Metformin monotherapy in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study was carried out to compare ovulation and pregnancy rates in response to metformin therapy in lean and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 34 (17 lean and 17 obese) women with PCOS were treated with 500 mg metformin 3 times daily for 12 weeks. In the lean and obese groups, the mean body mass index was 24 and 36, and the mean fasting insulin concentrations were 12 and 21 mIU/l respectively. There was no difference between the two groups as regarding age, DHEA-S, androstenedione, 17-OH progesterone and LH concentrations. In the lean and obese groups 15/17 women (88%) and 5/17 women (29%) ovulated while 11/17 women (65%) and 3/17 women (18%) conceived respectively. Comparison between the groups was found to be statistically significant. Metformin monotherapy is very effective in improving ovulation and pregnancy rates in lean women with PCOS as compared with obese women.

Mode of delivery for breech presentation in grandmultiparous women.

OBJECTIVES: To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes of planned vaginal delivery vs. elective cesarean delivery for breech presentation at term. METHODS: Retrospective study of term breech deliveries from January 1997 through December 2000. A group of 128 women for whom vaginal delivery was planned was compared with a group of 122 women who had an elective cesarean delivery with regard to neonatal mortality and morbidity (birth trauma, birth asphyxia, hyperbilirubinemia, and duration of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit) and maternal morbidity (infections, hemorrhage, hysterectomy, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism). RESULTS: There was no difference in neonatal mortality and morbidity between the two groups (13.0% vs. 9.4%). There were fewer maternal complications in the planned vaginal group than in the elective cesarean group (5.5% vs. 18%; P<0.01). In the planned vaginal delivery group 70% of multiparas and 85% of grandmultiparas were delivered vaginally compared with 50% of nulliparas. CONCLUSIONS: In breech presentations at term vaginal delivery can be achieved in 85% of grandmultiparas without significant neonatal morbidity. Elective cesarean section is associated with increased maternal morbidity compared with planned vaginal delivery.

Pregnancy outcome in women with morbid obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of morbid obesity defined as a first trimester maternal body mass index of >40 on the perinatal outcome. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-eight singleton pregnancies of women with first trimester BMI >40 who delivered at Al-Mafraq Hospital, Abu Dhabi during 1996-1998 were studied. A control group of normal body mass index matched for age and parity were selected and the perinatal variables were compared between groups. Morbidly obese women with diabetes and hypertension antedating the index pregnancy were later excluded and the data were re-analyzed. RESULTS: Morbidly obese women were noted to have significantly adverse perinatal outcomes including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (28.8 vs. 2.9%, P<0.0001), gestational diabetes (24.5 vs. 2.2%, P<0.0001), cesarean section (15.2 vs. 9.3%, P<0.05) and macrosomia (32.6 vs. 9.3%, P<0.001) compared to non-obese women. However, we noted a significantly lower rate of prematurity in the obese group (0.5 vs. 5.3%, P<0.001). Even when morbidly obese women with (a) diabetes and hypertension antedating the index pregnancy and (b) those who developed gestational diabetes and/or pregnancy-induced hypertension during the index pregnancy were excluded from the analysis, significant differences in the perinatal outcomes still persisted. CONCLUSION: Morbid obesity appears to be an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcome.