AMNIOTIC FLUID CRYSTALLIZATION TEST FOR RUPTURED MEMBRANES.
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A simple and inexpensive test is described which permits positive identification of amniotic fluid by its fern-type crystallization. It permits a rapid and certain differential diagnosis between leukorrhea, hydrorrhea, urinary incontinence and spontaneous amniotomy. The crystallization test was shown to be most reliable and the few sources of error are easily avoided. The test is inhibited by cellular debris or blood when it is in a concentration greater than 1:10. Centrifugation permits the reappearance of fern-leaf crystallization. The typical image resembles that of the crystallization of cervical mucus. However, amniotic fluid crystallizes on the entire smear, whereas mucus crystallizes in a linear fashion. Cervical mucus crystallization is normally absent during pregnancy. It may occur in cases of threatened abortion. The authors have performed the test in combination with a nitrazin paper test in a series of 192 patients. In their hands it has given nearly perfect results. (+info)
Sonographic cervical length in threatened preterm labor in a South African population.
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OBJECTIVE: In a previous study conducted in the UK we demonstrated that only 8% of women with threatened preterm labor deliver within 7 days. Furthermore, delivery within 7 days occurred in less than 1% of women presenting with a sonographically measured cervical length > or = 15 mm, compared to 37% in those with cervical length < 15 mm. In this study we investigate the potential value of cervical length in the prediction of outcome of threatened preterm labor in a South African population. METHODS: We examined 63 women with singleton pregnancies presenting with regular and painful uterine contractions at 24-36 (mean, 31) weeks of gestation. Women in active labor, defined by the presence of cervical dilatation > or = 3 cm, and those with ruptured membranes were excluded. On admission to the hospital a transvaginal scan was performed to measure the cervical length. The subsequent management was determined by the attending obstetrician. The primary outcome was delivery within 7 days of presentation. RESULTS: Delivery within 7 days of presentation occurred in 20/63 (32%) pregnancies, including 20 of the 30 (67%) cases with cervical length < 15 mm and none of the 33 cases with cervical length > or = 15 mm. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the only significant contributor in the prediction of delivery within 7 days was cervical length (odds ratio 0.67; 95% CI 0.54-0.85; P = 0.001) with no significant independent contribution from maternal age, gestational age, body mass index, parity, use of antibiotics, previous history of preterm delivery, cigarette smoking, contraction frequency or use of tocolytics. CONCLUSION: In this South African population, which had a high incidence of delivery within 7 days of presentation with threatened preterm labor, sonographic measurement of cervical length is equally effective as in a lower-risk population in distinguishing between true and false labor. (+info)
The role of ultrasound imaging in diagnosing and investigating early pregnancy failure.
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The advent of high-resolution transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) has revolutionized our understanding of the pathophysiology and the management of early pregnancy failure. Knowledge of the ultrasound appearances of normal early pregnancy development and a good understanding of its pitfalls are essential for the diagnosis and management of early pregnancy failure. Ultrasound imaging has rapidly replaced all other techniques used to study normal human development in the first trimester, and ultrasound features of the early gestational sac have corroborated anatomical studies showing that the first structures to appear are the celomic cavity and the secondary yolk sac. No single ultrasound measurement of the different anatomical features in the first trimester has been shown to have a high predictive value for determining early pregnancy outcome. Similarly, Doppler studies have failed to demonstrate abnormal blood flow indices in the first-trimester uteroplacental circulation of pregnancies that subsequently end in miscarriage. Ultrasound parameters combined with maternal serum hormone levels, maternal age, smoking habits, obstetric history and the occurrence of vaginal bleeding have all been combined in multivariate analyses, with mixed results. Combined ultrasound and in-vitro experiments have demonstrated that the maternal circulation inside the placenta starts at the periphery at around 9 weeks of gestation and that this is associated with a physiological oxidative stress which could be the trigger for the formation of the placental membranes. Abnormal development of these membranes can result in subchorionic hemorrhage and threatened miscarriage with subsequent long-term consequences such as preterm rupture of the membranes and preterm labor, irrespective of the finding of a hematoma on ultrasound. In both euploid and aneuploid missed miscarriages there is clear ultrasound evidence for excessive entry of maternal blood at a very early stage inside the developing placenta resulting in oxidative stress and subsequent degeneration of villous tissue. The finding of blood flow in the intervillous space in cases of first-trimester miscarriage using color Doppler also appears to be useful in the prediction of success of expectant management. Miscarriages with blood flow within the intervillous space are up to four times more likely to complete with expectant management. TVS is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis and management of incomplete miscarriage. Expectant management of miscarriage, using ultrasound parameters to determine eligibility, could significantly reduce the number of unnecessary evacuations of the retained products of conception, depending on the criteria used. (+info)
First-trimester bleeding and pregnancy outcome in singletons after assisted reproduction.
