Imaging findings in association with altered maternal alpha-fetoprotein levels during pregnancy

Correlation between elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and ischemic placental disease: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the correlation between elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the second trimester and ischemic placental disease (IPD).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the data of 22,574 pregnant women who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics at Hangzhou Women's Hospital from 2018 to 2020, and were screened for maternal serum AFP and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free β-hCG) in the second trimester. The pregnant women were divided into two groups: elevated maternal serum AFP group (n = 334, 1.48%); and normal group (n = 22,240, 98.52%). Mann-Whitney U-test or Chi-square test was used for continuous or categorical data. Modified Poisson regression analysis was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the two groups.

RESULTS

The AFP MoM and free β-hCG MoM in the elevated maternal serum AFP group were higher than the normal group (2.25 vs. 0.98, 1.38 vs. 1.04) and the differences were all statistically significant (all P < .001). Placenta previa, hepatitis B virus carrying status of pregnant women, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), advanced maternal age (≥35 years), increased free β-hCG MoM, female infants, and low birth weight (RR: 2.722, 2.247, 1.769, 1.766, 1.272, 0.624, 2.554 respectively) were the risk factors for adverse maternal pregnancy outcomes in the elevated maternal serum AFP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal serum AFP levels during the second trimester can monitor IPD, such as IUGR, PROM, and placenta previa. Maternal women with high serum AFP levels are more likely to deliver male fetuses and low birth weight infants. Finally, the maternal age (≥35 years) and hepatitis B carriers also increased maternal serum AFP significantly.

Placenta Accreta Spectrum Diagnosis Challenges and Controversies in Current Obstetrics: A Review

Background

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is the most common obstetric complication in current obstetrics in which the placenta is fully or partially attached to the uterine myometrial layer at delivery. This is commonly due to the deficiency of the uterine interface between the uterine endometrial and myometrial layers leading to abnormal decidualization at the uterine scar area, which permits the abnormally placental anchoring villous and trophoblasts, deeply invade the myometrium. The prevalence of PAS is globally at rising trends every day in modern obstetrics originally due to the high increasing rate of cesarean sections, placenta previa, and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Thus, the early and precise diagnosis of PAS is imperative to prevent maternal intrapartum or postpartum bleeding complications.

Objective

The main aim of this review is to debate the current challenges and controversies in the routine diagnosis of PAS diseases in obstetrics.

Data Source

We retrospectively reviewed the recent articles on different methods of diagnosing PAS in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, and other website databases.

Results

Despite that, the standard ultrasound is a reliable and key tool for the diagnosis of PAS, the lack of ultrasound features does not exclude the diagnosis of PAS. Therefore, clinical assessment of risk factors, MRI tests, serological markers, and placental histopathological tests are also indispensable for the prediction of PAS. Previously, limited studies reached a high sensitivity rate of diagnosis PAS in appropriate cases, while many studies recommended the inclusion of different diagnosis methods to improve the diagnosis accuracy.

Conclusion

A multidisciplinary squad with well-experienced obstetricians, radiologists, and histopathologists should be involved in the establishment of the early and conclusive diagnosis of PAS.

Imaging Review of Obstetric Sequelae of Maternal Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus, whether preexisting or gestational, poses significant risk to both the mother and the developing fetus. A myriad of potential fetal complications in the setting of diabetic pregnancies include, among others, congenital anomalies, delayed fetal lung maturity, macrosomia, and increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Congenital anomalies most commonly involve the nervous, cardiovascular, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal systems. Delayed fetal lung maturity, probably secondary to hyperglycemia suppressing surfactant secretion, is a major determinant of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Besides the potential complications encountered during cesarean delivery in macrosomic fetuses, vaginal delivery is also associated with increased risks of shoulder dystocia, clavicular and humeral fractures, and brachial plexus palsy. Maternal complications are related to the increased risk of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and associated preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver function, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, as well as complications encountered at the time of delivery secondary to fetal macrosomia and cesarean delivery. Additional conditions encountered in the setting of maternal diabetes include polyhydramnios, placental thickening, and two-vessel umbilical cord, each of which is associated with adverse fetal and maternal outcomes including fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, placental abruption, and premature rupture of membranes. Imaging plays a vital role in the evaluation of the mother and the fetus and can provide invaluable information that can be used by maternal fetal medicine to manage this patient population effectively. The authors review the pathophysiologic alterations induced by diabetes in pregnancy, discuss the imaging spectrum of diabetic embryopathy, and provide a detailed review of potential associated maternal complications. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2021.

Multimodality Imaging Evaluation of Fetal Spine Anomalies with Postnatal Correlation

Congenital anomalies of the spine are associated with substantial morbidity in the perinatal period and may affect the rest of the patient's life. Accurate early diagnosis of spinal abnormalities during fetal imaging allows prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal treatment planning, which can substantially affect functional outcomes. The most common and clinically relevant congenital anomalies of the spine fall into three broad categories: spinal dysraphism, segmentation and fusion anomalies of the vertebral column, and sacrococcygeal teratomas. Spinal dysraphism is further categorized into one of two subtypes: open spinal dysraphism and closed spinal dysraphism. The latter category is further subdivided into those with and without subcutaneous masses. Open spinal dysraphism is an emergency and must be closed at birth because of the risk of infection. In utero closure is also offered at some fetal centers. Sacrococcygeal teratomas are the most common fetal pelvic masses and the prognosis is variable. Finally, vertebral body anomalies are categorized into formation (butterfly and hemivertebrae) and segmentation (block vertebrae) anomalies. Although appropriate evaluation of the fetal spine begins with US, which is the initial screening modality of choice, MRI is increasingly important as a problem-solving tool, especially given the recent advances in fetal MRI, its availability, and the complexity of fetal interventions. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ^©RSNA, 2021.