication was also assessed. Results: A total of 203 women met inclusion criteria: 120 (59%) with thick suture and 83 (41%) with thin suture. Of these, 130 women had history-indicated, 35 had ultrasound-indicated, and 38 had exam-indicated cerclages. Compared to women who had thin suture, women with thick suture were more likely to have had a history- or ultrasound-indicated cerclage, rather than exam-indicated cerclage, and more likely to have had a Shirodkar or cervico-isthmic approach, rather than McDonald. Women with thick suture were also more likely to have received progesterone and had placement at earlier gestational age, but there were no differences in cervical exam at placement. After adjusting for confounding factors, thick suture was associated with longer pregnancy duration among women with ultrasound-indicated cerclage (aHR 0.61, 95%CI 0.41-0.91) and exam-indicated cerclage (aHR 0.30, 95%CI 0.15-0.58), but not with history-indicated cerclage (aHR 1.27, 95%CI 0.83-1.94). Thick suture was also associated with lower odds of preterm birth < 34 weeks, chorioamnionitis and neonatal intensive care unit admission, compared to thin suture. Conclusion: Thick, compared to thin suture, for transvaginal cervical cerclage was associated with longer duration of pregnancy among women with ultrasound- and exam-indicated cerclages and lower odds of chorioamnionitis and neonatal intensive care unit admission among all women regardless of cerclage indication.

The impact of fetal growth restriction on latency in the setting of expectant management of preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction is a common complication of preeclampsia. Expectant management for qualifying patients has been found to have acceptable maternal safety while improving neonatal outcomes. Whether fetal growth restriction influences the duration of latency during expectant management of preeclampsia is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine whether fetal growth restriction is associated with a reduced interval to delivery in women with preeclampsia being expectantly managed prior to 34 weeks. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort of singleton, live-born, nonanomalous deliveries at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center between 2008 and 2013. Patients were included in our analysis if they were diagnosed with preeclampsia prior to 34 completed weeks and if the initial management plan was to pursue expectant management beyond administration of steroids for fetal lung maturity. Two study groups were determined based on the presence or absence of fetal growth restriction. Patients were delivered when they developed persistent neurological symptoms, severe hypertension refractory to medical therapy, renal insufficiency, nonreassuring fetal status, pulmonary edema, or hemolysis elevated liver low platelet syndrome or when they reached 37 weeks if they remained stable without any other indication for delivery. Our primary outcome was the interval from diagnosis of preeclampsia to delivery, measured in days. Secondary outcomes included indications for delivery, rates of induction and cesarean delivery, development of severe morbidities of preeclampsia, and select neonatal outcomes. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis comparing those with fetal growth restriction with those with normally grown fetuses to determine whether there is an association between fetal growth restriction and a shortened interval to delivery, neonatal intensive care unit admission, prolonged neonatal stay, and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: A total of 851 patients met the criteria for preeclampsia, of which 199 met inclusion criteria, 139 (69%) with normal growth, and 60 (31%) with fetal growth restriction. Interval to delivery was significantly shorter in women with fetal growth restriction, median (interquartile range) of 3 (1.6) days vs normal growth, 5 (2.12) days, P < .001. The association between fetal growth restriction and latency less than 7 days remained significant, even after post hoc analysis controlling for confounding variables (adjusted odds ratio, 1.66 [95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.47]). There were no differences in the development of severe disease (85.9 vs 91.7%, P = .26), need for intravenous antihypertensive medications (47.1 vs 46.7%, P = .96), and the development of severe complications of preeclampsia (51.1 vs 42.9%, P = .30) in normally grown and growth-restricted fetuses, respectively. Fewer women with fetal growth restriction attained their scheduled delivery date, 3 of 60 (5.0%), compared with normally grown fetuses,12 of 139 (15.7%), P = .03. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal length of stay, and neonatal mortality were higher when there was fetal growth restriction; however, after a logistic regression analysis, these associations were no longer significant. CONCLUSION: Fetal growth restriction is associated with a shortened interval to delivery in women undergoing expectant management of preeclampsia when disease is diagnosed prior to 34 weeks. These data may be helpful in counseling patients regarding the expected duration of pregnancy, guiding decision making regarding administration of steroids and determining the need for maternal transport.