First-trimester screening for early and late preeclampsia using maternal characteristics, biomarkers, and estimated placental volume

Impact of Sonographer Experience, Insonation Angle, and Bladder Filling on Uterine Artery Doppler Measurements in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of different measurement conditions and ultrasound training level on uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) measurements as required for combined first trimester preeclampsia (PE) screening.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of consecutive patients with singleton pregnancies presenting for an ultrasound examination between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation. UtA-PI measurements were conducted by residents in training and repeated by experienced sonographers thereafter. UtA-PI measurements were conducted under different examination conditions. First, the trainee sonographers performed transabdominal sagittal and transverse UtA-PI measurements without bladder filling. These measurements were then repeated by the expert sonographers. Additionally, the expert sonographers also performed transvaginal UtA-PI measurements and transabdominal measurements with bladder filling. Statistical analysis was conducted with the statistical software R and included descriptive statistics as well as 2-sided paired t tests.

RESULTS

A total of 100 women were included in the study. Mean age was 31.7 ± 4.92 years and mean gestational week was 12.5 ± 0.53 weeks. A total of 56% were nulliparous and 44% were parous. UtA-PI was significantly lower if performed by a sonographer in training versus an experienced sonographer (P = .031). No significant difference was observed in comparing transverse and sagittal techniques (P = .241). There was also no significant difference in transabominal versus transvaginal measurements (P = .806) and with an empty versus full bladder (P = .444).

CONCLUSION

Experience of sonographer has a significant impact on UtA-PI. Supervised onsite training is necessary to improve reliability and consistency of UtA-PI measurements and make PE screening reliable for implementation in a universal screening setting.

Prediction and prevention of late-onset pre-eclampsia: a systematic review

Background

Pre-eclampsia is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Late-onset pre-eclampsia (LOP), which results in delivery ≥34 weeks gestation, is the most common type. However, there is a lack of knowledge in its prediction and prevention. Improving our understanding in this area will allow us to have better surveillance of high-risk patients and thus improve clinical outcomes.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using a search of articles on PubMed. The search terms were ((late-onset) AND (pre-eclampsia)) AND ((risk factor) OR (risk) OR (prediction) OR (management) OR (prevention)). Primary literature published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2023 was included. Human studies assessing the prediction or prevention of late-onset pre-eclampsia were eligible for inclusion.

Results

Sixteen articles were included in the final review. The key risk factors identified were Body Mass Index (BMI), chronic hypertension, elevated mean arterial pressures (MAPs), nulliparity, and maternal age. No clinically useful predictive model for LOP was found. Initiating low dose aspirin before 17 weeks gestation in high-risk patients may help reduce the risk of LOP.

Conclusion

While aspirin is a promising preventor of LOP, preventative measures for women not deemed to be at high-risk or measures that can be implemented at a later gestation are required. Biomarkers for LOP need to be identified, and examining large cohorts during the second or third trimester may yield useful results, as this is when the pathogenesis is hypothesized to occur. Biomarkers that identify high-risk LOP patients may also help find preventative measures.

MRI assessed placental volume and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Secondary analysis of prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Our goal was to evaluate the potential utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) placental volume as an assessment of placental insufficiency.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort undergoing serial placental MRIs at two academic tertiary care centers. The population included 316 participants undergoing MRI up to three times throughout gestation. MRI was used to calculate placental volume in milliliters (ml). Placental-mediated adverse pregnancy outcome (cAPO) included preeclampsia with severe features, abnormal antenatal surveillance, and perinatal mortality. Serial measurements were grouped as time point 1 (TP1) <22 weeks, TP2 22 0/7-29 6/7 weeks, and TP3 ≥30 weeks. Mixed effects models compared change in placental volume across gestation between cAPO groups. Association between cAPO and placental volume was determined using logistic regression at each TP with discrimination evaluated using area under receiver operator curve (AUC). Placental volume was then added to known clinical predictive variables and evaluated with test characteristics and calibration.

RESULTS

59 (18.7 %) of 316 participants developed cAPO. Placental volume growth across gestation was slower in the cAPO group (p < 0.001). Placental volume was lower in the cAPO group at all time points, and alone was moderately predictive of cAPO at TP3 (AUC 0.756). Adding placental volume to clinical variables had moderate discrimination at all time points, with strongest test characteristics at TP3 (AUC 0.792) with sensitivity of 77.5 % and specificity of 75.3 % at a predicted probability cutoff of 15 %.

DISCUSSION

MRI placental volume warrants further study for assessment of placental insufficiency, particularly later in gestation.

The relationship between Toll-like receptor-4 genes and preeclampsia outcomes

PURPOSE

The study aimed to analyse the relationship of the rs4986790 locus of the TLR4 gene with the overall risk of preeclampsia, including both its early and late forms.

METHODS

The study used standard genetic analysis methods such as DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and genotyping of the rs4986790 locus of the TLR4 gene to assess the association with the development of preeclampsia and peripartal stroke in 207 pregnant women from the southern regions of Kazakhstan from 2016 to 2022, of whom 103 had peripartal stroke on the background of preeclampsia (the main group) and 104 preeclampsia (comparative group).

RESULTS

The results of the study demonstrate that the AG and AG + GG genotypes at the rs4986790 locus of the TLR4 gene are significantly associated with an increased risk of developing an early form of preeclampsia. This opens up a new perspective in the identification of genetic markers that can serve as indicators of a tendency to develop preeclampsia in earlier periods of pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

It was noted that the rs4986790 locus did not show a statistically significant association with the risk of late preeclampsia. An important aspect of the study revealed the relationship of genotypes with the development of peripartal stroke on the background of preeclampsia. This study offers practical insights for creating targeted genetic screening and personalised treatments for preeclampsia, aiming to improve patient outcomes. To fully understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the identified association, additional research is required to identify deeper molecular pathways and relationships, and to develop new strategies for the prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.

Neurodevelopmental Disruptions in Children of Preeclamptic Mothers: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Consequences

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure in the mother, typically occurring after 20 weeks of gestation and posing risks to both maternal and fetal health. PE causes placental changes that can affect the fetus, particularly neurodevelopment. Its key pathophysiological mechanisms encompass hypoxia, vascular and angiogenic dysregulation, inflammation, neuronal and glial alterations, and disruptions in neuronal signaling. Animal models indicate that PE is correlated with neurodevelopmental alterations and cognitive dysfunctions in offspring and in humans, an association between PE and conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and sexual dimorphism has been observed. Considering the relevance for mothers and children, we conducted a narrative literature review to describe the relationships between the pathophysiological mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental alterations in the offspring of PE mothers, along with their potential consequences. Furthermore, we emphasize aspects pertinent to the prevention/treatment of PE in pregnant mothers and alterations observed in their offspring. The present narrative review offers a current, complete, and exhaustive analysis of (i) the pathophysiological mechanisms that can affect neurodevelopment in the children of PE mothers, (ii) the relationship between PE and neurological alterations in offspring, and (iii) the prevention/treatment of PE.

Prediction of preeclampsia in asymptomatic women

Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. It is important to identify women who are at high risk of developing this disorder in their first trimester of pregnancy to allow timely therapeutic intervention. The use of low-dose aspirin initiated before 16 weeks of gestation can significantly reduce the rate of preterm preeclampsia by 62 %. Effective screening recommended by the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) consists of a combination of maternal risk factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and placental growth factor (PLGF). The current model has detection rates of 90 %, 75 %, and 41 % for early, preterm, and term preeclampsia, respectively at 10 % false-positive rate. Similar risk assessment can be performed during the second trimester in all pregnant women irrespective of first trimester screening results. The use of PLGF, UtA-PI, sFlt-1 combined with other investigative tools are part of risk assessment.

Adrenomedullin has a pivotal role in trophoblast differentiation: A promising nanotechnology-based therapeutic target for early-onset preeclampsia

Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) is a severe pregnancy complication associated with defective trophoblast differentiation and functions at implantation, but manifestation of its phenotypes is in late pregnancy. There is no reliable method for early prediction and treatment of EOPE. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is an abundant placental peptide in early pregnancy. Integrated single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics confirm a high ADM expression in the human villous cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. The levels of ADM in chorionic villi and serum were lower in first-trimester pregnant women who later developed EOPE than those with normotensive pregnancy. ADM stimulates differentiation of trophoblast stem cells and trophoblast organoids in vitro. In pregnant mice, placenta-specific ADM suppression led to EOPE-like phenotypes. The EOPE-like phenotypes in a mouse PE model were reduced by a placenta-specific nanoparticle-based forced expression of ADM. Our study reveals the roles of trophoblastic ADM in placental development, EOPE pathogenesis, and its potential clinical uses.

