Fetal Brain Injury in Rhesus Isoimmunization Fetus.

This report presents a rare fetal and neonatal complication brain injury (encephalomalacia and ventriculomegaly) as a consequence of severe fetal anemia resulting from Rhesus (Rh) isoimmunization. A 28-year-old gravida 4 para 3 woman was referred at 21+4 weeks of gestation to the fetal medicine clinic as a case of Rh isoimmunization. Fetal ultrasound showed a normal anatomy scan with normal brain structure, but with severe fetal anemia. The patient was treated with multiple intrauterine transfusions, but still developed complications post-transfusions. This case shows that severe cerebral developmental anomalies can occur because of severe fetal anemia secondary to Rh isoimmunization, such as in this case - ventriculomegaly and encephalomalacia. It has been concluded that proper antenatal counseling and early intervention for severe fetal anemia are beneficial to prevent such complications from occurring. It is crucial to consider appropriate antenatal and postnatal radiological imaging for such cases.

Birth prevalence of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in Saudi Arabia and the effects of parental consanguinity.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics and prevalence of non-syndromic orofacial clefting (NSOFC) and assess the effects of parental consanguinity on NSOFC phenotypes in the 3 main cities of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: All infants (114,035) born at 3 referral centers in Riyadh, and 6 hospitals in Jeddah and Madinah between January 2010 and December 2011 were screened. The NSOFC cases (n=133) were identified and data was collected through clinical examination and records, and information on consanguinity through parent interviews. The diagnosis was confirmed by reviewing medical records and contacting the infants' pediatricians. Control infants (n=233) matched for gender and born in the same hospitals during the same period, were selected. RESULTS: The prevalence of NSOFC was 1.07/1000 births in Riyadh, and 1.17/1000 births overall; cleft lip (CL) was 0.47/1000 births, cleft lip and palate (CLP) was 0.42/1000 births, and cleft palate (CP) was 0.28/1000 births. Cleft palate was significantly associated with consanguinity (p=0.047, odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1 to 6.46), particularly for first cousin marriages. CONCLUSION: The birth prevalence of NSOFC in Riyadh alone, and in the 3 main cities of Saudi Arabia were marginally lower than the mean global prevalence. While birth prevalence for CLP was comparable to global figures, the CL:CLP ratio was high, and only CP was significantly associated with consanguinity.

Antenatal diagnosis, prevalence and outcome of major congenital anomalies in Saudi Arabia: a hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The exact antenatal prevalence of congenital anomalies in Saudi society is unknown. Early antenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies is crucial for early counselling, intervention and possible fetal therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antenatal frequency of major congenital anomalies and malformation patterns in our hospital population and to evaluate the outcome and perinatal mortality rates for major congenital anomalies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of the antenatal diagnosis of major fetal congenital anomalies conducted in the Ultrasound Department of the Women's Specialized Hospital at King Fahad Medical City from March 2005 to February 2007. During this period, 16 639 obstetrical ultrasound examinations were performed for 7762 patients and 5379 babies delivered in our institution. RESULTS: We diagnosed 217 cases of fetal anomalies. The antenatal prevalence of congenital anomalies was 27.96 per 1000. The median maternal age at diagnosis was 27.5 years. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 31 weeks. Genitourinary and cranial anomalies were the commonest; for 186 patients delivered in our institution, the birth prevalence was 34.57 per 1000 births. The median gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks. The perinatal mortality rate was 34.9% (65/186), including all cases of intrauterine fetal and neonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of major congenital anomalies in our population appears to be similar to international figures. Major congenital anomalies are a major cause of perinatal mortality.

The effect of fetal behavioral states on middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether is there a difference in the middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA PSV) between active and resting behavioral states in healthy fetuses aged 30 to 32 weeks. METHODS: MCA blood flow was measured by pulsed Doppler sonography 3 times during each fetal behavioral state (active and resting). The average during active state was compared during the resting state. Statistical analysis was performed by paired t test. RESULTS: During the fetal active state, there was a significant increase in the mean PSV (51.59 cm/s vs 46.95 cm/s, P < .0001) and mean end-diastolic velocity (9.59 cm/s vs 7.98 cm/s, P=.0015), and a significant decrease in the mean pulsatility index (PI) (2.07 vs 2.19, P=.0226) and the mean resistance index (0.83 vs 0.85, P=.0481). CONCLUSION: Healthy preterm fetuses have a significantly higher MCA PSV during the active state. Activity state should be considered when interpreting MCA Doppler indices.