Interlaboratory variation in antiphospholipid antibody testing

OBJECTIVE

Because of the widespread use of antiphospholipid antibody testing in the evaluation of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, we evaluated the consistency of results among laboratories testing for anticardiolipin antibody and the lupus anticoagulant.

STUDY DESIGN

A questionnaire regarding methods used and samples of blood from 20 patients were sent to five university-based and five commercial facilities for antiphospholipid antibody testing.

RESULTS

The responses of the participating laboratories to the questionnaires revealed significant differences in methods, standardization, and units of reporting. For anticardiolipin antibody, the number of specimens found to be positive for any isotype (immunoglobulin G, M, or A) varied considerably among laboratories, with a range of 5 to 13. All laboratories were in agreement (i.e., at least one isotype was present or all were absent) for only 5 of 20 specimens (25%). In contrast, lupus anticoagulant results were more reproducible, although one facility reported results markedly discordant from the other four laboratories.

CONCLUSION

These observations suggest that significant interlaboratory variation exists in antiphospholipid antibody, and particularly anticardiolipin antibody, testing and might lead to unnecessary therapeutic interventions.

A controlled trial of a program for the active management of labor

BACKGROUND

Over the past two decades, the rate of cesarean section in the United States has risen from 5 percent to 25 percent of deliveries, primarily because of the increased frequency of dystocia (arrest of labor). One strategy that has been proposed for increasing the rate of vaginal delivery is a program of active management of labor that encourages early amniotomy, early diagnosis of slow progress in labor, and the use of higher than usual doses of oxytocin; the efficacy and safety of this approach are uncertain, however.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized trial in which nulliparous women in spontaneous labor at term were randomly assigned to either active management of labor or traditional management. With active management, amniotomy was performed within one hour of the diagnosis of labor, and when the rate of cervical dilation was less than 1 cm per hour, oxytocin was infused at an initial rate of 6 mU per minute. The dose was increased by 6 mU per minute every 15 minutes (to a maximum of 36 mU per minute) until there were seven contractions every 15 minutes.

RESULTS

For the women assigned to active management (n = 351), the cesarean-section rate was 10.5 percent, as compared with 14.1 percent for those assigned to traditional management (n = 354, P = 0.18). The 26 percent reduction in the cesarean-section rate was due primarily to a decrease in dystocia. After we controlled for potential confounding variables, the reduction in the rate of delivery by cesarean section was statistically significant (odds ratio for women given active as compared with traditional management, 0.57; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.36 to 0.95). With active management, the average length of labor was shortened by 1.66 hours, principally because of earlier amniotomy and earlier use of oxytocin. There was no increase in maternal or neonatal morbidity, and there were significantly fewer infectious complications in the mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

The program we studied for the active management of labor reduces the incidence of dystocia and increases the rate of vaginal delivery without increasing maternal or neonatal morbidity.

Epidural analgesia and cesarean section for dystocia: risk factors in nulliparas

A retrospective study assessing the effect of epidural analgesia in labor on the incidence of cesarean section was performed. The first 500 consecutive nulliparas meeting the following criteria were included in this study: term (37 weeks or longer) and singleton gestation, cephalic presentation, spontaneous onset of labor, and 5 cm or less of cervical dilation on admission. Patients were grouped according to their rate of cervical dilation in early labor (greater than or equal to 1 cm/hr, and less than 1 cm/hr) and the timing of epidural placement (none, early, or late). There was no effect of epidural analgesia on the incidence of cesarean section for fetal distress. The incidence of cesarean section for dystocia was significantly greater (p greater than 0.000001) in the epidural group (15.6%) than in the nonepidural group (2.4%). The greatest effect of epidural analgesia on the incidence of cesarean section for dystocia was observed in nulliparas who dilated at slower rates (less than 1 cm/hr) in early labor and who had epidural analgesia placed at 5 cm or less of cervical dilation (20.6% versus 3.4%, relative risk of 6, p less than 0.0005). The increase of cesarean section for dystocia associated with epidural analgesia could not be accounted for when other possibly confounding variables were studied. Both the dilation rate prior to epidural placement and the cervical dilation at epidural placement were significantly correlated to frequency of cesarean section for dystocia (p less than 0.01). This study suggests that epidural analgesia in labor may increase the incidence of cesarean section for dystocia in nulliparas.

Sexually transmitted viral disease in women

During the past decade, the incidence of sexually transmitted viral diseases has increased dramatically. In many cases, diagnosis is difficult, consequences are severe, and curative therapy is not available at present. In this article, Drs Peaceman and Gonik review current evidence about sexual transmission of viruses and discuss the latest methods of diagnosis, management, and prevention.

The effect of magnesium sulfate tocolysis on the fetal biophysical profile

The biophysical profile has proved to be a valuable tool for the assessment of fetal well-being, independent of gestational age. Magnesium sulfate is commonly used as a tocolytic agent, yet relatively little is known about its effects on the biophysical activities of the fetus. To investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate on the biophysical profile, we performed serial studies on patients who received tocolytic therapy with this agent because of preterm labor. A total of 16 women with 22 fetuses at 26 to 34 weeks' gestation in spontaneous preterm labor were studied. An initial biophysical profile was performed at the time of admission, and a second examination was performed when maternal serum magnesium levels reached 6 to 8 mg/dl. On admission all fetuses had reactive nonstress test results and 21 of 22 (95%) demonstrated sustained fetal breathing movements. With magnesium sulfate tocolysis, 50% of fetuses had nonreactive nonstress test results, and only 4 of 22 (18%) demonstrated sustained fetal breathing movements. Fetal tone, gross body movements, and amniotic fluid volume were found to be unaffected by magnesium sulfate tocolysis.

Abdominal gunshot wounds in pregnancy

The incidence of gunshot wounds in the civilian population is increasing. Likewise, pregnant women are more frequently sustaining wounds of the abdomen. We report on three women who sustained abdominal gunshot wounds during pregnancy. Guidelines for management are suggested. Select patients may be observed if the following conditions are present: mother's condition is stable, the entrance wound is below the fundus of the uterus, the missile can be radiographically demonstrated to be in the uterine cavity, there is a negative abdominal examination, and there is no blood in the urine or gastrointestinal tract.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome complicating pregnancy: a case report

The pregnancy of a patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome is described. Coagulation abnormalities were encountered, as well as isoimmunization from previous transfusions. Immune suppression was achieved with steroids and intravenous gamma globulin, and plasmapheresis was performed to allow platelet transfusion.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and pregnancy: association of type IV disease with maternal death

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder known to be associated with complications during pregnancy. Recently, the syndrome has been subdivided into a number of types with different clinical manifestations. We report a maternal death with type IV, and review the literature for obstetric complications of the syndrome by type. A very high risk of maternal death with type IV is identified. Recommendations for managing pregnancies complicated by EDS are given.