Machine learning-based protein signatures for differentiating hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) result in major maternal and fetal complications. Our study aimed to find a panel of protein markers to identify HDP by applying machine-learning models. The study was conducted on a total of 133 samples, divided into four groups, healthy pregnancy (HP, n = 42), gestational hypertension (GH, n = 67), preeclampsia (PE, n = 9), and ante-partum eclampsia (APE, n = 15). Thirty circulatory protein markers were measured using Luminex multiplex immunoassay and ELISA. Significant markers were screened for potential predictive markers by both statistical and machine-learning approaches. Statistical analysis found seven markers such as sFlt-1, PlGF, endothelin-1(ET-1), basic-FGF, IL-4, eotaxin and RANTES to be altered significantly in disease groups compared to healthy pregnant. Support vector machine (SVM) learning model classified GH and HP with 11 markers (eotaxin, GM-CSF, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, ET-1, sFlt-1) and HDP with 13 markers (eotaxin, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, ET-1, sFlt-1). While logistic regression (LR) model classified PE with 13 markers (basic FGF, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-7, IL-9, MIP-1β, RANTES, TNF-alpha, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, ET-1, PlGF, sFlt-1) and APE by 12 markers (eotaxin, basic-FGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, PDGF-BB, RANTES, PlGF). These markers may be used to diagnose the progression of healthy pregnant to a hypertensive state. Future longitudinal studies with large number of samples are needed to validate these findings.

Maternal First-Trimester Alpha-Fetoprotein and Placenta-Mediated Pregnancy Complications

BACKGROUND

Maternal serum markers used for trisomy 21 screening are associated with placenta-mediated complications. Recently, there has been a transition from the traditional first-trimester screening (FTS) that included PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) and beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), to the enhanced FTS test, which added first-trimester AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) and PlGF (placental growth factor). However, whether elevated first-trimester AFP has a similar association with placenta-mediated complications to that observed for elevated second-trimester AFP remains unclear. Our objective was to estimate the association of first-trimester AFP with placenta-mediated complications and compare it with the corresponding associations of second-trimester AFP and other first-trimester serum markers.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based cohort study of women who underwent trisomy 21 screening in Ontario, Canada (2013-2019). The association of first-trimester AFP with placenta-mediated complications was estimated and compared with that of the traditional serum markers. The primary outcome was a composite of stillbirth or preterm placental complications (preeclampsia, birthweight less than third centile, or placental abruption).

RESULTS

A total of 244 990 and 96 167 women underwent FTS and enhanced FTS test screening, respectively. All markers were associated with the primary outcome, but the association for elevated first-trimester AFP (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.57 [95% CI, 1.37-1.81]) was weaker than that observed for low PAPP-A (aRR, 2.48 [95% CI, 2.2-2.8]), low PlGF (aRR, 2.28 [95% CI, 1.97-2.64]), and elevated second-trimester AFP (aRR, 1.97 [95% CI, 1.81-2.15]). When the models were adjusted for all 4 enhanced FTS test markers, elevated first-trimester AFP was no longer associated with the primary outcome (aRR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.58-1.02]).

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike second-trimester AFP, elevated first-trimester AFP is not an independent risk factor for placenta-mediated complications.

From Biomarkers to the Molecular Mechanism of Preeclampsia-A Comprehensive Literature Review

Preeclampsia (PE) is a prevalent obstetric illness affecting pregnant women worldwide. This comprehensive literature review aims to examine the role of biomarkers and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying PE. The review encompasses studies on biomarkers for predicting, diagnosing, and monitoring PE, focusing on their molecular mechanisms in maternal blood or urine samples. Past research has advanced our understanding of PE pathogenesis, but the etiology remains unclear. Biomarkers such as PlGF, sFlt-1, PP-13, and PAPP-A have shown promise in risk classification and preventive measures, although challenges exist, including low detection rates and discrepancies in predicting different PE subtypes. Future perspectives highlight the importance of larger prospective studies to explore predictive biomarkers and their molecular mechanisms, improving screening efficacy and distinguishing between early-onset and late-onset PE. Biomarker assessments offer reliable and cost-effective screening methods for early detection, prognosis, and monitoring of PE. Early identification of high-risk women enables timely intervention, preventing adverse outcomes. Further research is needed to validate and optimize biomarker models for accurate prediction and diagnosis, ultimately improving maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Early Pregnancy Systolic Blood Pressure Patterns Predict Early- and Later-Onset Preeclampsia and Gestational Hypertension Among Ostensibly Low-to-Moderate Risk Groups

Background Clinical risk factors, a single blood pressure (BP) measurement, current biomarkers, and biophysical parameters can effectively identify risk of early-onset preeclampsia but have limited ability to predict later-onset preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Clinical BP patterns hold promise to improve early risk stratification for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Methods and Results After excluding preexisting hypertension, heart, kidney, or liver disease, or prior preeclampsia, the retrospective cohort (n=249 892) all had systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg or a single BP elevation ≤20 weeks' gestation, prenatal care at <14 weeks' gestation, and a still or live birth delivery at Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals (2009-2019). The sample was randomly split into development (N=174 925; 70%) and validation (n=74 967; 30%) data sets. Predictive performance of multinomial logistic regression models for early-onset (<34 weeks) preeclampsia, later-onset (≥34 weeks) preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension was evaluated in the validation data set. There were 1008 (0.4%), 10 766 (4.3%), and 11 514 (4.6%) patients with early-onset preeclampsia, later-onset preeclampsia, and gestation hypertension, respectively. Models with 6 systolic BP trajectory groups (0-20 weeks' gestation) plus standard clinical risk factors performed substantially better than risk factors alone to predict early- and later-onset preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, with C-statistics (95% CIs) of 0.747 (0.720-0.775), 0.730 (0.722-0.739), and 0.768 (0.761-0.776) versus 0.688 (0.659-0.717), 0.695 (0.686-0.704) and 0.692 (0.683-0.701), respectively, with excellent calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P=0.99, 0.99, and 0.74, respectively). Conclusions Early pregnancy BP patterns up to 20 weeks' gestation plus clinical, social, and behavioral factors more accurately discriminate hypertensive disorders of pregnancy risk among low-to-moderate risk pregnancies. Early pregnancy BP trajectories improve risk stratification to reveal higher-risk individuals hidden within ostensibly low-to-moderate risk groups and lower-risk individuals considered at higher risk by US Preventive Services Task Force criteria.

Incremental predictive value of platelet parameters for preeclampsia: results from a large prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Platelet parameters during pregnancy were associated with the risk of preeclampsia (PE), but the predictive value of these parameters for PE remained unclear. Our aim was to clarify the individual and incremental predictive value of platelet parameters, including platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), and platelet distribution width (PDW) for PE.

METHODS

This study was based on the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study in China. Data on platelet parameters were extracted from medical records of routine prenatal examinations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to analyze the predictive ability of platelet parameters for PE. Maternal characteristic factors proposed by NICE and ACOG were used to develop the base model. Detection rate (DR), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) were calculated compared with the base model to assess the incremental predictive value of platelet parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 30,401 pregnancies were included in this study, of which 376 (1.24%) were diagnosed with PE. Higher levels of PC and PCT were observed at 12-19 gestational weeks in women who developed PE later. However, no platelet parameters before 20 weeks of gestation reliably distinguished between PE complicated pregnancy and non-PE complicated pregnancy, with all values of the areas under the ROC curves (AUC) below 0.70. The addition of platelet parameters at 16-19 gestational weeks to the base model increased the DR for preterm PE from 22.9 to 31.4% at a fixed false positive rate of 5%, improved the AUC from 0.775 to 0.849 (p = 0.015), and yielded a NRI of 0.793 (p < 0.001), and an IDI of 0.0069 (p = 0.035). Less but significant improvement in prediction performance was also observed for term PE and total PE when all the four platelet parameters were added to the base model.

CONCLUSIONS

Although no single platelet parameter at the early stage of pregnancy identified PE with high accuracy, the addition of platelet parameters to known independent risk factors could improve the prediction of PE.

Calorie restriction and pravastatin administration during pregnancy in obese rhesus macaques modulates maternal and infant metabolism and infant brain and behavioral development

Background

Maternal obesity has been associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications in mothers and offspring; however, effective interventions have not yet been developed. We tested two interventions, calorie restriction and pravastatin administration, during pregnancy in a rhesus macaque model with the hypothesis that these interventions would normalize metabolic dysregulation in pregnant mothers leading to an improvement in infant metabolic and cognitive/social development.

Methods

A total of 19 obese mothers were assigned to either one of the two intervention groups (n = 5 for calorie restriction; n = 7 for pravastatin) or an obese control group (n = 7) with no intervention, and maternal gestational samples and postnatal infant samples were compared with lean control mothers (n = 6) using metabolomics methods.

