Assessment of annexin A5 and annexin A2 levels as biomarkers for pre-eclampsia: A pilot study.

Deficient anticoagulant activity of annexin A5 and deficient profibrinolytic activity of annexin A2 have been linked to increased risk of thrombotic events. Placental dysfunction due to fibrin deposition/microthrombi has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). In this study, we aimed to assess serum levels of annexin A5 and annexin A2 in a cohort of PE patients and investigate their role as biomarkers for the development of the disease. We examined 80 women in total; 40 healthy pregnant women and 40 pregnant women with PE after 20weeks of pregnancy. Women were subjected to full clinical assessment, ultrasonography, and laboratory testing including complete blood picture, liver and kidney function tests and assessment of serum and urine proteins. Annexin A5 and annexin A2 were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study showed serum annexin A2 but not annexin A5 was significantly reduced (P=0.029) in women with PE (total and severe cases) compared to those with normal pregnancy. The ROC analysis of annexin A2 level for the prediction of development of PE showed an area under the curve of 0.64 (P=0.029), and the best cut-off value was 0.89ng/ml with a sensitivity of 70.0% and a specificity of 70.0%. Univariate analysis showed annexin A2 of <0.89ng/ml, proteinuria, lower platelet count and higher BP were associated with significantly higher risk to develop PE. Based on this pilot study, serum annexin A2 levels may be a useful biomarker for pre-eclampsia. However, a larger study is required before a final conclusion is made.

Optimizing vaginal hysterectomy in women with large volume non-prolapse uteri: a novel minimally-invasive "aneurysm needle clampless technique".

OBJECTIVE: To describe and evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new clampless technique using aneurysm needle for vaginal hysterectomy compared with the standard technique as a less minimally-invasive procedure in women with benign large volume non-prolapse uteri.Study design In a pilot study, series of 46 consecutive women with benign large volume (200-500cm(3)) uterine conditions other than pelvic organ prolapse were planned for vaginal hysterectomy (VH). Patients were divided into 2 groups; group-A (21 women): for whom an (aneurysm needle clampless VH) was performed; group-B (25 women): used as a control (standard VH). Demographic characteristics and peri-operative parameters for both techniques were compared.Results Of the 46 vaginal hysterectomies, 44 were successfully performed (95.7%; 95% confidence interval, 91.6-99.4%). Two (4.3%) conversions were necessary from VH to open surgery [1 case in group A and another case in group B]. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups regarding the demographic data. Preoperative uterine volumes were comparable (232.8mL vs 226.0mL, respectively) (P>.05). The mean operative time was significantly shorter in the clampless VH group compared with the control group (70.14±7.78min vs 79.52±7.41min, respectively) (P=.007). No reported complications in our series.Conclusion Clampless VH using aneurysm needle represents a safe and less minimally-invasivepossible technique in women with benign large volume non-prolapse uteri. It takes a shorter operative.

Efeitos de misoprostol sublingual pré-operatório no tônus uterino durante anestesia com isoflurano para cesariana / Effects of preoperative sublingual misoprostol on uterine tone during isoflurane anesthesia for cesarean section / Efectos del misoprostol sublingual preoperatorio en el tono uterino durante la anestesia con isoflurano para cesárea

