To operate or to wait? Doppler indices as predictors for medical termination for first trimester missed abortion

The Value of Serum Fibrinogen/Uric Acid Ratio as a Novel Marker of Fetal Growth Restriction in Preeclampsia at 34 Weeks

Background:

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common alignment that complicates pregnancy, especially for preeclampsia cases; therefore earlier detection is crucial to improve the outcome.

Objective:

We examine whether the ratio of maternal serum fibrinogen to serum uric acid (ms F/U) can serve as a marker FGR in patients with preeclampsia at 34 weeks.

Material and Methods:

A cross-sectional study recruited 98 preeclamptic primigravidae at the University Teaching Hospital from June 2018 to June 2019. Patients were sent for laboratory and ultrasound examinations. Maternal parameters include systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum fibrinogen, and serum uric acid. Ultrasonic fetal parameters include amniotic fluid index AFI, estimated fetal weight EFW, pulsatility index PI, and resistance index RI.

Results:

Pearson’s correlation between ms F/U ratio and all other feto-maternal variables was significant as P value was <0.0001. The ms F/U ratio showed strong positive correlations with EFW and AFI. The ms F/U ratio showed strong inverse correlations with PI, RI, systolic, diastolic blood pressure, and albumin/creatinine ratio. The strength of association tested by a coefficient of Mallow showed the strongest association between ms F/U versus fetal weight. The highest Odd ratio for FGR was 45, associated with the ms F/U ratio. The cutoff value for ms F/U ratio was 26.08 mg/dL with an estimated sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 96.25%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.82.

Conclusion:

Strong and significant correlation of ms F/U ratio with feto-maternal parameters at high sensitivity and specificity added to its simplicity, and cost-effectiveness makes ms F/U ratio a reliable marker for earlier FGR to improve the outcome.

Can Fetal Heart Lie? Intrapartum CTG Changes in COVID-19 Mothers

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 infection has raised multiple concerns in pregnant mothers; many questioned the risk of vertical transmission and the implication on the feto-maternal outcome. Cardiotocogrm (CTG) is the principal method to observe intrapartum fetal well-being. This paper aims to verify intrapartum CTG changes seen in seropositive COVID-19 mothers versus healthy controls and looks into their relation to subsequent delivery mode and neonatal outcome.

METHODS

A case-control study recruited 90 pregnant women at the labor word of AL Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. All were term pregnancy admitted for delivery. They were grouped into 2: seropositive COVID-19 confirmed by real-time RT-PCR test (30/90) and healthy controls (60/90). We recorded their demographic criteria, laboratory results, CTG changes, delivery mode, and indication.

RESULTS

COVID-19 cases showed significantly higher pulse rate, temperature, and leukocyte counts. Cesarian deliveries (CS) were higher in cases versus healthy controls (70 % vs. 53.3 %) and P = 0.45. Analysis of the CS indications showed that abnormal fetal heart tracing accounts for 33.3 % versus 15.6 % (P-value = 0.015) for cases versus healthy controls. 60 % of COVID-19 cases exhibited abnormal CTG changes versus 19.4 % in healthy controls. These changes were primarily fetal tachycardia and reduced variabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher incidence of abnormal CTG in COVID-19 cases, alongside infection signs and symptoms, underlies the exaggerated inflammatory reactions inside the pregnant mother. These inflammatory reactions are the main causes of CTG changes and higher CS rates. Therefore, obstetricians are advised to optimize the maternal condition to rectify reactive CTG changes rather than proceeding into urgent CS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13224-022-01663-6.

A Copeptin as a Predictor Marker for Insulin Resistance Among Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background:

A polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine syndrome in which women have a wide range of clinical presentations; insulin resistance was linked to its pathogenesis.

Objective:

We aimed to investigate the copeptin role as a predictive marker of insulin resistance among PCOS women.