Results

Gestational calorie restriction normalized one-carbon metabolism dysregulation in obese mothers, but altered energy metabolism in her offspring. Although administration of pravastatin during pregnancy tended to normalize blood cholesterol in the mothers, it potentially impacted the gut microbiome and kidney function of their offspring. In the offspring, both calorie restriction and pravastatin administration during pregnancy tended to normalize the activity of AMPK in the brain at 6 months, and while results of the Visual Paired-Comparison test, which measures infant recognition memory, was not significantly impacted by either of the interventions, gestational pravastatin administration, but not calorie restriction, tended to normalize anxiety assessed by the Human Intruder test.

Conclusions

Although the two interventions tested in a non-human primate model led to some improvements in metabolism and/or infant brain development, negative impacts were also found in both mothers and infants. Our study emphasizes the importance of assessing gestational interventions for maternal obesity on both maternal and offspring long-term outcomes.

Machine learning-based placental clusters and their associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes

BACKGROUND

Placental abnormalities have been described in clinical convenience samples, with predominately adverse outcomes. Few studies have described placental patterns in unselected samples.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate associations between co-occurring placental features and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a prospective cohort of singletons.

METHODS

Data were from the Safe Passage study (U.S. and South Africa, 2007-2015). Before 24 weeks' gestation, participants were randomly invited to donate placental tissue at delivery for blinded, standardised pathological examination. We used hierarchical clustering to construct statistically derived groups using 60 placental features. We estimated associations between the placental clusters and select adverse pregnancy outcomes, expressed as unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and robust 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

We selected a 7-cluster model. After collapsing 2 clusters to form the reference group, we labelled the resulting 6 analytic clusters according to the overarching category of their most predominant feature(s): severe maternal vascular malperfusion (n = 117), fetal vascular malperfusion (n = 222), other vascular malperfusion (n = 516), inflammation 1 (n = 269), inflammation 2 (n = 175), and normal (n = 706). Risks for all outcomes were elevated in the severe maternal vascular malperfusion cluster. For instance, in unadjusted analyses, this cluster had 12 times the risk of stillbirth (RR 12.07, 95% CI 4.20, 34.68) and an almost doubling in the risk of preterm delivery (RR 1.93, 95% CI 1.27, 2.93) compared with the normal cluster. Small infant size was more common among the abnormal clusters, with the highest unadjusted RRs observed in the fetal vascular malperfusion cluster (small for gestational age birth RR 2.99, 95% CI 2.24, 3.98, head circumference <10th percentile RR 2.86, 95% CI 1.60, 5.12). Upon adjustment for known risk factors, most RRs attenuated but remained >1.

CONCLUSION

Our study adds to the growing body of epidemiologic research, finding adverse pregnancy outcomes may occur through etiologic mechanisms involving co-occurring placental abnormalities.

Higher PAPP-A Values in Pregnant Women Complicated with Preeclampsia Than with Gestational Hypertension

The purpose of this study is to compare the levels of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A at the first trimester in pregnancies complicated by impaired placental diseases, such as preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR), and gestational hypertension (GH), with those in pregnancies without the development of any of these outcomes to expand the knowledge of how this protein behaves in the different impaired placental diseases. This current work is an observational study based on a prospective cohort. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A was measured in 422 patients who had completed maternal-perinatal outcomes. Comparisons of pregnancy characteristics and the biomarker between outcome groups (PE, IUGR, gestational hypertension, and not impaired placental outcomes) were analyzed. PAPP-A MoM in the IUGR (0.8 IQR: 0.6-0.9) and GH groups (0.5 IQR: 0.3-1.4) compared to the PE group (1.06 IQR: 0.66-1.52) was significantly lower (p < 0.005). Pregnant women who developed early-onset PE (1.11 IQR 1.08-1.18) presented significant differences with the IUGR group (0.83 IQR: 0.59-0.98; p = 0.002) and those who developed preterm-PE (1.19 IQR: 0.66-1.58; p = 0.045). The results demonstrate that the levels of PAPP-A at first trimester in the sample of women who developed PE, and specially term-PE, were higher than those in women who developed GH or IUGR. The GH group had the lowest PAPP-A values in this sample of pregnant women. Research in a population with a high prevalence of preeclampsia is still lacking and deserves more extended studies to define if these patients could have different rates of PAPP-A.

First-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia and small for gestational age: A comparison of the gaussian and Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithms

OBJECTIVE

Pre-eclampsia (PE) and small for gestational age (SGA) can be predicted from the first trimester. The most widely used algorithm worldwide is the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) algorithm. The recently described Gaussian algorithm has reported excellent results although it is unlikely to be externally validated. Therefore, as an alternative approach, we compared the predictive accuracy for PE and SGA of the Gaussian and FMF algorithms.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study was conducted at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona) with 2641 singleton pregnancies. The areas under the curve for the predictive performance for early-onset and preterm PE and early-onset and preterm SGA were calculated with the Gaussian and FMF algorithms and subsequently compared.

RESULTS

The FMF and Gaussian algorithms showed a similar predictive performance for most outcomes and marker combinations. Nevertheless, significant differences for early-onset PE prediction favored the Gaussian algorithm in the following combinations: mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) with pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, MAP with placental growth factor, and MAP alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The first-trimester Gaussian and FMF algorithms have similar performances for PE and SGA prediction when applied with all markers within a routine care setting in a Spanish population, adding evidence to the external validity of the FMF algorithm.

Blood biomarkers to predict the onset of pre-eclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Pre-eclampsia is one of the most common pregnancy complications, and a major cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Diagnosis currently takes place in the third trimester based on clinical symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to determine the blood biomarkers that are associated with pre-eclampsia, and in particular, the biomarkers that could predict pre-eclampsia in early pregnancy. We searched the electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library) from inception up to March 2022. Prospective studies with 1000 or more participants that measured blood biomarkers to predict or diagnose pre-eclampsia have been included in this systematic review. Biomarkers' measurements were considered from the first up to the third trimester, but not during labor. Data concerning pre-eclampsia, biomarker measurements and study characteristics were extracted. Meta-analysis was performed when possible. We found a total of 43 studies (assessing 62 different biomarkers in 18,170 pregnancies, have been included in this systematic review, and a total of 6 studies (assessing 2 biomarkers have been included in the meta-analysis). Statistical analysis was performed for PlGF and sFlt-1. Mean difference in PlGF levels between pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnancies, appear to increase as the pregnancy progresses. Results of sFlt-1 meta-analysis were inconclusive. No significant publication bias was identified. This is the most comprehensive and up to date systematic review and meta-analysis on this important topic on blood biomarkers for the early prediction of pre-eclampsia. Further This research highlights the urgent needed for further discovery research to identify blood biomarkers that could predict the development of pre-eclampsia.

Prospective multicentre Italian pregnancy cohort study (SIMPLE) on the associations of maternal first trimester SIMPLE nutritional score with early placental function markers and pregnancy outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Currently, the adherence to nutritional guidelines is low, with alarming rates of obesity worldwide and micronutrient deficiencies documented even in industrialised countries. As a consequence, nutritional screening and counselling represent a critical subject in early pregnancy, aiming to improve pregnancy outcomes and population health.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In this setting, the development of a simple and reproducible nutritional checklist is of utmost importance. The Simple Study is a longitudinal prospective multicentre study aiming to identify the associations between maternal nutritional habits in the first trimester, early markers of placental function and pregnancy outcomes on a large population of singleton pregnancies in Italy.Ongoing healthy singleton pregnancies will be enrolled at the ultrasound scan of the first trimester combined screening test (11⁺⁰-13⁺⁶ gestational weeks). A nutritional score measuring the adherence to a healthy diet and nutritional deficiencies will be collected at recruitment. Fetal (crown-rump length, nuchal translucency (NT), biparietal diameter, femur length) and utero placental (placental volume, uterine arteries Doppler velocimetry) ultrasound data and biochemical placental markers (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, free ß-human chorionic gonadotropin) will be collected. Second and third trimester ultrasound records and birth outcomes will be recorded from medical registers. This study will set the stage for introducing a reproducible, time-saving and low-cost nutritional screening in pregnancy. The nutritional score will allow the implementation of specific corrective measures with potential large impact on placentation and pregnancy outcomes.

ETHICAL AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Milano Area 1 Ethics Committee (No 46091, 7 November 2018) prior to the commencement of the research.The dissemination plan includes the presentation of abstracts and findings at national and international scientific meetings.

Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Gestational Metabolome and Infant Metabolome, Brain, and Behavioral Development in Rhesus Macaques

Maternal gestational obesity is associated with elevated risks for neurodevelopmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder. However, the mechanisms by which maternal adiposity influences fetal developmental programming remain to be elucidated. We aimed to understand the impact of maternal obesity on the metabolism of both pregnant mothers and their offspring, as well as on metabolic, brain, and behavioral development of offspring by utilizing metabolomics, protein, and behavioral assays in a non-human primate model. We found that maternal obesity was associated with elevated inflammation and significant alterations in metabolites of energy metabolism and one-carbon metabolism in maternal plasma and urine, as well as in the placenta. Infants that were born to obese mothers were significantly larger at birth compared to those that were born to lean mothers. Additionally, they exhibited significantly reduced novelty preference and significant alterations in their emotional response to stress situations. These changes coincided with differences in the phosphorylation of enzymes in the brain mTOR signaling pathway between infants that were born to obese and lean mothers and correlated with the concentration of maternal plasma betaine during pregnancy. In summary, gestational obesity significantly impacted the infant systemic and brain metabolome and adaptive behaviors.

Toward personalized management of chronic hypertension in pregnancy

Chronic hypertension complicates 1% to 2% of pregnancies, and it is increasingly common. Women with chronic hypertension are an easily recognized group who are in touch with a wide variety of healthcare providers before, during, and after pregnancy, mandating that chronic hypertension in pregnancy be within the scope of many practitioners. We reviewed recent data on management to inform current care and future research. This study is a narrative review of published literature. Compared with normotensive women, women with chronic hypertension are at an increased risk of maternal and perinatal complications. Women with chronic hypertension who wish to be involved in their care can do by measuring blood pressure at home. Accurate devices for home blood pressure monitoring are now readily available. The diagnostic criteria for superimposed preeclampsia remain problematic because most guidelines continue to include deteriorating blood pressure control in the definition. It has not been established how angiogenic markers may aid in confirmation of the diagnosis of superimposed preeclampsia when suspected, over and above information provided by routinely available clinical data and laboratory results. Although chronic hypertension is a strong risk factor for preeclampsia, and aspirin decreases preeclampsia risk, the effectiveness specifically among women with chronic hypertension has been questioned. It is unclear whether calcium has an independent effect in preeclampsia prevention in such women. Treating hypertension with antihypertensive therapy halves the risk of progression to severe hypertension, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes, but a reduction in preeclampsia or serious maternal complications has not been observed; however, the lack of evidence for the latter is possibly owing to few events. In addition, treating chronic hypertension neither reduces nor increases fetal or newborn death or morbidity, regardless of the gestational age at which the antihypertensive treatment is started. Antihypertensive agents are not teratogenic, but there may be an increase in malformations associated with chronic hypertension itself. At present, blood pressure treatment targets used in clinics are the same as those used at home, although blood pressure values tend to be inconsistently lower at home among women with hypertension. Although starting all women on the same antihypertensive medication is usually effective in reducing blood pressure, it remains unclear whether there is an optimal agent for such an approach or how best to use combinations of antihypertensive medications. An alternative approach is to individualize care, using maternal characteristics and blood pressure features beyond blood pressure level (eg, variability) that are of prognostic value. Outcomes may be improved by timed birth between 38 0/7 and 39 6/7 weeks' gestation based on observational literature; of note, confirmatory trial evidence is pending. Postnatal care is facilitated by the acceptability of most antihypertensives (including angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors) for use in breastfeeding. The evidence base to guide the care of pregnant women with chronic hypertension is growing and aligning with international guidelines. Addressing outstanding research questions would inform personalized care of chronic hypertension in pregnancy.

First trimester preeclampsia screening and prediction

Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Early-onset disease requiring preterm delivery is associated with a higher risk of complications in both mothers and babies. Evidence suggests that the administration of low-dose aspirin initiated before 16 weeks' gestation significantly reduces the rate of preterm preeclampsia. Therefore, it is important to identify pregnant women at risk of developing preeclampsia during the first trimester of pregnancy, thus allowing timely therapeutic intervention. Several professional organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have proposed screening for preeclampsia based on maternal risk factors. The approach recommended by ACOG and NICE essentially treats each risk factor as a separate screening test with additive detection rate and screen-positive rate. Evidence has shown that preeclampsia screening based on the NICE and ACOG approach has suboptimal performance, as the NICE recommendation only achieves detection rates of 41% and 34%, with a 10% false-positive rate, for preterm and term preeclampsia, respectively. Screening based on the 2013 ACOG recommendation can only achieve detection rates of 5% and 2% for preterm and term preeclampsia, respectively, with a 0.2% false-positive rate. Various first trimester prediction models have been developed. Most of them have not undergone or failed external validation. However, it is worthy of note that the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) first trimester prediction model (namely the triple test), which consists of a combination of maternal factors and measurements of mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and serum placental growth factor, has undergone successful internal and external validation. The FMF triple test has detection rates of 90% and 75% for the prediction of early and preterm preeclampsia, respectively, with a 10% false-positive rate. Such performance of screening is superior to that of the traditional method by maternal risk factors alone. The use of the FMF prediction model, followed by the administration of low-dose aspirin, has been shown to reduce the rate of preterm preeclampsia by 62%. The number needed to screen to prevent 1 case of preterm preeclampsia by the FMF triple test is 250. The key to maintaining optimal screening performance is to establish standardized protocols for biomarker measurements and regular biomarker quality assessment, as inaccurate measurement can affect screening performance. Tools frequently used to assess quality control include the cumulative sum and target plot. Cumulative sum is a sensitive method to detect small shifts over time, and point of shift can be easily identified. Target plot is a tool to evaluate deviation from the expected multiple of median and the expected median of standard deviation. Target plot is easy to interpret and visualize. However, it is insensitive to detecting small deviations. Adherence to well-defined protocols for the measurements of mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and placental growth factor is required. This article summarizes the existing literature on the different methods, recommendations by professional organizations, quality assessment of different components of risk assessment, and clinical implementation of the first trimester screening for preeclampsia.

Reducing the Risk of Preterm Preeclampsia: Comparison of Two First Trimester Screening and Treatment Strategies in a Single Centre in Switzerland

Introduction First trimester screening for preeclampsia (PE) is based on the combined risks model. Recent trials demonstrate that variations in multiple of the medians (MoMs) of the screening markers influence the performance of the algorithm in different populations. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of the algorithm in two cohorts with different prevention strategies.

Material and Methods All first trimester screening tests performed between January 2014 and April 2020 were included. Up to June 2017 pregnancies with a risk > 1 : 200 for early-onset PE (eoPE) were considered at risk and received 100 mg of aspirin (strategy A). From July 2017 onwards, pregnancies with a risk > 1 : 100 for preterm PE (pPE) received 150 mg of aspirin (strategy B). We compared the screen positive rates (SPR) and incidence of PE between the two screening approaches. Statistical analysis were performed with Graphpad 8.0.

Results 3552 pregnancies were included; 1577 pregnancies were screened according to strategy A, 1975 pregnancies according to strategy B. The screen positive rate (SPR) for strategy A and B was 8.9 and 16.9% respectively (p < 0.0001) while the incidence of PE was 1.41 and 1.84% respectively (p = ns).

Conclusion With a SPR of less than 10% we achieved a remarkably low rate of PE in our population, no further reduction in PE could be achieved by an increase in the SPR and LDA-prescription during the second screening period. The cut-off to define a pregnancy at risk for PE should be tailored to keep the SPR below 10% to avoid unnecessary treatment with aspirin.

Prediction of preeclampsia using a combination of serum micro RNA-210 and uterine artery Doppler ultrasound

The objective was to determine whether a combination of serum micro RNA-210 level and uterine artery Doppler can predict preeclampsia in pregnant women at 16-24 weeks gestation. A prospective observational study conducted in singleton pregnant women at 16-24 weeks of gestation who had prenatal care at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand between 2017 and 2018. Uterine artery Doppler ultrasound and blood testing for serum micro RNA-210 were performed. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded. Optimal cut-off for uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and serum micro RNA-210 were obtained to calculate the predictive values for preeclampsia. Data from 443 participants were analyzed. Twenty-two cases developed preeclampsia (5.0%) and seven of these preeclamptic cases had early-onset preeclampsia (1.6%). Pregnant women with preeclampsia had higher mean PI of the uterine artery (1.34 ± 0.52 vs 0.98 ± 0.28, p = 0.004), higher detection rates of diastolic notching (45.5% vs 11.2%, p < 0.001), and lower median serum micro RNA-210 level (22.86 vs 795.78, p < 0.001) than pregnant women without preeclampsia. Using abnormal serum micro RNA-210 level, abnormal mean PI or uterine artery diastolic notches to predict for preeclampsia, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 95.5%, 54.9%, 10.0%, and 99.6%, respectively. For early-onset preeclampsia prediction, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100.0%, 53.2%, 3.3%, and 100.0%, respectively. This study demonstrated that a combination of serum micro RNA-210 and uterine artery Doppler is effective in predicting preeclampsia in the second trimester.

