Cardiovascular determinants of impaired placental function in women with cardiac dysfunction

Reference ranges for third-trimester maternal cardiovascular function parameters measured in normotensive pregnant women using a non-invasive cardiac output monitor: A study based on data from the prospective PEACH cohort study

OBJECTIVE

We defined reference ranges for maternal cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and stroke volume measured in the third trimester of pregnancy using the Ultrasound Cardiac Output Monitor 1A.

DESIGN

Based on data from the prospective PEACH (PreEclampsia, Angiogenesis, Cardiac dysfunction and Hypertension) cohort study.

SETTING

Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.

SAMPLE

Normotensive pregnant women aged 18-45 years with singleton pregnancies, enrolled in the PEACH study in 2016-2018.

METHODS

We modelled cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance and stroke volume as a function of gestational age using multilevel linear models with fractional polynomials.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Unconditional and conditional reference ranges for cardiovascular parameters measured in gestational weeks 28-40.

RESULTS

Our study cohort included 405 healthy pregnant women who contributed 1210 cardiovascular function measurements for analysis. Maximum cardiac output and stroke volume values were measured in gestational weeks 30-32 and decreased over the third trimester, whereas systemic vascular resistance increased during the same period. We created reference ranges for eight combinations of maternal height, age and parity. We also created a simple calculator to allow for implementation of the reference ranges in clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our reference ranges allow the use of a bedside ultrasound device to non-invasively assess cardiac function in pregnancy and identify women at risk of complications. The unconditional ranges allow clinicians to evaluate isolated measurements and identify women needing follow-up. The conditional ranges incorporate information from previous measurements and improve monitoring over time.

Associations between maternal chronic diseases and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract in offspring: a population-based cohort study

Background

The relationship between maternal chronic diseases and congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) in offspring still needs elucidation. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the associations between maternal chronic disease and CAKUT in their offspring.

Methods

Data of mothers and children were extracted from the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database and National Health Insurance Research Database. The concept of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) was used to select maternal chronic diseases.

Results

The study cohort included 1 196 175 mothers and 1 628 706 offspring. Analysis showed that maternal chronic diseases, especially type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, connective tissue disorders and CAKUT were highly associated with CAKUT in the offspring. Higher maternal age, abnormal birthweight (>3500 g or <2500 g), gestational age <36 weeks and birth order <2 were all associated with a higher risk of CAKUT. Maternal chronic hypertension and taking angiotensin-related drugs increased the odds ratios of obstructive kidney disease in the offspring. Offspring tended to have the same type of CAKUT as their mothers.

Conclusion

Maternal chronic diseases, older maternal age and abnormal birthweight are risk factors for CAKUT. Also, a percentage of patients with CAKUT were not full-term newborns. Results support prenatal counselling and health management of pregnant women with chronic diseases and extra care for infants with a high risk of anomalies. It is strongly recommended that prevention of CAKUT in offspring should start with care of the mothers' prenatal chronic diseases.

Lipid Profile Variations in Pregnancies with and without Cardiovascular Risk: Consequences for Both Mother and Newborn

Background: Maternal cardiovascular risk and its implications can have significant repercussions for both the mother and the child. This study compares the lipid profiles of two distinct groups of pregnant women, those with and without cardiovascular risk, to shed light on its effects on maternal and outcomes for newborns. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 86 pregnant women, dividing them into two groups: Group 1 (n = 46, healthy pregnancies) and Group 2 (n = 40, pregnancies with cardiovascular risk factors). The data collected included maternal demographics, smoking history, pre-existing pathologies, and a range of laboratory measures. Neonatal outcomes were also recorded. Results: Group 2 showed a significant increase in the percentage of newborns with abnormal APGAR scores (p-value < 0.0001), congenital abnormalities (p-value < 0.0001), severe prematurity (p-value < 0.0001), and neonatal mortality rates (p-value < 0.0001), as well as differences in birth weight (p-value = 0.0392) and therapy usage (surfactant: p-value < 0.001, steroids p-value = 0.004, and antibiotics p-value < 0.001). Regarding laboratory measures, Group 2 exhibited significantly elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C (p-value < 0.0001), ApoB (p-value < 0.0001), Lp(A) (p-value = 0.0486), triglycerides (p-value < 0.0001), and hs-CRP (p-value = 0.0300). Discussion: These results underscore the elevated risk associated with pregnancies complicated by cardiovascular risk factors. Group 2 demonstrated a more concerning clinical profile, with a higher prevalence of detrimental neonatal outcomes and different lipid and inflammatory profiles, signifying a potential pathophysiological link. Conclusions: The differential lipid profiles and adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnancies with cardiovascular risks highlight the urgency of effective risk stratification and management strategies in this population.