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BACKGROUND: First-trimester bleeding is frequent in assisted reproductive technique (ART) pregnancies. It is unknown whether first-trimester bleeding, if not ending in a spontaneous abortion, negatively influences further pregnancy outcome in ART in singletons. METHODS: Data were obtained from our ART database (1993-2002), with 1432 singleton ongoing pregnancies being included in this study. The outcome measures-second-trimester and third-trimester bleeding, preterm contraction rates, pregnancy duration, birthweight, Caesarean section rates, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (P-PROM), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and perinatal mortality-were compared in the groups with and without first-trimester bleeding. RESULTS: Significantly more singleton pregnancies resulted from a vanishing twin in the group with first-trimester bleeding (8.7%) than in the controls (4.0%). A correlation was found between the incidence of first-trimester bleeding and the number of embryos transferred. First-trimester bleeding led to increased second-trimester [odds ratio (OR)=4.56; confidence interval (CI)=2.76-7.56] and third-trimester bleeding rates (OR=2.85; CI=1.42-5.73), P-PROM (OR=2.44; CI=1.38-4.31), preterm contractions (OR=2.27; CI=1.48-3.47) and NICU admissions (OR=1.75; CI=1.21-2.54). First-trimester bleeding increased the risk for preterm birth (OR=1.64; CI=1.05-2.55) and extreme preterm birth (OR=3.05; CI=1.12-8.31). CONCLUSIONS: First-trimester bleeding in an ongoing singleton pregnancy following ART increases the risk for pregnancy complications. The association between first-trimester bleeding, the number of embryos transferred and adverse pregnancy outcome provides a further argument in favour of single-embryo transfer. (+info)
Human choriogonadotropin (hCG): comparisons between determinations of intact hCG, free hCG beta-subunit, and "total" hCG + beta in serum during the first half of high-risk pregnancy.
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We have studied the concentrations of intact human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and the free hCG beta-subunit in blood samples from singleton pregnancies at risk for habitual or threatened abortion. The samples were obtained weekly between the 6th and 12th weeks and in the 14th and 16th weeks of gestational age. The concentrations of intact hCG, of the free hCG beta-subunit, and of "total" hCG (i.e., intact hCG and the free hCG beta-subunit: hCG + beta) were measured in serum by specific immunoassays. The distributional statistics (the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles) of "total" hCG + beta and of intact hCG showed very similar patterns, whereas the response curves for the free hCG beta-subunit showed very much lower serum concentrations. From these data we also estimated distributional statistics of the percent molar ratios of free hCG beta-subunit to intact hCG. We conclude that (a) the relatively small proportion of free hCG beta-subunit in serum during the first half of singleton pregnancy is far too low to interfere with the applied "total" hCG assay, as compared with the serum values obtained for intact hCG, and (b) the percent molar ratios of free hCG beta-subunit to intact hCG, or to "total" hCG + beta, never exceeded 1.0% throughout the period of pregnancy studied. (+info)
Elevated circulating IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, and unaltered IL-6 in first-trimester pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion with an adverse outcome.
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The purpose of the present study was to examine the profile of selected proinflammatory cytokines in maternal serum of first-trimester pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion (TACP) and its relevance to obstetric outcome. Serum levels of Th1-type cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Th2-type cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured, by ELISA, in 22 women with TACP and adverse outcome at admission (group A) and compared with the corresponding levels of 31 gestational age-matched women with TACP and successful outcome at admission (group B1) and discharge (group B2) and 22 gestational age-matched women with first-trimester uncomplicated pregnancy (group C) who served as controls. Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon test was applied as appropriate to compare differences between groups. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were detected with significantly higher levels in group A, compared to all other groups. On the contrary, IL-6 levels were detected with no significant difference among all the other groups studied. It is concluded that in first-trimester TACP with adverse outcome, a distinct immune response, as reflected by elevated maternal IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and unaltered IL-6 levels, is relevant to a negative obstetric outcome. (+info)
Non-surgical interventions for threatened and recurrent miscarriages.
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Many surgical and non-surgical interventions are used in the management of threatened and recurrent miscarriages. Evidence-based management of recurrent miscarriages requires investigations into the underlying aetiology. When a specific cause is identified, directed treatment may reduce miscarriage rates. Combined aspirin and heparin for antiphospholipid syndrome, and screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis between ten and 22 weeks of pregnancy with clindamycin, are the only interventions proven to be useful in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The use of periconceptional metformin for polycystic ovarian (PCO) syndrome is promising, though data from RCTs are still required. The use of heparin in inherited thrombophilias, bromocriptine in hyperprolactinaemia and luteinising hormone suppression in fertile patients with PCO syndrome are more controversial. In threatened miscarriages, or when no cause is found, treatment becomes empirical. Supportive care may reduce miscarriage rates. Dydrogesterone, a progesterone derivative, may further reduce miscarriage rates. Bed rest and avoidance of sexual intercourse, though commonly advised, are of no proven benefit. Use of uterine relaxing agents, human chorionic gonadotrophin, immunotherapy and vitamins remain controversial in idiopathic recurrent miscarriages. (+info)
Syngeneic immune-dependent abortions in mice suggest paternal alloantigen-independent mechanisms.
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