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Misoprostol reduz o sangramento uterino após o parto cesáreo sem efeitos prejudiciais para a mãe ou o bebê. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos de misoprostol pré-operatório no sangramento materno e no tônus uterino e a necessidade de ocitocina após cesariana sob anestesia com isoflurano. MÉTODOS: Depois da aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética, 366 pacientes programadas para cesariana eletiva foram randomicamente designadas para receber 400 µg de misoprostol sublingual (n = 179) ou um comprimido de placebo (n = 187) após intubação. A anestesia foi mantida com CAM de isoflurano a 0,5-0,7 e óxido nitroso. Todas as pacientes receberam infusão de ocitocina (10 UI) após expulsão da placenta. A estimativa de perda sanguínea, do tônus uterino, da necessidade de ocitocina complementar, da contagem de hematócrito, dos escores de Apgar no 1º e aos 5 minutos e os efeitos adversos foram registrados. RESULTADOS: Após a indução, as pacientes que receberam misoprostol sublingual tiveram perda sanguínea perioperatória (202 ± 383,1 vs 708 ± 204,3 mL, p < 0,001), necessidade de ocitocina (p < 0,001), níveis mais elevados de hematócrito (p < 0,001) e tônus uterino (p < 0,02) menos significativos. A incidência de tremores foi maior no grupo misoprostol (p = 0,04). Não houve diferenças entre os dois grupos quanto aos índices de Apgar, náusea e vômito, distúrbios gastrointestinais e febre. CONCLUSÃO: A administração pré-operatória de misoprostol sublingual (400 µg) é segura e eficaz para atenuar o sangramento materno e o efeito no tônus uterino da anestesia com isoflurano em parto cesário.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Misoprostol would reduce the uterine bleeding after cesarean delivery without harmful effects on either mother or baby. We aimed to evaluate the effects of preoperative misoprostol on maternal blood loss, uterine tone, and the need for additional oxytocin after cesarean delivery under isoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: After ethical approval, 366 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated to receive either sublingual misoprostol 400 µg (n = 179) or placebo tablet (n = 187) after intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.5-0.7 MAC isoflurane with nitrous oxide. All patients received intravenous infusion of 10 IU of oxytocin after placental delivery. Perioperative estimated blood loss, uterine tone, need for supplementary oxytocin, hematocrit, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: After induction, patients receiving sublingual misoprostol had significant less perioperative estimated blood loss (202 ± 383.1 vs. 708 ± 204.3 mL, p < 0.001), need for oxytocin (p < 0.001), higher hematocrit levels (p < 0.001) and uterine tone (p < 0.02). The incidence of shivering was higher in the misoprostol group (p = 0.04). There were no differences between the two groups as regarding Apgar scores, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal disturbances and pyrexia. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of sublingual misoprostol 400 µg is safe and effective in attenuating the maternal bleeding and uterine atony from isoflurane anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El Misoprostol reduce el sangramiento uterino después del parto por cesárea sin efectos perjudiciales para la madre o el bebé. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los efectos del misoprostol preoperatorio en el sangramiento materno y en el tono uterino, y la necesidad de ocitocina después de la cesárea bajo anestesia con isoflurano. MÉTODOS: Después de la aprobación por el Comité de Ética, 366 pacientes programadas para la cesárea electiva, fueron randómicamente designadas para recibir 400 µg de misoprostol sublingual (n = 179) o un comprimido de placebo (n = 187) después de la intubación. La anestesia se mantuvo con CAM de isoflurano a 0,5-0,7 y óxido nitroso. Todas las pacientes recibieron una infusión de ocitocina (10 UI) después de la expulsión de la placenta. La estimación de la pérdida sanguínea, del tono uterino, de la necesidad de ocitocina complementaria, del conteo de hematocrito, de los puntajes de Apgar en el 1º y a los 5 minutos y los efectos adversos fueron todos registrados. RESULTADOS: Después de la inducción, las pacientes que recibieron misoprostol sublingual tuvieron una pérdida sanguínea perioperatoria (202 ± 383,1 vs 708 ± 204,3 mL, p < 0,001), necesidad de ocitocina (p < 0,001), niveles más elevados de hematocrito (p < 0,001) y tonouterino (p < 0,02) menos significativos. La incidencia de temblores fue mayor en el grupo misoprostol (p = 0,04). No se registraron diferencias entre los dos grupos en cuanto a los índices de Apgar, náusea y vómito, trastornos gastrointestinales y fiebre. CONCLUSIONES: La administración preoperatoria de misoprostol sublingual (400 µg) es segura y eficaz para atenuar el sangramiento materno y el efecto en el tono uterino de la anestesia con isoflurano en el parto por cesárea.

