Low first-trimester hemoglobin and low birth weight, preterm birth and small for gestational age newborns

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between first-trimester hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and risk of low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA).

METHODS

Data were obtained from a population-based prenatal care program in China. A total of 88,149 women who delivered during 1995-2000 and had their Hb measured in the first trimester were selected as study subjects.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anemia (Hb<110 g/L) was 22.1% in the first trimester. The risk of LBW, preterm birth and SGA was increased steadily with the decrease of first-trimester Hb concentration. After controlling for confounding factors, women with Hb 80-99 g/L had significantly higher risk for LBW (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.17-1.78), preterm birth (OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.16-1.55) and SGA (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.98-1.31) than women with Hb 100-119 g/L. No elevated risk was noted for women with Hb> or =120 g/L.

CONCLUSION

Low first-trimester Hb concentration increases the risk of LBW, preterm birth and SGA.

Gestational Thrombocytopenia Complicated with Macrosomia, Failure to Progress in Active Labor, and Postpartum Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

Gestational thrombocytopenia is a rare event, and the etiology is unknown. Generally, there is no need for intervention because of the absence of coagulopathy. However, when complicated with other obstetric conditions, care should be taken to prevent a dangerous cascade. Here, we present a patient with severe gestational thrombocytopenia complicated with macrosomia, failure to progress in active labor, and severe postpartum hemorrhage after cesarean section.

CASE REPORT

A 25-year-old, gravida 4, para 0, patient from our antenatal clinic developed thrombocytopenia with advancing gestation. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelets, 53 x 109/L) and suspected macrosomia were noted at 39 3/7 weeks of gestation. Induction of labor was conducted for a planned vaginal delivery, but the active labor failed to progress. A cesarean section was performed instead, resulting in immediate postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony. Uterine massage, direct compression, and 10 IU of oxytocin (Piton-S, 10 IU/mL; PT Organon, Indonesia) improved uterine contraction only temporarily. Misoprostol was administered rectally. The patient was given a transfusion of packed red blood cells and single-donor platelets. Her condition stabilized after intensive intervention.

CONCLUSION

Gestational thrombocytopenia does not usually require treatment if there is no bleeding tendency. However, when other bleeding complications are present, it may exacerbate coagulopathy and exhaust the platelet reserve, thereby worsening the condition. If surgical intervention cannot be avoided, blood and platelet transfusion before a cesarean delivery is highly recommended in severe gestational thrombocytopenia.

Prise en charge anesthésique de 52 accouchements chez des parturientes atteintes de purpura thrombopénique idiopathique

OBJECTIVES

To study the anesthetic management of parturients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) which is a frequent cause of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women and may lead to a dilemma since a low platelet count usually dictates not to perform epidural anesthesia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report a retrospective study assessing the anesthetic management of 39 parturients with ITP corresponding to 52 deliveries found in a database of 10,203 deliveries over a 52-month-period.

RESULTS

On the day of delivery, 32 parturients (61.5%) had a platelet count less than 100,000/mm(3) and 19 (36.5%) received a neuraxial block. Six parturients with a platelet count less than 100,000 mm(3) (19%) received neuraxial analgesia. The lowest platelet count among women who received epidural analgesia was 88,000/mm(3). No anesthetic or neurological complication occurred.

CONCLUSION

Regional anesthesia should not necessary be withheld in ITP when the platelet count is less than 100,000/mm(3).

Complete hydatidiform mole with a surviving coexistent twin in a woman with sickle cell disease: a case report

BACKGROUND

Twin pregnancy with an apparently healthy fetus and complete hydatidiform mole (CHMTF) is a rare condition. We present the first reported case in a woman with sickle cell disease.

CASE

An 18-year-old woman, para 1, gravida 0, with sickle cell disease was diagnosed at 19 weeks as having a complete molar pregnancy with a coexistent live fetus. The patient presented with abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, body aches, joint pain and chest pain on 2 different occasions. She denied having vaginal bleeding. Whether the patient was having a sickle cell crisis or molar pregnancy symptoms (i.e., thyrotoxicosis) was not clear. She was given intravenous hydration and pain management. All her symptoms resolved, confirming sickle cell crisis as the final diagnosis. The pregnancy was uneventful until 35 weeks, when oligohydramnios prompted induction of labor. Suction curettage was performed after delivery for removal of the molar pregnancy. The patient did not show any evidence of persistent trophoblastic disease 2 months after delivery.

CONCLUSION

CHMTF in sickle cell disease patients is challenging. Adequate intravenous hydration and pain management should be started when one suspects a crisis. If the symptoms resolved, thyrotoxicosis due to the molar pregnancy is unlikely. In addition to proper medical management, proper counseling of the patient and close monitoring of both fetus and mother should be undertaken.

Neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a parturient with type 1 von Willebrand disease and scoliosis

We present the case of a parturient with von Willebrand disease and scoliosis who required cesarean delivery. Neuraxial anesthesia was used for the patient. The indications for neuraxial anesthesia with regard to type 1 von Willebrand disease are reviewed.

Pregnancy outcome in Factor XI deficiency: incidence of miscarriage, antenatal and postnatal haemorrhage in 33 women with Factor XI deficiency

Pregnancy complications in women with Factor XI deficiency were assessed in this retrospective analysis. All nonnulliparous women registered with Factor XI deficiency in the East Midlands region were included. Each woman was classified into 'bleeder' or 'nonbleeder'. Rates of antenatal and postnatal bleeding and miscarriage rate were recorded. A total of 33 women had 105 pregnancies. Pregnancy and delivery was uneventful in 70% of the cases. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) appears increased in women with a 'bleeding' phenotype with a highly significant difference between 'bleeders' and 'nonbleeders' (relative risk [RR] 7.2; CI 1.99-25.9). Miscarriage rate appeared unchanged. We conclude that PPH is increased in a subgroup with a bleeding phenotype. Larger studies are needed to define the underlying factors.

Identification of nucleated red blood cells in maternal circulation: a second step in screening for fetal aneuploidies and pregnancy complications

BACKGROUND

Identification of fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in maternal circulation can facilitate non-invasive prenatal diagnosis, but technical difficulties still exist. An increase in the number of circulating NRBCs, however, could indicate fetal aneuploidies or pregnancy complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The number of NRBCs was determined from 20 mL peripheral blood in 351 women in the second trimester of pregnancy after isolation by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) with anti-CD71 antibody and identification with May-Grunwald/Giemsa staining.

RESULTS

An average of eight NRBCs (range 1-12) were identified among 282 women with chromosomally normal fetuses. In cases known to carry aneuploid fetuses the mean number was 35 (range 7-113), but when the fetus had trisomy 21 (n = 17) an average of 71 NRBCs were identified. Among 26 carriers of beta-thalassemia, 42 NRBCs (range 22-158) were isolated. In pregnancies with abnormal Doppler findings in both uterine arteries (n = 20), 15 NRBCs (range 2-75) were isolated.

CONCLUSION

Determining the number of NRBCs in maternal circulation could represent an additional screening step for fetal aneuploidies, as long as the anemic status of the mother is taken into consideration. However, more cases with abnormal Doppler results must be investigated before this test is used for in the prediction of pregnancy complications.

Sickle cell vasoocclusive crisis and acute chest syndrome at term pregnancy

Women with sickle cell anemia are surviving longer and may desire pregnancy. Rare, life-threatening complications of sickle cell anemia, such as acute chest syndrome, may occur at the time of delivery. A 22-year-old woman with sickle cell (HbS/beta+ thalassemia) at 35 weeks of gestation presented with shortness of breath and generalized pain. She was diagnosed with vasoocclusive crisis and acute chest syndrome, managed with exchange transfusion and cesarean delivery, and discharged home with her newborn one week later. Prompt recognition of life-threatening complications of sickle cell anemia in a pregnant woman and collaborative medical and obstetric management are essential to optimize maternal and fetal outcome.

Pure red-cell aplasia secondary to pregnancy, characterization of a syndrome

The aim of this study was to characterize the syndrome of pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) secondary to pregnancy. All published cases of PRCA induced by pregnancy were reviewed. Additionally, we reported a patient who developed PRCA on three occasions; two were triggered by pregnancy and one after medroxyprogesterone administration. Ten patients with 13 pregnancy-induced PRCA episodes were reported. The PRCA occurred at any gestational age. All patients received blood transfusions, and six of them were treated corticosteroids. The PRCA resolved in all subjects postpartum. Five women had subsequent pregnancies; three were complicated by PRCA, one was normal, and one had spontaneous abortion without PRCA. One subject developed a PRCA after long-term exposure to medroxyprogesterone. Infant blood values were normal in the nine reported cases. Pregnancy-induced PRCA is a self-limited syndrome with a high risk for relapse during subsequent pregnancies. It can be managed by blood transfusions. Progestins might cause PRCA in these women.

Acquired hemophilia as a cause of primary postpartum hemorrhage

A 32-year-old primigravid woman developed acquired factor VIII inhibitor after delivery. She presented with postpartum hemorrhage and large hematoma in episiotomy site. Laboratory examinations showed markedly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, low levels of factor VIII (8%), and factor VIII inhibitor (2 Bethesda units). The bleeding was controlled successfully using combined treatment with factor VIII, intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, and recombinant factor VIIa. Six months after delivery, factor VIII inhibitor was not present and factor VIII concentration increased to normal range. Acquired hemophilia is a life-threatening disorder. Precise screening of coagulation factors is essential for diagnosis of persisting postpartum hemorrhage.