Material and Methods:

In University Hospital, we included 280 women, with 140 of them being healthy controls. 140 out of 280 cases of PCOS subdivided into two groups depending on the insulin resistance; group 1 with homeostasis model assessment for the insulin resistance < 2.5. Group 2 with homeostasis model assessment for the insulin resistance >2.5. The evaluation of body mass index and blood pressure for all besides the blood sampling for estimation of a follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin, total testosterone, fasting insulin dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, C-reactive protein, plasma glucose, free androgen index, and plasma copeptin using the Copeptin-Human EIA Kit besides the transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian assessment.

Results:

When compared to other groups, PCOS women with positive insulin resistance >2.5 had a significantly higher plasma copeptin level. The ROC curve calculated a 1.94 pmol/L; plasma copeptin cutoff value for detecting the insulin resistance in PCOS with 88 % sensitivity value and 36 % specificity, AUC was 0.88.

Conclusion:

The significant positive relationship between serum copeptin and insulin resistance with high sensitivity implies its usefulness as a marker of insulin resistance among PCOS patients with a high prediction of its complication.

CYP24A1 Gene Expression in Spermatozoa of Human and Other Oxidation Level Controlling Enzymes as Biomarkers of Infertility

Background

Physiologically, the spermatozoa are exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and those ROS can strongly affect sperm's function through sperm capacitation. However, producing a high level of ROS reduces the sperm anti-oxidation system that may cause infertility, especially in cases with normal sperm count.

Purpose

To investigate the expression of the CYP24A1 gene in human spermatozoa and other oxidation-related biomarkers, including vitamin E, ROS, and catalase as added tools to predict male infertility.

Method

The study included 50 infertile men and 50 young volunteers from the general Iraqi population. Blood samples were drawn from all included men, and semen samples were collected by masturbation. All the samples of semen were investigated for CYP24A1 expression, and routine semen analysis was performed. In addition, the serum was separated and used to assess other biochemical parameters, namely catalase, reactive oxygen species, and vitamin E, which were measured by ELISA.

Results

Serum ROS levels were higher in patients than control groups, while the serum catalase and vitamin E levels were significantly lower in patients than controls. CYP24A1 gene expression is significantly higher in infertile men with sperm count higher than 70 million and reaches twofold times the control.

Conclusion

CYP24A1 gene expression is significantly higher in infertile men and can be used as a marker of infertility, especially in infertile males with normal sperm count. At the same time, the serum catalase and vitamin E levels were significantly lower, which can be added as tools to predict male infertility..

Maternal alpha-1-antitrypsin as a noval marker for growth restriction in pre-eclampsia

AIM

To verify the role of maternal serum levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), an acute-phase inflammatory protein, as a marker for distinguishing between fetal growth restriction (FGR) and normal birth weight in pre-eclamptic women. We correlate serum AAT levels to the essential feto-maternal parameters for an earlier and cost-benefit diagnostic method, thus distinguishing between FGR and normal birth weight in pre-eclamptic women.

METHODS

An observational study conducted at the University hospital recruited 100 pregnant women in 32/34 weeks of a singleton single tone pregnancy; all were pre-eclampsia cases. All were tested by laboratory and ultrasound examination. Two sets of data were collected; one is maternal parameters such as blood pressure (BP), maternal serum AAT mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and serum uric acid levels, and the other is fetal parameters such as amniotic fluid index (AFI), fetal weight centile and estimated fetal weight.

RESULTS

A strong negative correlation proved between serum levels of AAT and all study variables except fetal weight (systolic BP, diastolic BP, MPV, PDW, serum uric acid, fetal weight percentile, and AFI) with a correlation coefficient of; -0.95, -0.95, -0.85, -0.93, -0.91, -0.94, and -0.93 respectively. The cut-off value for AAT 0.013 mg/ml showed the highest sensitivity and specificity as a diagnostic marker for FGR. Area under the curve was 0.99.

CONCLUSIONS

Negative correlations between maternal serum AAT and fetal parameters used to assess FGR were confirmed, suggesting that AAT is closely related to the pathophysiology of FGR among pre-eclamptic patients and may serve as a helpful tool in distinguishing between FGR and normal birth weight babies, pending further validation in feto-maternal outcomes.