Pregnant women infected by the Zika virus: Ultrasound findings and growth patterns of fetuses with and without microcephaly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasound growth measurements of fetuses with and without microcephaly in suspected Zika virus infection. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included pregnant women with suspected Zika virus infection to evaluate 110 fetuses with and without microcephaly. The women had been admitted to the fetal medicine unit between October 2015 and August 2016. Cases of fetal microcephaly resulting from other causes were excluded. Variables evaluated were the ultrasound measurements taken at fetal biometry. The relation between each fetal biometry measurement and gestational age was analyzed using fractional polynomials in random-effects regression models. To evaluate fetal growth, curves of the mean fetal biometric parameters were constructed as a function of gestational age. RESULTS: Mean biparietal diameter and mean head circumference increased in both groups as a function of gestational age. In the group with fetal microcephaly, mean head circumference was significantly larger in the 13th and 14th weeks of pregnancy, becoming smaller compared with the group without microcephaly from the 20th week onwards, with the difference increasing with gestational age. CONCLUSION: Fetal head circumference continues to increase until birth, even after a diagnosis of microcephaly, with a reduction only in the pace of growth. Growth decelerates as the pregnancy approaches term.

Misoprostol administered sublingually at a dose of 12.5 µg versus vaginally at a dose of 25 µg for the induction of full-term labor: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Labor induction is defined as any procedure that stimulates uterine contractions before labor begins spontaneously. The vaginal and oral routes of administration of misoprostol are those most used for the induction of labor in routine practice, with the recommended dose being 25 µg. Nevertheless, the sublingual route may reduce the number of vaginal examinations required, increasing patient comfort and lowering the risk of maternal and fetal infection. Based on a previous systematic review, the objective of this study was to compare the frequency of tachysystole as the main outcome measure when misoprostol is administered sublingually at the dose of 12.5 µg versus vaginally at a dose of 25 µg to induce labor in a full-term pregnancy with a live fetus. METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial was conducted at two maternity hospitals in northeastern Brazil. Two hundred patients with a full-term pregnancy, a live fetus, Bishop score ≤ 6 and an indication for induction of labor were included. Following randomization, one group received 12.5 µg misoprostol sublingually and a vaginal placebo, while the other group received a sublingual placebo and 25 µg misoprostol vaginally. The primary outcome was the frequency of tachysystole. Student's t-test, the chi-square test of association and Fisher's exact test were used, as appropriate. Risk ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: The frequency of tachysystole was lower in the group using 12.5 µg misoprostol sublingually compared to the group using 25 µg misoprostol vaginally (RR = 0.15; 95%CI: 0.02-0.97; p = 0.002). Failure to achieve vaginal delivery within 12 and 24 h was similar in both groups. Sublingual administration was preferred to vaginal administration by women in both groups; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of labor induction with low-dose sublingual misoprostol was similar to that achieved with vaginal administration of the recommended dose; however, the rate of tachysystole was lower in the sublingual group, and this route of administration may prove a safe alternative. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: NCT01406392, ClinicalTrials.gov. Date of registration: August 1, 2011.

Effectiveness of an oral versus sublingual loading dose of nifedipine for tocolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of an oral versus sublingual loading dose of nifedipine for tocolysis. METHODS: An open, randomized clinical trial conducted between March 1, 2013, and April 31, 2014. Participants were pregnant women with a diagnosis of premature labor, single live fetus, topical pregnancy, gestational age 24-36 weeks, normal fetal vitality, cervical dilatation less than or equal to 4 cm, cervical effacement less than or equal to 80%, and intact amniotic membranes. They were randomized into two groups, oral and sublingual nifedipine, 20 mg loading dose, repeated every 30 minutes (maximum dose of 60 mg). The primary endpoint was the time until tocolysis and the secondary endpoints were the effectiveness of tocolysis within 90 minutes, 12 hours, and 48 hours; premature delivery within 48 hours; and maternal hemodynamic parameters and side effects. RESULTS: There were 80 patients randomized to oral (n=40) and sublingual (n=40) nifedipine. The time required for tocolysis was significantly less with sublingual nifedipine (160 minutes vs 340 minutes; P=0.0003). Sublingual nifedipine was also more successful than oral nifedipine at inhibiting premature labor within 90 minutes (n=8 [20.0%] vs n=1 [2.5%], P=0.014). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the other secondary endpoints. CONCLUSION: Compared with oral administration, a sublingual loading dose of nifedipine resulted in faster tocolysis in patients with premature labor. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC): U1111-11566186.