Rh alloimmunization and term delivery

Nowadays management of severe Rh alloimmunization consists of serial determination of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity, amniocentesis, cordocentesis, and in many instances intrauterine transfusion. We present a case of severe Rh alloimmunization who, for the first time in Iran, was delivered at term after several intrauterine transfusions.

Thrombophilias, Perinatal Stroke, and Cerebral Palsy

Perinatal ischemic stroke has become recognized as a not-rare adverse outcome of pregnancy and a common cause of chronic neurologic disability in children. This review discusses the clinical entity, perinatal stroke, and its relationship to thrombophilias, inherited and acquired, and to maternal and pregnancy factors.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody levels in a pregnant woman taking propylthiouracil

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is known to be a potential cause of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive small vessel vasculitis, resulting in glomerulonephritis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Herein, we describe a 25-year-old pregnant woman who developed a perinulcear ANCA (p-ANCA) and myeloperoxidase ANCA (MPO-ANCA) positive DAH during PTU therapy. The patient improved after corticosteroid therapy and discontinuation of the PTU. Methimazole was prescribed in spite of the risk of recurrence of DAH because of the pregnancy. The patient is currently free from pulmonary problems. Our case shows that the alternative agent, methimazole, can be used to treat hyperthyroidism in a pregnant patient with PTU associated DAH.

Thrombophilia and Adverse Maternal-Perinatal Outcome

A recent review of the literature on thrombophilia and adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) reveals contradictory findings. We have limited our review of literature mostly to the most recent decade. On the basis of our review, screening for thrombophilias with a history of APO (preeclampsia, abruptio placenta, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal loss) is not clear. There are retrospective and prospective studies that recommend testing for genetic and acquired markers of thrombophilia for those with the enumerated APO. The rationale for such recommendation is to use heparin prophylaxis in subsequent pregnancies. However, this recommendation is not based on randomized trials. Hence, a randomized double-blinded controlled trial is urgently needed to evaluate the benefit of heparin during pregnancy in women with a history of APO in association with thrombophilia.

Thrombophilia and Placental Pathology

Thrombophilic states have been associated with a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The underlying placental pathology linking thrombophilia to these outcomes closely resembles that seen in other pregnancy disorders associated with chronic obstruction of the maternal or fetal vasculature. No single placental lesion is pathognomonic for thrombophilia. However, the finding of typical pathologic lesions in the context of recurrent pregnancy loss, severe early onset disease, or neonatal coagulation abnormalities should prompt the consideration of an underlying thrombophilic state.

Myelodysplastic syndrome in pregnancy--a rare cause of severe anaemia in pregnancy

A 28-year-old woman presented with severe anaemia in pregnancy at a period of gestation of 20 weeks. She was immediately admitted and after proper investigation it was seen that her Hb was 3.5 g/dl and platelet count was 62,000/cmm, RBC showed normocytic, normochromic morphology. There was neither hepatosplenomegaly nor any purpuric spot over the body. Bone marrow showed dyserythropoiesis and its chromosomal study revealed monosomy-7. Her pregnancy was continued till term with repeated packed cell and platelet concentrate transfusions. Normal healthy baby was delivered by caesarean section and she was discharged after 6 days.

Blood Transfusion and Cesarean Delivery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate risks for intraoperative or postoperative packed red blood cell transfusion in women who underwent cesarean delivery.

METHODS

This was a 19-university prospective observational study. All primary cesarean deliveries from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2000, and all repeat cesareans from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2002, were included. Trained, certified research nurses performed systematic data abstraction. Primary and repeat cesarean deliveries were analyzed separately. Univariable analyses were used to inform multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 23,486 women underwent primary cesarean delivery, of whom 762 (3.2%) were transfused (median 2 units, 25th% to 75th% 2-3 units). A total of 33,683 women underwent repeat [corrected] cesarean delivery, and 735 (2.2%) were transfused (median 2 units, 25th% to 75th% 2-4 units). Among primary cesareans, general anesthesia (odds ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5-5.0), placenta previa (OR 4.8, CI 3.5-6.5) and severe (hematocrit less than 25%) preoperative anemia (OR 17.0, CI 12.4-23.3) increased the odds of transfusion. Among repeat cesareans, the risk was increased by general anesthesia (OR 7.2, CI 5.9-8.7), a history of five or more prior cesareans (OR 7.6, CI 4.0-14.3), placenta previa (OR 15.9, CI 12.0-21.0), and severe preoperative anemia (OR 19.9, CI 14.5-27.2).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the risk of transfusion in association with cesarean is low. However, both severe preoperative maternal anemia and placenta previa are associated with markedly increased risks. The former argues for optimizing maternal antenatal iron status to avoid severe anemia and the latter for careful perioperative planning when previa complicates cesarean.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II-2.