Comparative Analysis of Neonatal Effects in Pregnant Women with Cardiovascular Risk versus Low-Risk Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Pregnancy imposes unique physiological changes on a woman's cardiovascular system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of 68 participants, comprising 30 pregnant women with cardiovascular risk and 38 without cardiovascular risk, was recruited for this study. These participants were prospectively followed during their pregnancies from 2020 to 2022 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the "Pius Brînzeu" Emergency County Clinical Hospital in Timişoara, Romania. All women included in this study underwent cesarean section deliveries at the same medical facility. Data regarding the gestational weeks at delivery, birth weight, and Apgar scores assessed by neonatologists were collected for each participant. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the neonatal effects between the two groups.

RESULTS

The results of this study revealed significant differences between the groups in terms of Apgar scores (p = 0.0055), gestational weeks (p = 0.0471), and baby birth weight (p = 0.0392).

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the importance of considering maternal cardiovascular health as a potential determinant of neonatal outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop strategies for optimizing neonatal outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.

Sonographic Evaluation of the Placenta in Fontan Patients: A Case Series

Due to the advancements in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and medical management, more individuals with congenital heart disease are reaching reproductive age. It is well established that individuals with Fontan circulation are at an increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes including maternal cardiovascular complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction. Early onset of poor placental health likely related to chronically elevated central venous pressure/low cardiac output inherited to Fontan circulation may play a role in the development of these outcomes. In this case series, we present second-trimester placental imaging findings and pregnancy outcomes of three individuals with Fontan circulation who delivered at a tertiary center in the Southeastern United States.

Maternal mortality in eight European countries with enhanced surveillance systems: descriptive population based study

OBJECTIVE

To compare maternal mortality in eight countries with enhanced surveillance systems.

DESIGN

Descriptive multicountry population based study.

SETTING

Eight countries with permanent surveillance systems using enhanced methods to identify, document, and review maternal deaths. The most recent available aggregated maternal mortality data were collected for three year periods for France, Italy, and the UK and for five year periods for Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Slovakia.

POPULATION

297 835 live births in Denmark (2013-17), 301 169 in Finland (2008-12), 2 435 583 in France (2013-15), 1 281 986 in Italy (2013-15), 856 572 in the Netherlands (2014-18), 292 315 in Norway (2014-18), 283 930 in Slovakia (2014-18), and 2 261 090 in the UK (2016-18).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Maternal mortality ratios from enhanced systems were calculated and compared with those obtained from each country's office of vital statistics. Age specific maternal mortality ratios; maternal mortality ratios according to women's origin, citizenship, or ethnicity; and cause specific maternal mortality ratios were also calculated.

RESULTS

Methods for identifying and classifying maternal deaths up to 42 days were very similar across countries (except for the Netherlands). Maternal mortality ratios up to 42 days after end of pregnancy varied by a multiplicative factor of four from 2.7 and 3.4 per 100 000 live births in Norway and Denmark to 9.6 in the UK and 10.9 in Slovakia. Vital statistics offices underestimated maternal mortality by 36% or more everywhere but Denmark. Age specific maternal mortality ratios were higher for the youngest and oldest mothers (pooled relative risk 2.17 (95% confidence interval 1.38 to 3.34) for women aged <20 years, 2.10 (1.54 to 2.86) for those aged 35-39, and 3.95 (3.01 to 5.19) for those aged ≥40, compared with women aged 20-29 years). Except in Norway, maternal mortality ratios were ≥50% higher in women born abroad or of minoritised ethnicity, defined variously in different countries. Cardiovascular diseases and suicides were leading causes of maternal deaths in each country. Some other conditions were also major contributors to maternal mortality in only one or two countries: venous thromboembolism in the UK and the Netherlands, hypertensive disorders in the Netherlands, amniotic fluid embolism in France, haemorrhage in Italy, and stroke in Slovakia. Only two countries, France and the UK, had enhanced methods for studying late maternal deaths, those occurring between 43 and 365 days after the end of pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Variations in maternal mortality ratios exist between high income European countries with enhanced surveillance systems. In-depth analyses of differences in the quality of care and health system performance at national levels are needed to reduce maternal mortality further by learning from best practices and each other. Cardiovascular diseases and mental health in women during and after pregnancy must be prioritised in all countries.

Heart Failure and Pancreas Exocrine Insufficiency: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Point of View

Heart failure is associated with decreased tissue perfusion and increased venous congestion that may result in organ dysfunction. This dysfunction has been investigated extensively for many organs, but data regarding pancreatic (exocrine) dysfunction are scarce. In the present review we will discuss the available data on the mechanisms of pancreatic damage, how heart failure can lead to exocrine dysfunction, and its clinical consequences. We will show that heart failure causes significant impairment of pancreatic exocrine function, particularly in the elderly, which may exacerbate the clinical syndrome of heart failure. In addition, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency may lead to further deterioration of cardiovascular disease and heart failure, thus constituting a true vicious circle. We aim to provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms that constitute this reciprocal relation. Finally, novel treatment options for pancreatic dysfunction in heart failure are discussed.