Cost-utility of a first-trimester screening strategy versus the standard of care for nulliparous women to prevent pre-term pre-eclampsia in Belgium

OBJECTIVES

To assess the cost-effectiveness of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) combined first-trimester pre-eclampsia (PE) screening algorithm, coupled with low-dose aspirin treatment in high-risk patients, compared to the standard of care (SOC; screening based on maternal risk factors) for nulliparous pregnancies in Belgium.

STUDY DESIGN

A decision analytic model was used to estimate the costs and outcomes for patients screened using the SOC and for those using the FMF screening algorithm, from the Belgian payers' perspective. Where possible, the probabilities and associated costs at each decision point were calculated based on published literature and public databases.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cost-effectiveness was assessed using an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. One-way sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the impact of independent variations in each model parameter. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was used to estimate the impact of the overall uncertainty of the model on the estimated cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

Considering an estimated 51,309 pregnancies in nulliparous women in Belgium per year, the FMF screening algorithm resulted in fewer cases of pre-term PE compared with the SOC (479 versus 816 cases) and a cost saving of €28.67 per patient. The outcome in quality-adjusted life-years was similar for both screening approaches (FMF screening algorithm 1.8521 versus SOC 1.8518). The FMF screening algorithm was cost-saving and more effective in 99.4% of simulations.

CONCLUSIONS

The FMF screening algorithm coupled with early intervention using low-dose aspirin has the potential to prevent an additional 337 cases of pre-term PE per year compared with the current SOC in this population, along with a cost saving.

Nested Case-Control Study of Corin Combined with sFlt-1/PLGF in Predicting the Risk of Preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia (PE), a serious pregnancy disorder, is responsible for maternal and fetal mortality worldwide. At present, numerous candidate biomarkers have been studied to predict PE.

Objective

To explore the role of Corin in PE risk prediction and then evaluate the predictive ability of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFlt-1), placenta growth factor (PLGF), and sFlt-1/PLGF after the addition of Corin.

Methods

A total of 135 pregnant women from Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine participated in this study in their first trimester. A nested case–control study was conducted and all subjects were divided into PE groups (n=46) and controls (n=89). The levels of PLGF, sFlt-1, sFlt-1/PLGF ratio, and Corin of the two groups at 12–16 weeks of gestation were measured and analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination index (IDI) were calculated to evaluate the predictive ability of various biomarkers.

Results

The concentrations of sFlt-1, sFlt-1/PLGF, and Corin in PE group were significantly higher than that in controls, while the concentration of PLGF in the PE group was lower. The area under curve (AUC) of sFlt-1, PLGF and sFlt-1/PLGF for predicting PE was 0.786, 0.719 and 0.866, respectively. Combined with Corin, the prediction ability of the above biomarkers could be improved to 0.876, 0.847, and 0.897, respectively. Corin in combination with sFlt-1/PLGF resulted in improvements with 12.6% being reclassified and a resulting NRI of 0.142 (0.020~0.263) and IDI of 0.087 (0.037~0.137).

Conclusion

The addition of Corin to sFlt-1, PLGF and sFlt-1/PLGF can improve the ability of each marker to predict PE risk. Corin in combination with sFlt-1/PLGF can be used as ideal markers to identify the pregnant women who subsequently develop PE, which will help in risk stratification and better therapeutic management.

Effect of adenomyosis on adverse obstetrical outcomes in twin pregnancies achieved with assisted reproductive technology

The incidence of twin pregnancy with adenomyosis (AD) is increasing due to advanced maternal age and infertility treatment. We retrospectively analysed the data of 45 dichorionic twin pregnancies complicated with AD in contrast to a control group of dichorionic twin pregnancies without AD (n = 130). Compared with those in the control group, the AD group had a higher overall foetal loss rate (8.9% vs. 0.8%; adjusted p = .031; odds ratio (OR), 13.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-146.3), higher early preterm delivery rate (20% vs. 6.9%; adjusted p = .007; OR, 4.22; 95% CI, 1.47-12.13) and higher rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (26.7% vs. 7.7%; adjusted p = .005; OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.5-10.2). Patients in the AD group were significantly more likely to require transfusion during or after delivery (17.8% vs. 5.4%; p = .026) and have smaller babies (2168 g vs. 2399 g; p = .004) compared with those in the control group. This is the first study to report that twin pregnancies with AD may be treated as high-risk for placental dysfunction and may need closer monitoring during pregnancy.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The incidence of twin pregnancy with adenomyosis (AD) is increasing due to advanced maternal age and infertility treatment. However, there are very few studies on the effect of AD on pregnancy outcomes.What the results of this study add? This is the first study to report that twin pregnancies with AD have higher rates of early preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and transfusion compared to controls.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The results of this study can be used in counselling twin pregnancies with AD. Further research is needed to confirm the current findings.

Systemic transcriptome comparison between early- And late-onset pre-eclampsia shows distinct pathology and novel biomarkers

Objectives

Pre‐eclampsia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Although the two forms of this disorder, early‐ (EOPE) and late‐onset of pre‐eclampsia (LOPE) are different, the underlying pathology remains elusive. We aim to unravel the difference and to identify novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE.

Materials and Methods

A complete comparison of both placental and peripheral blood transcriptomes was performed to investigate the pathology of pre‐eclampsia. Single‐cell transcriptomics of the maternal‐fetal interface were integrated to identify novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE which were further verified at protein or mRNA level in patients.

Results

We found that the transcriptomes of placentae from EOPE, but not LOPE, were significantly different from their respective controls. Conversely, the transcriptomes of peripheral blood from LOPE were more different from their controls than EOPE. Importantly, we identified that several classical biomarkers of pre‐eclampsia were expressed specifically in extravillous trophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast and only upregulated in EOPE, suggesting they should not be applied to all pre‐eclampsia patients in general. We further identified novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of placental and peripheral blood, respectively. The new biomarkers EBI3, IGF2, ORMDL3, GATA2 and KIR2DL4 were experimentally verified with patient blood samples.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate distinct pathology of EOPE and LOPE, and uncover new biomarkers that can be applied in diagnosis for pre‐eclampsia.

Current update of first trimester preeclampsia screening in Asia

In consideration of high prevalence of preeclampsia, enormous studies attempted to look for strategies in early gestation. Hence, a powerful screening should be built up in first trimester. Then, Aspirin could be administrated for proper prevention. The objective of this article is reviewing the screening for preeclampsia in first trimester recently. To identify the high-risk group precisely, an effective model should be recommended to Asian population. Articles related to first trimester screening of PE in Asia from databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus were searched for this narrative review. The criteria included randomized clinical trials, observational prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, systematic review and meta-analysis and professional review articles. Screening models combining maternal factors, biophysical factors, ultrasound studies and biochemical factors achieved high predictive performance of preeclampsia. In Asia, the detection rate of the Fetal Medicine Foundation is superior to those of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Consequently, this effective model from the Fetal Medicine Foundation should be continuously used for screening in first trimester for the Asian.

Preeclampsia may influence offspring neuroanatomy and cognitive function: a role for placental growth factor†

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy complication affecting 3-5% of women. Preeclampsia is diagnosed clinically as new-onset hypertension with associated end organ damage after 20 weeks of gestation. Despite being diagnosed as a maternal syndrome, fetal experience of PE is a developmental insult with lifelong cognitive consequences. These cognitive alterations are associated with distorted neuroanatomy and cerebrovasculature, including a higher risk of stroke. The pathophysiology of a PE pregnancy is complex, with many factors potentially able to affect fetal development. Deficient pro-angiogenic factor expression is one aspect that may impair fetal vascularization, alter brain structure, and affect future cognition. Of the pro-angiogenic growth factors, placental growth factor (PGF) is strongly linked to PE. Concentrations of PGF are inappropriately low in maternal blood both before and during a PE gestation. Fetal concentrations of PGF appear to mirror maternal circulating concentrations. Using Pgf-/- mice that may model effects of PE on offspring, we demonstrated altered central nervous system vascularization, neuroanatomy, and behavior. Overall, we propose that development of the fetal brain is impaired in PE, making the offspring of preeclamptic pregnancies a unique cohort with greater risk of altered cognition and cerebrovasculature. These individuals may benefit from early interventions, either pharmacological or environmental. The early neonatal period may be a promising window for intervention while the developing brain retains plasticity.

Preterm parturition and pre-eclampsia: The confluence of two great gestational syndromes

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) and pre-eclampsia independently, and frequently concurrently, adversely affect the pregnancy outcomes of millions of mothers and infants worldwide each year.

