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Janoudi G, Uzun (Rada) M, Boyd ST, Fell DB, Ray JG, Foster AM, Giffen R, Clifford TJ, Walker MC. Do Case Reports and Case Series Generate Clinical Discoveries About Preeclampsia? A Systematic Review. Int J Womens Health 2023; 15:411-425. [PMID: 36974131 PMCID: PMC10039711 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s397680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The management of preeclampsia has not changed much in more than two decades, and its aetiology is still not fully understood. Case reports and case series have traditionally been used to communicate new knowledge about existing conditions. Whether this is true for preeclampsia is not known. Objective To determine whether recent case reports or case series have generated new knowledge and clinical discoveries about preeclampsia. Methods A detailed search strategy was developed in consultation with a medical librarian. Two bibliographic databases were searched through Ovid: Embase and MEDLINE. We selected case reports or case series published between 2015 and 2020, comprising pregnant persons diagnosed with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia. Two reviewers independently screened all publications. One reviewer extracted data from included studies, while another conducted a quality check of extracted data. We developed a codebook to guide our data extraction and outcomes assessment. The quality of each report was determined based on Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for case reports and case series. Results We included 104 case reports and three case series, together comprising 118 pregnancies. A severe presentation or complication of preeclampsia was reported in 81% of pregnancies, and 84% had a positive maternal outcome, free of death or persistent complications. Only 8% of the case reports were deemed to be of high quality, and 53.8% of moderate quality; none of the case series were of high quality. A total of 26 of the 107 publications (24.3%) included a novel clinical discovery as a central theme. Conclusion Over two-thirds of recent case reports and case series about preeclampsia do not appear to present new knowledge or discoveries about preeclampsia, and most are of low quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghayath Janoudi
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephanie T Boyd
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Deshayne B Fell
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Joel G Ray
- Departments of Medicine, Health Policy Management and Evaluation, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Angel M Foster
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Tammy J Clifford
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Canadian Institute of Health Research, Government of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mark C Walker
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- International and Global Health Office, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Newborn Care, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- BORN Ontario, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Correspondence: Mark C Walker, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Practice Changing Research, Box 241, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada, Tel +1 613-798-5555 x76655, Email
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Liu C, Gao J, Liu J. Management of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in pregnancy: Case series study and literature review. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2022; 48:610-620. [PMID: 34978123 PMCID: PMC9303886 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aim The diagnosis and treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in pregnancy is challenging due to its rarity. We aim to analyze and summarize the clinical characteristics of HLH in pregnancy, and to discuss effective diagnostic and treatment options. Methods Thirteen patients with HLH during pregnancy who were diagnosed and treated at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2000 to December 2019 were studied retrospectively. We collected data on treatment regimens and on maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Results All patients had a singleton pregnancy, with a median age of 28 years (range, 22–33 years) and a median gestational age of 23 weeks (7–36 weeks). Twelve patients received corticosteroids, and four patients (with/without intravenous immunoglobulin) showed a curative effect. Two patients who were treated with dexamethasone and etoposide after termination of pregnancy achieved complete remission. Two patients attained remission after termination of pregnancy. Four pregnant women died, and the mortality rate was 30.8% (4/13). Fetal or neonatal death up to 1 week after delivery occurred in eight (61.5%) pregnancies. Conclusions Early diagnosis and treatment are important for maternal survival, and corticosteroids are the first choice for most patients with HLH during pregnancy. For patients who do not respond to corticosteroids, etoposide and termination of pregnancy may be life‐saving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinsong Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juntao Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Takahashi M, Makino S, Iizuka H, Noguchi M, Yoshida K. Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in pregnancy: a case report. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:681. [PMID: 34620104 PMCID: PMC8495184 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is a rare and fatal disease characterized by uncontrolled immune cell activation that can lead to a cytokine storm. Unfortunately, this condition can occur even during pregnancy, threatening both maternal and fetal lives. CASE PRESENTATION A 23-year-old nulliparous woman at 26 weeks of gestation presented with continuous fever, coughing, and sore throat. Upon arrival at our hospital, her temperature was >38°C and laboratory findings indicated cytopenia (neutrophil count, 779/μL; hemoglobin level, 10.2 g/dL; platelet count, 29,000/μL), elevated ferritin level (1,308 ng/mL), and elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor level (11,200 U/mL). Computed tomography showed marked splenomegaly. Bone marrow examination revealed hemophagocytosis, and blood examination showed a plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level of 8.9 × 105 copies/μg. The monoclonal proliferation of EBV-infected T cells was confirmed by Southern blotting, and the patient was diagnosed with chronic active EBV-associated sHLH and T-cell lymphoproliferative disease. Immediately after admission, the patient's condition suddenly deteriorated. She developed shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation, requiring endotracheal intubation along with methylprednisolone pulse and etoposide therapy. Although the patient recovered, she delivered a stillborn baby. After delivery, she was treated with reduced-dose dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide, and carboplatin (DeVIC) and steroid (dexamethasone), methotrexate, ifosfamide, L-asparaginase, and etoposide (SMILE) chemotherapies. Five months after diagnosis, she received human leukocyte antigen-haploidentical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from her sister. She remains in remission for 5 months from the time of transplantation to the present. CONCLUSIONS sHLH, which may cause maternal and fetal death, should be carefully considered in critically ill pregnant women, particularly those presenting with continuous fever and cytopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Takahashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Urayasu City, Japan
| | - Shintaro Makino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Urayasu City, Japan.
| | - Hiroko Iizuka
- Department of Hematology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaaki Noguchi
- Department of Hematology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu City, Chiba, Japan
| | - Koyo Yoshida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Urayasu City, Japan
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Sánchez-Ato LA, Cuestas-Quiroz FA, Agurto-Saldaña C, Estela-Ayamamani D. Pregnancy-Induced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Case Report. J Obstet Gynaecol India 2020; 70:390-392. [PMID: 33041558 PMCID: PMC7515981 DOI: 10.1007/s13224-019-01286-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Sánchez-Ato
- Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Lima, Peru
| | - Flavia A. Cuestas-Quiroz
- Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Lima, Peru
| | - Carla Agurto-Saldaña
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Peru
| | - David Estela-Ayamamani
- Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), Lima, Peru
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Peru
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Zhao H, Dai Y, Zhou YH. Overview of infection causing hepatitis other than non-A to E hepatitis virus during pregnancy. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2020; 68:89-102. [PMID: 32247771 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal liver function tests during pregnancy are common. While hepatic injury during pregnancy mostly has minimal adverse influence on maternal and fetal outcomes, severe maternal and fetal morbidities, and even death, sometimes occur. Here, we review the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of hepatitis during pregnancy caused by the less common pathogens, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), dengue fever, malaria, leptospirosis, Q fever, typhoid fever, and other occasional infections, as well as the implications on breastfeeding of the infants. Hepatitis during pregnancy with fever and systemic clinical presentations, which are not attributable to the common infectious agents, should raise the suspicion of infection with above-mentioned pathogens, and appropriate laboratory tests are required. Early recognition of severe hepatitis or acute liver failure is critical in initiating appropriate and specific therapy, together with systemic supportive care, to reduce maternal and fetal mortality and long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Second Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yimin Dai
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi-Hua Zhou
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
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