Histopathologic findings of placenta and arcuate artery Doppler velociometry in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation

The aim was to analyze the histopathologic changes of placentas and to compare them to the results of arcuate artery color Doppler velocimetry. Fifty four placentas were from pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia that ranged from mild forms to convulsions (group 1), 42 from pregnancies complicated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (group 2) and 40 from uncomplicated pregnancies (group 3). The arcuate artery resistance index (AARI) was increased in 66.66% in group 1 and 59.52% in group 2 (NS). In all uncomplicated pregnancies (group 3) AARI was normal. In group 2, increased AARI was significantly more frequently associated with minimal hypoxic damage (MHD) of placental tissue than in group 1 (p < 0.005), whereas multiple infarcts were more common in group 1 than in group 2 (p < 0.005). At normal AARI multiple infarcts were significantly more frequently found in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.005), whereas normal placental findings were significantly more common in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Hypoxic lesions were significantly more often associated with increased AARI (p < 0.01). The positive predictive value of arcuate artery color Doppler velocimetry for hypoxic placental lesions was 93%, and negative predictive value was 10%. Sensitivity and specificity of the method in the prediction of hypoxic placental lesions was 62% and 91%, respectively.

[The effect of chronic kidney disease on the course and outcome of pregnancy]

In order to estimate the effect of renal disease on the pregnancy, and the effect of pregnancy on the natural course of renal disease, the course and outcome of the 37 pregnancies was analyzed in gravidas with chronic renal disease. The women were cared for between 1978 and 1990 at the Department of Obstetrics, School of Medicine University of Zagreb. Analysis of the results in this article is retrospective. Thirty-six pregnancies finished by vaginal or cesarean delivery or by abortion, while one pregnancy was ectopic and ended by laparotomy during the 20th week. There were 31 live births from 36 fetuses (86.1%), 5 stillbirths (13.19%), of which 2 pregnancies ended in fetal death (abortion). In addition, there were 6 instances of neonatal death (8.3%). Twenty-five percent of pregnancies finished before 37 weeks of gestation. In 6 of 34 (17.6%) deliveries amniotic fluid was meconium stained, and 5 of 31 (16.1%) infants were born hypoxic. There were 29 percent of growth retarded liveborn fetuses. Perinatal mortality was 167/1000. Renal insufficiency was noted in 12 of 37 (32.4%) pregnancies, 54% of pregnant women had hypertension, 8.1% hyperkalemia, 78.4% were anemic, 27% had significant bacteriuria and 21.6% overt pyelonephritis. There was one case of acute deterioration in renal function that required hemodialysis, and one case of preeclampsia. Renal insufficiency or hypertension reduce drastically the chances for a successful outcome of pregnancy in gravidas with kidney disorders. However renal insufficiency in the presence of hypertension, carries even poorer prognosis, with perinatal mortality of 428/1000.

[Electromyography of the uterus in monitoring pregnancies with symptoms of premature labor]

Characteristics of uterine muscle action potentials in 100 gravidas with symptoms of preterm labor or imminent abortion (presence of contractions with cervical changes) from 18th till the 32nd weeks of pregnancy are analysed. Twenty four gravidas with uncomplicated pregnancy were monitored electromyographically from the 20th weeks until term, once a week. There was low electrical activity in uncomplicated pregnancies up to 7 days before labor. A similar trend was observed in pregnancies that were finished before term. But, in symptomatic pregnancies finished preterm, the index of uterine muscle electrical activity (expressed in the percentage of voltage plus frequency) was continuously, although not significantly, above the values in symptomatic and asymptomatic term pregnancies. In only 2 out of 18 (11.1%) before term terminated pregnancies and in 45 out of 82 (54.9%) in term accomplished pregnancies, was electrical silence was registered during clinical symptoms (p less than 0.01). In preterm accomplished pregnancies, higher voltages and more frequent occurrence of biphasic and polyphasic spikes were registered (p less than 0.05), although the single parameter was of no prognostic significance. With a successful tocolytic treatment, the index of uterine muscle electrical activity was significantly reduced (from 57.16 to 20.86, t = 2.52, p less than 0.02) and was similar to that registered in symptomatic term pregnancies subjected to no tocolytic treatment. Although intravenous tocolysis was shown diminish voltage and frequency, in preterm delivered pregnancies no reduction in electrical activity was observed. Uterine electromyography could be used as a predictor of successful or unsuccessful tocolytic treatment.

[Peroral and intracervical administration of prostaglandin E2 for stimulation of term labor in premature rupture of fetal membranes]

The outcome of stimulation of labour in 219 primiparous patients with more than 6 hours following a premature rupture of the membranes, and with an ripe cervix, without the established labour, was analysed according to the mode of treatment. One hundred and thirty eight (138) women received PGE2 peroral tablets, 14 intracervical PGE2 gel, and 67 oxytocin intravenously. There were 73.2% vaginal deliveries in the group that received PGE2 per os, 77.5% in the group that received oxytocin, and 92.9% in the group that was given intracervical gel. The differences were significant. The cervix remained unripe in 9.4% patients that received PGE2 perorally, in 14.9% of those that received oxytocin, while in the gel group it became favourable in all parturients. Uterine polisistoly was encountered in 10.9% labours after peroral stimulation, in 7.1% in the gel group and in 1.5% in the oxytocin group, and perinatal asphyxia in 16.7%, 7.1% and 13.4%, respectively. When too frequent, especially if combined with oxytocin and given to patients with a moderately favourable cervix, peroral stimulation predisposes to uterine polisitoly. Intracervical application of PGE2 gel is the method of choice in primigravid patients with a premature rupture of the membranes and the unripe cervix (Bishop score O). In gravidas with a more favourable cervix (Bishop score 4-6) the administration of oxytocin is acceptable with less complications. In those with a moderately favourable cervix (Bishop score 1-4) the gel application proved to be preferable, although stimulation could be carried out as well.