OBJECTIVES

To fill the gap between PTB and pre-eclampsia, which continue to constitute the two most important current global challenges to maternal and perinatal health.

METHODS

Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception until December 2019 using the terms spontaneous PTB (SPTB), indicated preterm delivery (IPTD), early-onset pre-eclampsia, and pre-eclampsia.

RESULTS

History of PTB and pre-eclampsia were the strongest risk factors contributing to the occurrence of SPTB or IPTB. The risk of PTB and pre-eclampsia among non-Hispanic African American women was higher than the rate among all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) has been reported to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia by at least 10% and PTB by at least 14%. Lastly, women and their fetuses who develop early-onset pre-eclampsia are at higher risk for developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease later in life.

CONCLUSIONS

While better clarity is needed, efforts to coordinate prevention of both PTB and pre-eclampsia, even though imperfect, are critically important as part of any program to make motherhood as safe as possible.

Impact of the ACOG guideline regarding low-dose aspirin for prevention of superimposed preeclampsia in women with chronic hypertension

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic hypertension are at increased risk for superimposed preeclampsia. The 2016 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guideline recommended initiating 81 mg of daily aspirin for all pregnant women with chronic hypertension to prevent superimposed preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE

(1) To evaluate the rates of implementation of the 2016 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guideline over time; and (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of aspirin for the prevention of superimposed preeclampsia and other adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with chronic hypertension before and after this guideline.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective study of women with chronic hypertension who delivered at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from January 2014 through June 2018. This cohort of women with chronic hypertension was divided into 2 groups, before and after the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendation published in September 2016. Daily 81 mg of aspirin was initiated between 12 and 16 weeks. We excluded multiple gestations and incomplete records. The primary outcome was incidence of superimposed preeclampsia, and secondary outcomes were incidence of superimposed preeclampsia with or without severe features, small for gestational age, and preterm birth <37 weeks. Subgroup analysis based on risk stratification was evaluated in women with chronic hypertension requiring antihypertensive medication, history of preeclampsia, and pregestational diabetes.

RESULTS

We identified 457 pregnant women with chronic hypertension, 203 in the post-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists group and 254 in the pre-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists group. Aspirin 81 mg was offered to 142 (70%) in the post-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists group and 18 (7.0%) in the pre-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists group. Maternal demographics were not significantly different. The overall incidence of superimposed preeclampsia was not significantly different: 87 (34.3%) vs 72 (35.5%), P=.79, in the pre- and post-American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guideline groups, respectively. Superimposed preeclampsia with severe features significantly increased: 32 (12.6%) vs 9 (4.4%), P<.01, whereas superimposed preeclampsia without severe features significantly decreased: 55 (21.7%) vs 63 (31.0%), P=.03. There were no significant differences in small for gestational age neonates or preterm birth <37 weeks incidences between groups. There were no significant differences in the subgroup analysis based on the severity of chronic hypertension requiring antihypertensive medication, history of preeclampsia, or pregestational diabetes.

CONCLUSION

After the adoption of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines in 70% of the cohort, superimposed preeclampsia, small for gestational age, and preterm birth were not significantly decreased after implementation of aspirin 81 mg initiated between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation.

Is placental KISS-1 expression associated with first trimester abortion spontaneous?

Objective

Several studies have examined biological markers during the first trimester to predict the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. One such marker is kisspeptin, which is encoded by the KISS-1 gene. We aimed to determine whether first-trimester pregnancy losses were associated with levels of placental KISS-1 expression.

Methods

This prospective case control study was conducted at a tertiary center. The study group included 27 and 24 patients who underwent dilation and curettage at <10 weeks of gestation, due to first trimester spontaneous pregnancy loss and for elective termination (control), respectively. Placental and decidual tissues from all patients were sectioned and immunohistochemically analyzed for kisspeptin.

Results

Age, gravida status, parity number, gestational week, and number of previous abortions did not significantly differ between the groups. KISS-1 expression levels were significantly lower in the group with spontaneous abortion compared with the group with elective termination. The median staining intensity of KISS-1 expression in the elective and spontaneous termination groups were 3 (strong) and 2 (moderate), respectively (P=0.004). KISS-1 expression levels were significantly lower among patients with previous abortions in the elective termination group (P=0.002).

Conclusion

KISS-1 expression levels were found to be significantly reduced in patients with spontaneous pregnancy loss; KISS-1 plays an important role in the implantation and continuation of pregnancy.

A new model for screening for early-onset preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Early identification of women with an increased risk for preeclampsia is of utmost importance to minimize adverse perinatal events. Models developed until now (mainly multiparametric algorithms) are thought to be overfitted to the derivation population, which may affect their reliability when applied to other populations. Options allowing adaptation to a variety of populations are needed.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to assess the performance of a first-trimester multivariate Gaussian distribution model including maternal characteristics and biophysical/biochemical parameters for screening of early-onset preeclampsia (delivery <34 weeks of gestation) in a routine care low-risk setting.

STUDY DESIGN

Early-onset preeclampsia screening was undertaken in a prospective cohort of singleton pregnancies undergoing routine first-trimester screening (8 weeks 0/7 days to 13 weeks 6/7 days of gestation), mainly using a 2-step scheme, at 2 hospitals from March 2014 to September 2017. A multivariate Gaussian distribution model including maternal characteristics (a priori risk), serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and placental growth factor assessed at 8 weeks 0/7 days to 13 weeks 6/7 days and mean arterial pressure and uterine artery pulsatility index measured at 11.0-13.6 weeks was used.

RESULTS

A total of 7908 pregnancies underwent examination, of which 6893 were included in the analysis. Incidence of global preeclampsia was 2.3% (n = 161), while of early-onset preeclampsia was 0.2% (n = 17). The combination of maternal characteristics, biophysical parameters, and placental growth factor showed the best detection rate, which was 59% for a 5% false-positive rate and 94% for a 10% false-positive rate (area under the curve, 0.96, 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.98). The addition of placental growth factor to biophysical markers significantly improved the detection rate from 59% to 94%.

CONCLUSION

The multivariate Gaussian distribution model including maternal factors, early placental growth factor determination (at 8 weeks 0/7 days to 13 weeks 6/7 days), and biophysical variables (mean arterial pressure and uterine artery pulsatility index) at 11 weeks 0/7 days to 13 weeks 6/7 days is a feasible tool for early-onset preeclampsia screening in the routine care setting. Performance of this model should be compared with predicting models based on regression analysis.

Late pregnancy screening for preeclampsia with a urinary point-of-care test for misfolded proteins

The aim was to describe and assess a new late pregnancy point-of-care urinary preeclampsia screening test. Urine samples were collected from a consecutive series of 1,532 pregnant women hospitalized at 20-41 weeks gestation in a Chinese single obstetric unit. A simple disposable Congo red based device was newly developed and employed to prospectively test misfolded proteins in pregnant women's urine. A total of 140 preeclampsia cases were clinically diagnosed, 101 severe and 87 pre-term. Detection and false positive rates were similar in the training and validation subsets with combined 74% and 3.0%. The detection rate was 83% in severe, 86% in pre-term, 49% and 50% in mild and term cases (P<0.0001) respectively. In conclusion, a simple point-of-care urinary test for misfolded proteins can be used to screen for preeclampsia in late pregnancy with very high screening performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to screen for preeclampsia using Congo red based device in Chinese pregnant population.

Prediction of Preeclampsia and Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Development of Machine Learning Models on a Prospective Cohort

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction are placental dysfunction-related disorders (PDDs) that require a referral decision be made within a certain time period. An appropriate prediction model should be developed for these diseases. However, previous models did not demonstrate robust performances and/or they were developed from datasets with highly imbalanced classes.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we developed a predictive model of PDDs by machine learning that uses features at 24-37 weeks' gestation, including maternal characteristics, uterine artery (UtA) Doppler measures, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF).

METHODS

A public dataset was taken from a prospective cohort study that included pregnant women with PDDs (66/95, 69%) and a control group (29/95, 31%). Preliminary selection of features was based on a statistical analysis using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute). We used Weka (Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis) 3.8.3 (The University of Waikato, Hamilton, NZ) to automatically select the best model using its optimization algorithm. We also manually selected the best of 23 white-box models. Models, including those from recent studies, were also compared by interval estimation of evaluation metrics. We used the Matthew correlation coefficient (MCC) as the main metric. It is not overoptimistic to evaluate the performance of a prediction model developed from a dataset with a class imbalance. Repeated 10-fold cross-validation was applied.

