Evaluation of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Assisted Reproduction Technology: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant women registered from 2015 through 2017 (n = 6994) at five perinatal centers that managed high-risk pregnancies in Mie, Japan, retrospectively. Rates of preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks), early onset preeclampsia (<34 gestational weeks), late onset preeclampsia (≥34 gestational weeks), low-lying placenta, placenta previa, placenta accreta, placental abruption, atonic bleeding, uterine rupture, and amniotic fluid embolism after ART were evaluated. ART was defined as in vitro fertilization and micro-fertilization. Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney's U test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Rates of obstetrical complications including low-lying placenta, placenta previa, placenta accreta, and atonic bleeding were increased with ART compared to those with the control. Particularly, ART was associated with a significantly increased rate of placenta accreta (adjusted odds ratio: 7.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.20-16.6) and significantly decreased rate of placental abruption (adjusted odds ratio: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.61). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that ART may reduce placental abruption and increase placenta previa. There is a possibility that the placenta attaches deeper in the myometrium because of ART.

Difference in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus according to gestational age at 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in Japan: The Japan Assessment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Screening trial.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the differences in the results of 75-g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) according to gestational age in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 2,578 pregnant women were divided into three categories based on their gestational age during the 75-g OGTT: <14 weeks' gestation, 14-23 weeks' gestation and 24-32 weeks' gestation. The association between gestational age and the results of the 75-g OGTT were evaluated using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Early gestational age was associated with high fasting plasma glucose levels at the time of the 75-g OGTT, and low corresponding 1-h and 2-h plasma glucose levels. Compared with women with a gestational age of 24-32 weeks, women who had undergone the 75-g OGTT at <14 weeks' gestation had significantly higher odds of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis based on the currently used criteria in Japan (adjusted odds ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.90). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the 75-g OGTT varied by gestational age. The use of the same 75-g OGTT cut-off values for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus, regardless of gestational age, might lead to increases in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis in Japan.

Maternal body mass index is a better indicator of large-for-gestational-age infants compared with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test in early pregnancy: The JAGS trial.

AIMS: There is no previous study comparing the predictive ability of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) versus a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in early pregnancy for large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants. METHODS: This multi-institutional prospective cohort study included 966 pregnant Japanese women. A multiple logistic regression model was applied to compare the effect size of pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting plasma glucose (PG), and 1- and 2-h PG levels after a 75-g OGTT performed before 22weeks gestation for LGA. After these variables were included separately into the model as per continuous variables 1 standard deviation (SD) increase, they were included simultaneously. RESULTS: When pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting PG, and 1- and 2-h PG after a 75-g OGTT were separately included in the model, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for LGA per 1 SD increase in pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting, and 1- and 2-h PG were 1.55 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-1.91), 1.26 (95% CI: 1.03-1.54), 0.99 (95% CI: 0.78-1.25), and 1.17 (95% CI: 0.93-1.49), respectively. When these variables were included simultaneously, the adjusted ORs per 1 SD increase in pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting, and 1- and 2-h PG were 1.52 (95% CI: 1.23-1.88), 1.19 (95% CI: 0.96-1.46), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.57-1.03), and 1.30 (95% CI: 0.96-1.76), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was more strongly associated with LGA compared with a 75-g OGTT in early pregnancy. Health-care providers should recognize that women with a higher pre-pregnancy BMI carry a higher risk for having LGA infants regardless of the results of a 75-g OGTT.

Isolated gestational proteinuria preceding the diagnosis of preeclampsia - an observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Some pregnant women develop significant proteinuria in the absence of hypertension. However, clinical significance of isolated gestational proteinuria (IGP) is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IGP in singleton pregnancies and the proportion of women with IGP who subsequently developed preeclampsia (IGP-PE) among all PE cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an observational study of 6819 women with singleton pregnancies at 12 centers, including 938 women with at least once determination of protein-to-creatinine ratio (P/Cr). Significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP) was defined as P/Cr (mg/mg) level >0.27. IGP was defined as SPIP in the absence of hypertension. Gestational hypertension (GH) preceding preeclampsia (GH-PE) was defined as preeclampsia (PE) in which GH preceded SPIP. Simultaneous PE (S-PE) was defined as PE in which both SPIP and hypertension occurred simultaneously. RESULTS: IGP and PE were diagnosed in 130 (1.9%) and 158 (2.3%) of 6819 women, respectively. Of 130 women with IGP, 32 (25%) progressed to PE and accounted for 20% of all women with PE. Hence, women with IGP had a relative risk of 13.1 (95% CI; 9.2-18.5) for developing PE compared with those without IGP [25% (32/130) vs. 1.9% (126/6689)]. At diagnosis of SPIP, P/Cr levels already exceeded 1.0 more often in women with S-PE than in those with IGP-PE [67% (33/49) vs. 44% (14/32), respectively, p = 0.031]. CONCLUSIONS: IGP is a risk factor for PE, and IGP-PE accounts for a considerable proportion (20%) of all PE.

Urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio in pregnant women after dipstick testing: prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The dipstick test is widely used as a primary screening test for detection of significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP). However, it often shows a false positive test result. This study was performed to determine which pregnant women should be recommended to undergo determination of urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio (mg/mg, P/Cr test) after dipstick test for confirmation of SPIP. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, and observational study of 2212 urine specimens from 1033 pregnant women who underwent simultaneous dipstick and P/Cr tests in the same spot urine samples at least once. SPIP was defined as P/Cr > 0.27. Preeclampsia was diagnosed in women with both hypertension and SPIP. RESULTS: Preeclampsia, hypertension alone, and SPIP alone developed in 202 (20 %), 73 (7.1 %), and 120 (12 %) women, respectively. Creatinine concentration [Cr] varied greatly, ranging from 8.1 to 831 mg/dL in the 2212 urine samples. Rate of positive dipstick test results increased with increasing [Cr], while SPIP prevalence rate was lower in urine samples with higher [Cr], yielding higher false positive rates in samples with higher [Cr]. Postpartum urine samples had significantly lower [Cr] compared to those obtained antepartum (60 [8.7-297] vs. 100 [10-401] mg/dL, respectively). At the first P/Cr test among women with similar dipstick test results, the risk of having SPIP was consistently and significantly higher for hypertensive women than for normotensive women at any dipstick test result: 18 % (14/77) vs. 3.2 % (8/251), 47 % (26/55) vs. 8.7 % (37/425), 91 % (82/90) vs. 59 % (44/75) for negative/equivocal, 1+, and ≥ 2+ test results, respectively. The risk of SPIP was 16 % (9/55) for normotensive women when two successive antenatal urine samples showed a dipstick test result of 1 + . CONCLUSIONS: For prediction of SPIP, the dipstick test was more likely to show a false positive result in concentrated urine samples with higher [Cr]. Hypertensive women with ≥ 1+ as well as normotensive women with ≥ 2+ on dipstick test should be advised to undergo the P/Cr test.

A retrospective multi-institutional study of treatment for mild gestational diabetes in Japan.

AIMS: To determine whether treating mild gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with improvement of pregnancy outcomes in Japan. METHODS: In a multi-institutional retrospective study, we examined pregnant women meeting the criteria for mild GDM (i.e., only one abnormal value [OAV] for 75-g OGTT; fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL, 1-h postprandial glucose ≥180 mg/dL, and 2-h postprandial glucose ≥150 mg/dL), receiving either routine prenatal care (non-treatment group) or dietary intervention alone or dietary intervention with self-monitoring of blood glucose and/or insulin therapy, if necessary (treatment group). Pregnancy outcomes were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Data from 893 eligible women were collected from 30 institutions. Participants included 542 untreated and 351 treated women. Although there were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics or maternal and perinatal outcomes between these groups, the incidence of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants was lower in the treatment group (P=0.07). Multiple logistic regression analysis (MLRA) revealed that pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain were associated with LGA infants, while 75-g OGTT results were unrelated to LGA. When overweight and obese women were the subjects, the number of LGA infants was significantly lower in the intervention than in the control group, and gestational weight gain was significantly lower in the treatment than in the control group. MLRA showed that intervention was significantly related to a lower incidence of LGA infants. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that maternal BMI impacts fetal growth and that treatment for overweight or obese mothers with OAV is associated with a lower frequency of LGA infants.

A case of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus associated with pregnancy.

Fulminant type 1 diabetes associated with pregnancy is very rare. However if it occurs, the rapid onset is associated with an extremely high risk of fetal death. Therefore, it is important for physicians to make an appropriate diagnosis as early as possible and to begin immediate treatment of both the mother and the fetus. We report a case of fulminant type 1 diabetes associated with pregnancy in which a good outcome was achieved for both the mother and the fetus.

The ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure in giant fetal neck masses.

Giant fetal neck masses can cause airway obstructions with potential poor fetal prognosis after delivery. The relationship between the fetal neck mass and airway structure can be defined prenatally with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure is an available technique to obtain a fetal airway while feto-maternal circulation is preserved. We present a case in which prenatally a giant fetal neck mass was diagnosed on ultrasound and MRI, and a successful EXIT procedure could be performed.

Screening tests for gestational diabetes in Japan in the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy.

The objective of this study was to investigate the utility and characteristics of various screening procedures for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Japan during the first trimester and between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The subjects were 749 pregnant women who came to our hospitals. A 50-g oral glucose challenge test (GCT), casual plasma glucose measurements, fasting blood glucose measurements, and glycosylated hemoglobin measurements were performed in the first trimester. Subjects with no abnormalities were tested again at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Of the 749 subjects, 22 (2.9%) tested positive for GDM. Of those 22 patients, 14 were diagnosed with GDM in the first trimester (63.6%) and eight in the second trimester (36.4%). This finding suggests the importance of screening for glucose intolerance in the first trimester. Furthermore, it appears that the GCT has the most utility for GDM screening; the other screening methods tested were not as useful because of their low sensitivity, particularly in the second trimester.