Prolonged fetal bradycardia as the presenting clinical sign in congenital syphilis complicated by necrotizing funisitis: a case report

Necrotizing funisitis and calcification of umbilical vein: case report and review

BACKGROUND

Necrotising funisitis (NF) is a rare, chronic stage of funisitis, a severe inflammation of the umbilical cord and an important risk factor for fetal adverse outcomes. NF is characterized by yellow-white bands running parallel to the umbilical blood vessels. These bands consist of inflammatory cells, necrotic debris, and calcium deposits. Calcification is visible in ultrasonography, which makes it possible to suspect NF when umbilical vascular wall calcification is detected by prenatal ultrasonography.

CASE PRESENTATION

Ultrasonography revealed calcification of the umbilical venous wall in an expectant 31-year-old woman who was gravida 1, para 0. The woman required emergency cesarean section because of fetal distress and suspected umbilical cord torsion at 31 weeks gestation. The root of the umbilical cord was quite fragile and broke during the operation. The pathological results on the placenta showed histologic chorioamnionitis and NF. The infant was diagnosed to have neonatal sepsis and acidosis after delivery but was discharged without severe complications after a one-month hospitalization that included antibiotic and supportive therapy.

CONCLUSION

NF is a rare and severe inflammation of the umbilical cord. Umbilical vascular wall calcification discovered in prenatal ultrasonography is diagnostically helpful.

Origin of the long-term variability and acceleration of FHR studied for the prevention of cerebral palsy in fetal hypoxia and general insults

AIMS

The development of fetal heart rate (FHR) variability and acceleration, and their loss in the hypoxic brain damage and cerebral palsy (CP) is investigated.

METHODS

FHR, movements in physiologic sinusoidal FHR and fetal movements were studied by actocardiogram.

RESULTS

Periodic fetal respiratory movements evoked moderate FHR variation similar to medium variability. Small fetal movements provoked FHR variability, and large fetal movement burst developed the acceleration. The brain centers should be midbrain for variability and acceleration. FHR variability and acceleration develop by the reaction of fetal brain to fetal movements. As severe organic fetal brain damage could develop through fetal hypoxia in the loss of variability, early delivery before the loss of variability will prevent infantile CP. As the abnormal FHR would be developed by fetal brain damage in non-hypoxic fetal insults, early delivery before the loss of variability could also prevent the brain damage in viral and bacterial infections.

[Congenital syphilis revealed by a spontaneous fracture]

Alors qu'elle est actuellement oubliée dans les pays développés, la syphilis congénitale se voit encore chez nous faute du dépistage anténatal. Ses formes cliniques sont polymorphes et orientent à tord vers d'autres pathologies surtout en période néonatale. Le diagnostic n'est donc pas toujours facile. La révélation d'une syphilis congénitale par une fracture spontanée est exceptionnellement décrite. Nous rapportons dans ce travail le cas d'un nourrisson de 2 mois ramené en consultation pour limitation douloureuse des mouvements du bras droit. Le diagnostic est évoqué sur les données radiologiques et confirmé par la sérologie syphilitique. Le traitement a reposé essentiellement sur l'administration de la pénicilline G avec une bonne évolution clinique.