RESULTS

The classification via regression model was chosen as the best model. Our model had a robust MCC (.93, 95% CI .87-1.00, vs .64, 95% CI .57-.71) and specificity (100%, 95% CI 100-100, vs 90%, 95% CI 90-90) compared to each metric of the best models from recent studies. The sensitivity of this model was not inferior (95%, 95% CI 91-100, vs 100%, 95% CI 92-100). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was also competitive (0.970, 95% CI 0.966-0.974, vs 0.987, 95% CI 0.980-0.994). Features in the best model were maternal weight, BMI, pulsatility index of the UtA, sFlt-1, and PlGF. The most important feature was the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. This model used an M5P algorithm consisting of a decision tree and four linear models with different thresholds. Our study was also better than the best ones among recent studies in terms of the class balance and the size of the case class (66/95, 69%, vs 27/239, 11.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our model had a robust predictive performance. It was also developed to deal with the problem of a class imbalance. In the context of clinical management, this model may improve maternal mortality and neonatal morbidity and reduce health care costs.

Serum and placental periostin levels in women with early pregnancy loss

OBJECTIVES

Periostin is secreted from the placenta in the embryonic period and it is emphasized that it may be involved in endometrial implantation. In this study, we aimed to investigate periostin serum levels and placental tissue expression in first trimester pregnancy losses.

STUDY DESIGN

In this prospective case-control study, 30 patients who underwent dilatation and curettage with first trimester spontaneous abortion (<10 weeks of gestation) were included in the study group and 30 patients who had voluntary pregnancy termination (<10 gestational weeks) were included in the control group. Serum samples collected from the study and control groups were analyzed usingenzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA), and trophoblastic and decidual tissues were examined using immunohistochemical staining with streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, gravida status, parity number, gestational week, and number of previous abortions. In the spontaneous abortion group, the serum level of periostin was significantly lower than in the voluntary termination group (6.56 ± 4.16 pg/mLvs. 9.51 ± 4.52 pg/mL, p = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of periostin expression in decidual and trophoblastic tissue (p = 0.617, p = 0.274, p = 0.497).

CONCLUSION

Periostin serum levels were significantly reduced in patients with spontaneous pregnancy loss. Periostin can be used as a predictive marker for the success of endometrial implantation.

Ultrasound features prior to 11 weeks' gestation and first-trimester maternal factors in prediction of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

Maternal hypertensive disorders (MHD), including pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia, are estimated to occur in 7-10% of pregnancies worldwide and have significant short- and long-term implications for both mother and fetus. This study aimed to determine the association of conventional and novel early first-trimester ultrasound measures with MHD and whether these ultrasound measures, combined with maternal characteristics and biochemistry, improve the prediction of MHD.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive women with a singleton pregnancy, attending for an early (5 + 1 to 11 + 0 weeks' gestation) ultrasound examination at a private obstetric ultrasound practice between February 2016 and August 2018. Recorded ultrasound measurements included mean sac diameter, yolk sac diameter, crown-rump length, fetal heart rate (FHR), trophoblast thickness, trophoblast volume (TV) and mean uterine artery pulsatility index. Maternal biochemistry was assessed at 10-14 weeks and included beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PlGF) and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein. Regression models were fitted for each ultrasound parameter and multiples of the median (MoM) were calculated. All measures were compared between women who had a normotensive outcome and those who subsequently developed MHD. Logistic regression analysis was used to create a prediction model for MHD based on maternal characteristics, ultrasound measurements at 5 + 1 to 11 + 0 weeks' gestation and maternal biochemistry at 10-14 weeks.

RESULTS

In total, 1141 women were included in the analysis, of whom 1086 (95.2%) were normotensive at delivery and 55 (4.8%) developed MHD. Women who developed MHD weighed significantly more than did normotensive women (P < 0.0001). Mean MoM values for TV (P = 0.006), PAPP-A (P = 0.031) and PlGF (P = 0.044) were decreased significantly in pregnancies that subsequently developed MHD. The proposed logistic regression model includes maternal weight and height and MoM values for TV, FHR and PlGF, resulting in an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.86).

CONCLUSION

The combination of maternal weight and height, TV and FHR, measured prior to 11 weeks' gestation, and first-trimester PlGF appears to have good predictive value for development of MHD later in pregnancy. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

First-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein is associated with ischemic placental disease

BACKGROUND

While elevated second-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, the utility of first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein in predicting these outcomes is limited. Some laboratories have been including maternal serum alpha fetoprotein as part of the first-trimester analyte screening for aneuploidy and preeclampsia, offering its potential utility in predicting pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Our primary objective was to determine the association between elevated first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein and preeclampsia as well as ischemic placental disease (a composite of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and/or placental abruption). Secondary outcomes included early-onset preeclampsia requiring delivery at <34 weeks gestation, fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, preterm delivery, fetal demise, and spontaneous abortion.

STUDY DESIGN

An institutional review board-approved multisite retrospective cohort study was performed including all patients with first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein as part of routine first-trimester aneuploidy screening from April 2015 through January 2017. Pregnancies with multiple gestations, known structural or chromosomal abnormalities, known malignancy, and incomplete delivery records were excluded. Delivery records were reviewed for baseline characteristics and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The optimal cutoff point for first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein to predict these outcomes was assessed, and an elevated maternal serum alpha fetoprotein was considered >2.0 multiple of the median. A Fisher exact test and odds ratios were used to determine the association between elevated first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Spearman correlation coefficient assessed the relationship between first- and second-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein.

RESULTS

Of 1478 patients with first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein, 1280 had complete records available for review (86.6%). There was no association demonstrated between elevated first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (>2.0 multiple of the median) and the primary outcome, overall preeclampsia (5.8% vs 4.6%, odds ratio, 1.29, 95% confidence interval, 0.58-2.91). However, there was an increased incidence of ischemic placental disease, 15.8% vs 7.7% (odds ratio, 2.26, 95% confidence interval, 1.33-3.87) in those with an elevated alpha fetoprotein. Also, elevated first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein was associated with a higher incidence of fetal growth restriction (7.5% vs 2.3%, odds ratio, 3.40, 95% confidence interval, 1.56-7.42) and preterm birth (18.3% vs 10.3%, odds ratio, 1.95, 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.21). Also, a positive correlation between first- and second-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein was demonstrated (rho = 0.46, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Elevated first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein is associated with ischemic placental disease, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth. This suggests that elevated maternal serum alpha fetoprotein may help to identify high risk pregnancies as early as the first trimester of pregnancy. Future studies are necessary to determine whether the addition of first-trimester maternal serum alpha fetoprotein to existing algorithms can improve the early detection of ischemic placental disease.

Gottesfeld-Hohler Memorial Foundation Risk Assessment for Early-Onset Preeclampsia in the United States: Think Tank Summary

Preeclampsia is responsible for significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and is associated with a substantial economic burden. Aspirin has been shown to be effective in decreasing the risk of preterm preeclampsia; however, there is no consensus on the target population for aspirin prophylaxis. In May 2018, the Gottesfeld-Hohler Memorial Foundation organized a working group meeting with the goal of identifying the optimal preeclampsia risk-assessment strategy and consequent intervention in the United States. The meeting brought together experts from the leading professional societies. We discussed available literature and trends in preeclampsia risk assessment, current professional guidelines for identifying women at risk for preeclampsia, prophylactic use of aspirin in the United States and Europe, cost-effectiveness data, and feasibility of implementation of different assessment tools and preventive strategies in the United States. We identified specific knowledge gaps and future research directions in preeclampsia risk assessment and prevention that need to be addressed before practice change.

Diagnostic Performance of First Trimester Screening of Preeclampsia Based on Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index and Maternal Risk Factors in Routine Clinical Use

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder defined by new onset of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. The early detection of patients at risk of developing preeclampsia is crucial, however, predictive models are still controversial. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a predictive algorithm in the first trimester of pregnancy, in order to identify patients that will subsequently develop preeclampsia, and to study the effect of aspirin on reducing the rate of this complication in patients classified as high risk by this algorithm. A retrospective cohort including 1132 patients attending prenatal care at Clínica Dávila in Santiago, Chile, was conceived. The risk of developing preeclampsia (early and late onset) was calculated using algorithms previously described by Plasencia et al. Patients classified as high risk, in the first trimester of pregnancy, by these algorithms, were candidates to receive 100 mg/daily aspirin as prophylaxis at the discretion of the attending physician. The overall incidence of preeclampsia in this cohort was 3.5% (40/1132), and the model for early onset preeclampsia prediction detected 33% of patients with early onset preeclampsia. Among the 105 patients considered at high risk of developing preeclampsia, 56 received aspirin and 49 patients did not. Among those who received aspirin, 12% (7/56) developed preeclampsia, which is equal to the rate of preeclampsia (12% (6/49)) of those who did not receive this medication. Therefore, the diagnostic performance of an algorithm combining uterine artery Doppler and maternal factors in the first trimester predicted only one third of patients that developed preeclampsia. Among those considered at high risk for developing the disease using this algorithm, aspirin did not change the incidence of preeclampsia, however, this could be due either to the small study sample size or the type of the study, a retrospective, non-interventional cohort study.

