Prenatal Screening for Thrombophilias: Indications and Controversies, an Update.

Pregnancy is associated with increased clotting potential and decreased fibrinolysis. Women with thrombophilias have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. At least 50% of cases of venous thromboembolism in pregnant women are associated with an inherited or acquired thrombophilia. Acquired thrombophilias have also been linked with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as recurrent pregnancy loss, intrauterine fetal demise, early onset severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, and fetal growth restriction. This article addresses indications for thrombophilia testing, the appropriate laboratory tests, and timing of testing to ensure reliability of results.

Correlation of serum fructosamine and recurrent pregnancy loss: Case-control study.

AIM: Pre-gestational diabetes is associated with an elevated risk of pregnancy loss, but it is unclear whether subclinical glucose intolerance is associated with pregnancy loss, especially recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The aim of this study was therefore to compare maternal serum fructosamine (a marker of glycemic control) in patients with and without RPL. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out of 117 women with unexplained RPL, defined as two or more pregnancy losses with no more than one live birth, and 117 age-matched controls with at least one full-term uncomplicated pregnancy and no more than one pregnancy loss. No RPL patients or controls had a clinical diagnosis of pre-gestational or gestational diabetes. Maternal serum was analyzed for fructosamine on quantitative spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) of RPL patients was 26.0 ± 6.4 kg/m(2) compared with 26.6 ± 5.8 kg/m(2) (P = 0.40). Fructosamine was higher in women with RPL (224.1 ± 28.79 µmol/mL) compared with controls (188.9 ± 19.3 µmol/mL, P < 0.001). This difference persisted when RPL patients and controls were stratified by BMI. The proportion of women with elevated fructosamine considered diagnostic of diabetes (>285 µmol/L) was similar in RPL patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The RPL patients and controls had a similar proportion of women with elevated fructosamine considered diagnostic of diabetes. Serum fructosamine was increased in women with RPL compared with controls. Thus, subclinical glucose intolerance may be associated with an increased risk of RPL. These data support further investigation into the mechanisms of RPL associated with glucose intolerance, but do not support testing for subclinical glucose intolerance in women with RPL.

Cervical length screening: a randomized trial assessing the impact on visit length and patient attitudes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to quantify the time required for transvaginal cervical length measurements during a second-trimester anatomy scan and to evaluate patient attitudes regarding cervical length assessment. METHODS: Consenting women were randomly assigned to one of the following: (1) standard arm-cervix visualized, no prespecified cervical length measurement; (2) sequential arm-3 transabdominal cervical length measurements obtained, transvaginal sonography performed if images were inadequate or if any measurement was 3 cm or less; and (3) screening transvaginal sonography arm-3 transvaginal cervical length measurements obtained. Times were recorded for the entire examination and cervical length evaluation. Participants completed a questionnaire at the end of their visits. RESULTS: Sixty of 230 eligible women enrolled. Demographic characteristics were similar across groups except for body mass index, which was greater in the sequential arm than the screening arm (mean ± SD, 28.5 ± 7.75 versus 24.7 ± 3.89 kg/m(2); P = .03). There were no differences in total examination times between the 3 arms (24.8 ± 8.59 versus 27.8 ± 8.75 versus 28.5 ± 7.78 minutes; P= .39). There were no differences across groups in participant attitudes regarding examination discomfort or embarrassment. CONCLUSIONS: Performing screening transvaginal sonography to measure cervical length did not have a statistically significant impact on the amount of time for completion of the entire examination. Participants had positive responses regarding cervical length assessment by transabdominal and transvaginal sonography.

Celiac disease serum markers and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Celiac disease has been associated with numerous unfavorable health outcomes, including pregnancy complications such as infertility, preterm birth, and preeclampsia. However, the association between celiac disease and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) remains uncertain. Our purpose was to compare serum markers of celiac disease in women with and without RPL. Therefore, we performed a case-control study of 116 women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and 116 age-matched controls. Maternal sera were analyzed for immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies and endomysial (EM) antibodies. Groups were similar with regard to age, race and ethnicity, and BMI. One case and one control tested positive (≥20 Units) for IgA tTG antibodies and mean levels of IgA tTG antibodies were similar in cases and controls (5.5±2.86 versus 6.0±12.45; p=0.16). No cases or controls were positive for IgG tTG antibodies. However, cases had higher levels of IgG tTG antibody compared with controls (4.0±2.40 versus 3.3±1.30; p=0.0064). One subject (a control) tested positive for IgA EM antibodies and no subjects tested positive for IgG EM antibodies. In conclusion, positive results for tTG and EM antibodies were similar in women with and without RPL. Given these results, testing for occult celiac disease is not recommended in the evaluation of women with idiopathic RPL.

Cesarean delivery on maternal request: a western North Carolina perspective.

Cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR), a primary cesarean without medical indication for a singleton, term pregnancy, has been identified by physicians as one factor in the increasing rate of cesarean delivery despite nationwide efforts to the contrary. The purpose of this project was to better understand women's preferences and motivations for their desired mode of delivery. A 62-item survey was administered to pregnant women asking for their delivery preference, their reasons, sources of information, feelings about this pregnancy, and opinions about delivery options. Responses were analyzed for candidates for CDMR or for repeat cesarean section, separately; the standard error of measure is ±4% (95% CI). 396 patients returned surveys (response rate = 63.2%). CDMR was desired by 34/316 (11%) candidates; repeat cesarean was desired by 32/70 (46%) patients. Significant correlates of CDMR included choosing during the first trimester (22% vs. 8.2%; RR = 2.72; P = 0.015), smoking during pregnancy (19.7% vs. 7.6%; RR = 2.60; P = 0.036), and being worried about the delivery (P = 0.004). Desire for CDMR increased as worries increased from unworried (4.4%) to somewhat (11.8%) to very worried (27.6%). Primary reasons included existing medical complications and preventing birth injury. The majority of patients believed CDMR should be an "informed choice"; other opinions varied by delivery preference. The majority of women preferred vaginal deliveries suggesting little contribution of CDMR to the increasing cesarean rate. Contrary to physicians' beliefs, the women's primary objective was their infants' health rather than their own well-being.