Effects of preoperative sublingual misoprostol on uterine tone during isoflurane anesthesia for cesarean section.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Misoprostol would reduce the uterine bleeding after cesarean delivery without harmful effects on either mother or baby. We aimed to evaluate the effects of preoperative misoprostol on maternal blood loss, uterine tone, and the need for additional oxytocin after cesarean delivery under isoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: After ethical approval, 366 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated to receive either sublingual misoprostol 400µg (n=179) or placebo tablet (n=187) after intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.5-0.7 MAC isoflurane with nitrous oxide. All patients received intravenous infusion of 10IU of oxytocin after placental delivery. Perioperative estimated blood loss, uterine tone, need for supplementary oxytocin, hematocrit, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: After induction, patients receiving sublingual misoprostol had significant less perioperative estimated blood loss (202±383.1 vs. 708±204.3mL, p<0.001), need for oxytocin (p<0.001), higher hematocrit levels (p<0.001) and uterine tone (p<0.02). The incidence of shivering was higher in the misoprostol group (p=0.04). There were no differences between the two groups as regarding Apgar scores, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal disturbances and pyrexia. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of sublingual misoprostol 400µg is safe and effective in attenuating the maternal bleeding and uterine atony from isoflurane anesthesia for cesarean delivery.

A randomized study of the effects of perioperative i.v. lidocaine on hemodynamic and hormonal responses for cesarean section.

PURPOSE: Intravenous infusion of lidocaine attenuates the stress response to surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effects of perioperative lidocaine on the hemodynamic and hormonal responses for cesarean delivery. METHODS: After the gaining of ethical approval, 90 patients scheduled for elective cesarean delivery were randomly allocated to receive either lidocaine 1.5 mg x kg(-1) i.v. bolus 30 min before induction, followed by an infusion of 1.5 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) until 1 h after surgery (n = 45), or saline placebo (n = 45). Anesthesia was maintained with 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen with 0.7% isoflurane. Hemodynamic variables, plasma cortisol, maternal and neonatal lidocaine concentrations, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, neonatal acid-base status, and the neurologic and adaptive capacity score (NACS) were recorded. RESULTS: After induction, patients receiving lidocaine had a smaller increase in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure (P < 0.02) and lower plasma cortisol concentrations (31.1 +/- 9.91 vs 45.6 +/- 8.43 microg x dL(-1); P < 0.001). There were no differences between the two groups in Apgar scores, NACS, or neonatal acid-base status. After delivery, maternal and umbilical venous concentrations and umbilical vein-to-maternal vein ratios of lidocaine were 2.05 +/- 0.42 microg x mL(-) and 1.06 +/- 0.31 microg x mL(-1), and 0.52 +/- 0.07, respectively. CONCLUSION: Perioperative lidocaine is safe and effective in attenuating the maternal stress response to surgery for cesarean delivery.

Treatment options and pregnancy outcome in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of enoxaparin alone with combination therapy of prednisone, aspirin and progesterone in the treatment of women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (IRM) in terms of live births and pregnancy outcome. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary referral obstetric hospital. The participants were 170 women with a diagnosis of IRM. Women were recruited after full investigative screening. Women with > or =3 fetal losses and after exclusion of all known causes of recurrent miscarriage were randomly allocated to receive either enoxaparin alone, combination treatment consisting of prednisone, aspirin, and progesterone or placebo. Rates of live births, antenatal complications, delivery and neonatal outcomes were recorded prospectively. Data were statistically analyzed as appropriate. RESULTS: Ten patients were dropped out after random assignment. Eighty-one percent of the enoxaparin (46/57) group and 85% of the combination-treated group (45/53) were delivered of live infants compared to 48% (24/50) of the placebo (P < 0.05). Women who were treated with combination therapy had a 4.2% higher live birth rate than enoxaparin group. This difference was not significant. Miscarriage rates were significantly lower in the treated groups compared with placebo (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in late obstetric complications or neonatal mortality between groups. CONCLUSIONS: A combination treatment consisting of high-dose, low-duration prednisone, progesterone and aspirin might be an effective treatment as enoxaparin alone. Both regimens were associated with a good pregnancy outcome.