Planned induction versus spontaneous delivery among women using prophylactic anticoagulation therapy: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the outcomes of planned induction of labour versus spontaneous onset of labour among women using prophylactic-dose low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) therapy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. POPULATION: Women receiving antepartum prophylactic LMWH therapy undergoing a trial of vaginal delivery. METHODS: Charts from 2018-2019 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of anticoagulation interruption and eligibility to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. RESULTS: Data from 199 women were analysed; 78 (39.2%) were admitted following spontaneous onset of labour and 121 (60.8%) underwent planned induction of labour. Compared to women who underwent planned induction of labour, women who presented with spontaneous onset of labour had a shorter median admission-to-delivery interval (4.7 versus 29.3 hours, P < 0.001). Similarly, intervals from the last LMWH injection to delivery (25.8 versus 48.2 hours, P < 0.001) and to the first postpartum LMWH injection (41.2 versus 63.7 hours, P < 0.001) were shorter. Among those with spontaneous onset of labour, 69 (88.5%) were eligible to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. Rates of postpartum haemorrhage and blood transfusion were similar between the groups. No thrombotic events were encountered in those with spontaneous onset of labour, but four (3.3%) women who delivered following induction of labour developed a postpartum thrombotic event. CONCLUSION: Planned induction of labour was associated with a higher risk of postpartum thrombotic events than was spontaneous onset of labour (4 of 121 [3.3%] versus 0 of 78 [0%]), presumably due to prolonged duration of anticoagulation interruption, although the difference was not statistically significant. Allowing spontaneous onset of labour was associated with comparable rates of bleeding complications, and only a low proportion (9 of 78, 11.5%) were not eligible to receive neuraxial anaesthesia. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Planned induction among women using prophylactic LMWH therapy might increase the risk of thromboembolic complications.

Risk factors, clinical course and outcomes of pregnancy-related group A streptococcal infections: retrospective 13-year cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, clinical course and outcomes of pregnancy-related group A streptococcus (GAS) infection. METHODS: A retrospective 13-year cohort study of culture-proven pregnancy-related GAS infection was performed at two university hospitals serving heterogeneous, multicultural, urban and rural populations. RESULTS: Of 124 women diagnosed with pregnancy-related GAS infection, 115 (93%) were in the puerperium, an incidence of 0.8 cases per 1000 live births (95% confidence interval, 0.7-0.9). A multivariate analysis showed primiparity and cesarean delivery to be independent protective factors against puerperal GAS infection (adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval), 0.60 (0.38, 0.97) and 0.44 (0.23, 0.81), respectively). Of the nine remaining patients, eight were diagnosed after first trimester abortions and one had an infected ectopic pregnancy. Among the entire cohort (n = 124), the predominant manifestations were fever and abdominal tenderness. Twenty-eight patients (23%) had severe GAS infections. All were treated with ß-lactams, and most (n = 104, 84%) received clindamycin. Only four (3%) required surgical intervention; the rest fully recovered with conservative medical treatment including antibiotics. No recurrences, maternal deaths or neonatal complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-related GAS infection is not rare; it lacks specific signs and still carries significant morbidity. Primiparity, a presumable surrogate for diminished exposure to children and thus less GAS carriage, and cesarean delivery in which perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was uniformly provided, appear as protective factors against puerperal GAS infection. This hints to the importance of community-acquired GAS and may support shifting efforts from infection-control-oriented nosocomial investigations to screening and prevention-driven policies.

History-indicated cervical cerclage in management of twin pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cerclage, when performed in twin gestation, has been reported to be associated with poor outcome. However, the role of first-trimester history-indicated cerclage among women with a twin pregnancy and a history of preterm birth has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess pregnancy outcomes among women with a twin pregnancy who underwent first-trimester history-indicated cervical cerclage compared with outcomes in those managed expectantly. METHODS: This was a retrospective matched case-control study. The study group comprised all women with a twin pregnancy who had undergone first-trimester history-indicated cerclage during the period 2006 to 2017 at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center. A control group of women with a twin pregnancy who were managed expectantly was established by matching age, history of spontaneous preterm birth (20-36 weeks' gestation) and year of delivery. Pregnancy and delivery characteristics and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Data from 82 women with a twin gestation were analyzed, of whom 41 underwent first-trimester history-indicated cerclage and 41 were matched controls who were managed expectantly. Gestational age at delivery was higher in the cerclage group than in those managed expectantly (median 35 vs 30 weeks; P < 0.0001). Rates of spontaneous preterm birth before 24 weeks (2.4% vs 19.5%; odds ratio (OR), 0.10 (95% CI, 0.01-0.87); P = 0.03), before 28 weeks (12.2% vs 34.1%; OR, 0.27 (95% CI, 0.09-0.84); P = 0.03), before 32 weeks (22.0% vs 56.1%; OR, 0.22 (95% CI, 0.08-0.58); P = 0.003) and before 34 weeks (34.1% vs 82.9%; OR, 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04-0.30); P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the cerclage group than in the control group. Median birth weight was higher in the cerclage group (2072 g vs 1750 g; P = 0.003), with lower rates of low birth weight (< 2500 g) (65.0% vs 89.4%; P = 0.001) and very low birth weight (< 1500 g) (21.3% vs 37.9%; P = 0.03) than in the group managed expectantly. Rates were also lower in the cerclage group for stillbirth, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, neonatal mortality and composite adverse neonatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: History-indicated cerclage performed in the first trimester, as compared with expectant management, in women with a twin pregnancy had an overall positive effect on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. These findings suggest the need for adequate randomized trials on cerclage placement in this subset of women. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Factors related to the development of acquired von Willebrand syndrome in patients with essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera.

OBJECTIVE: We characterized acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) among essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) patients. METHODS: A review of patients with ET or PV evaluated for AVWS. RESULTS: Of 116 patients with ET, 64 (55%) developed AVWS; of 57 with PV, 28 (49%) developed AVWS. Median platelet counts of ET and PV patients who developed AVWS were 920×109/L and 679×109/L, respectively (P=0.01). Of patients who developed AVWS, 69.5% had platelet counts below 1000×109/L. Bleeding was more common in patients with AVWS, among both ET and PV patients (P<0.001). VWF:RCo levels and VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio were lower among JAK2 V617F positive- vs. JAK2 V617F negative- ET patients (P=0.02 and P=0.002, respectively); whereas VWF:Ag levels were comparable (P=0.96). ET patients harboring the JAK2 V617F mutation were more likely to develop AVWS than were calreticulin-positive patients (70.3% vs. 45.7%, P=0.02), despite lower platelet counts (median 773 vs. 920×109/L, P=0.05). In multivariable analysis, younger age (P=0.002), platelet count (P<0.001), hemoglobin level (P=0.01) and JAK2 V617F mutation (P=0.01) independently predicted the development of AVWS among ET patients; whereas only platelet count predicted its development among PV patients (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Among ET and PV patients, AVWS was common and associated with higher bleeding rates and higher platelet count; nonetheless, most AVWS patients had platelet counts under 1000×109/L. Thus, AVWS screening should be included in routine assessment of ET and PV patients. Among ET patients, JAK2 V617F was a main driver for the development of AVWS.