Expression profiles of candidate microRNAs in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with early- and late-onset preeclampsia versus normal pregnancies

OBJECTIVES

Maternal leucocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules. The purpose of this study was to investigate miR-518b, miR-155-5p, and miR-21-3p in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with PE, compared to controls.

STUDY DESIGN

Using real-time quantitative PCR method, the selected miRNAs which have been associated with PE were examined from early- onset PE (EOPE) (<34 weeks) (n = 48), late- onset PE (LOPE) (≥34 weeks) (n = 48), total cases of PE (n = 96), and healthy controls (n = 52).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The relative expression of the target miR in patient samples was compared to the calibrator and the results were expressed as relative quantification values.

RESULTS

Gestational age (GA) was significantly different between PE and controls. Univariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for GA at blood draw were fit to compare miR-518b, miR-155-5p, and miR-21-3p between PE and controls. The expression of miR-518b, miR-155-5p, and miR-21-3p were not significantly different in PE, compared to controls. The expression of miR-518b was upregulated in the EOPE and LOPE group, compared to controls, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of miR-518b was 0.65 and 0.62, respectively. miR-518b was positively correlated with WBC count, platelet count, serum levels of AST, ALT, LDH in EOPE. miR-21-3p expression level was negatively correlated with body mass index at blood draw and systolic blood pressure in the LOPE group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased miR-518b expression levels were found to be associated with EOPE and LOPE.

Assessment of β-human-derived chorionic gonadotrophic hormone (βhCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) levels as predictive factors of preeclampsia in the first trimester among Iranian women: a cohort study

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. There are controversial findings regarding the prediction of PE through the assessment of the Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) and β-Human-Derived Chorionic Gonadotrophic hormone (βhCG) levels in the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, this cohort study was conducted to evaluate of PAPP-A and βhCG levels as predictive factors for PE development in the first trimester among Iranian women.

Methods

In this cohort study, a total of 4605 volunteer Primigravida and Multigravida women were selected by the census from 16 randomly selected Health Centers in Isfahan, Iran, from July 2016 to June 2018. Eligible pregnant women participated in the study had already undergone fetal anomalies screening tests between 11 + 0 and 13 + 6 weeks of pregnancy and their PAPP-A and βhCG biomarkers were adjusted to the Multiples of the Median (MOM). MOM PAPP-A <  0.4 and MOM βhCG > 3 were considered abnormal. The samples were followed up until delivery. The biomarkers’ levels were compared in the two groups of women with and without PE and Relative risk (RR) and odds ratio (OR) of PE calculated.

Results

In the PE group, the mean MOM PAPP-A was significantly lower (1 vs. 1.09 with P = 0.006) and MOM βhCG was significantly higher (1.51 vs. 1.14 with P = 0.001) than the group without PE. RR and OR for PE in subjects with MOM PAPP-A <  0.4 were reported as follows: RR = 2.49, (p = 0.001) and OR = 2.09, (p = 0.001). RR and OR for PE in subjects with MOM βhCG > 3 were also reported as follows: RR = 4.02, (p = 0.001) and OR = 5.65, (p = 0.001). Adjusted OR for MOM PAPP-A <  0.4 and MOM βhCG > 3 was obtained as follows: OR = 2.09 (P = 0.001) and OR = 5.65 (P = 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

The results of the study showed that the high levels of βhCG would cause 5.65 times increase and the low levels of PAPP-A would cause 2.09 times increase in the chance of developing PE.

Prospective evaluation of screening performance of first-trimester prediction models for preterm preeclampsia in an Asian population

BACKGROUND

The administration of aspirin <16 weeks gestation to women who are at high risk for preeclampsia has been shown to reduce the rate of preterm preeclampsia by 65%. The traditional approach to identify such women who are at risk is based on risk factors from maternal characteristics, obstetrics, and medical history as recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. An alternative approach to screening for preeclampsia has been developed by the Fetal Medicine Foundation. This approach allows the estimation of patient-specific risks of preeclampsia that requires delivery before a specified gestational age with the use of Bayes theorem-based model.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the Fetal Medicine Foundation Bayes theorem-based model, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations for the prediction of preterm preeclampsia at 11-13⁺⁶ weeks gestation in a large Asian population STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, nonintervention, multicenter study in 10,935 singleton pregnancies at 11-13⁺⁶ weeks gestation in 11 recruiting centers across 7 regions in Asia between December 2016 and June 2018. Maternal characteristics and medical, obstetric, and drug history were recorded. Mean arterial pressure and uterine artery pulsatility indices were measured according to standardized protocols. Maternal serum placental growth factor concentrations were measured by automated analyzers. The measured values of mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and placental growth factor were converted into multiples of the median. The Fetal Medicine Foundation Bayes theorem-based model was used for the calculation of patient-specific risk of preeclampsia at <37 weeks gestation (preterm preeclampsia) and at any gestation (all preeclampsia) in each participant. The performance of screening for preterm preeclampsia and all preeclampsia by a combination of maternal factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index, and placental growth factor (triple test) was evaluated with the adjustment of aspirin use. We examined the predictive performance of the model by the use of receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration by measurements of calibration slope and calibration in the large. The detection rate of screening by the Fetal Medicine Foundation Bayes theorem-based model was compared with the model that was derived from the application of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations.

RESULTS

There were 224 women (2.05%) who experienced preeclampsia, which included 73 cases (0.67%) of preterm preeclampsia. In pregnancies with preterm preeclampsia, the mean multiples of the median values of mean arterial pressure and uterine artery pulsatility index were significantly higher (mean arterial pressure, 1.099 vs 1.008 [P<.001]; uterine artery pulsatility index, 1.188 vs 1.063[P=.006]), and the mean placental growth factor multiples of the median was significantly lower (0.760 vs 1.100 [P<.001]) than in women without preeclampsia. The Fetal Medicine Foundation triple test achieved detection rates of 48.2%, 64.0%, 71.8%, and 75.8% at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% fixed false-positive rates, respectively, for the prediction of preterm preeclampsia. These were comparable with those of previously published data from the Fetal Medicine Foundation study. Screening that used the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations achieved detection rate of 54.6% at 20.4% false-positive rate. The detection rate with the use of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline was 26.3% at 5.5% false-positive rate.

CONCLUSION

Based on a large number of women, this study has demonstrated that the Fetal Medicine Foundation Bayes theorem-based model is effective in the prediction of preterm preeclampsia in an Asian population and that this method of screening is superior to the approach recommended by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We have also shown that the Fetal Medicine Foundation prediction model can be implemented as part of routine prenatal care through the use of the existing infrastructure of routine prenatal care.

Serum CA-125 levels in preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity, although an optimal screening model is still under investigation. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to accumulate current evidence and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CA-125 in preeclampsia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Clinicaltrials.gov and Google Scholar were systematically searched. All studies reporting serum CA-125 among preeclamptic and healthy pregnant women were selected.

RESULTS

Nine studies involving 977 women were included. Meta-analysis revealed significant differences among patients with preeclampsia and control pregnant women (MD 15.86 IU/mL, 95% CI, 9.03-22.69). Patients with severe preeclampsia had significantly higher levels of CA-125 compared to patients with mild preeclampsia (MD 13.21 IU/mL, 95% CI, 1.94-24.49). Meta-regression analysis revealed that gestational age <34 weeks could positively affect this association.

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis suggests that serum CA-125 levels are increased in preeclamptic women during the third trimester of pregnancy. This association should be interpreted with caution as there are concerns for significant selection bias. Future studies are needed to corroborate these findings and investigate the diagnostic accuracy of this biomarker during early pregnancy.

Prediction model development of late-onset preeclampsia using machine learning-based methods

Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Due to the lack of effective preventive measures, its prediction is essential to its prompt management. This study aimed to develop models using machine learning to predict late-onset preeclampsia using hospital electronic medical record data. The performance of the machine learning based models and models using conventional statistical methods were also compared. A total of 11,006 pregnant women who received antenatal care at Yonsei University Hospital were included. Maternal data were retrieved from electronic medical records during the early second trimester to 34 weeks. The prediction outcome was late-onset preeclampsia occurrence after 34 weeks’ gestation. Pattern recognition and cluster analysis were used to select the parameters included in the prediction models. Logistic regression, decision tree model, naïve Bayes classification, support vector machine, random forest algorithm, and stochastic gradient boosting method were used to construct the prediction models. C-statistics was used to assess the performance of each model. The overall preeclampsia development rate was 4.7% (474 patients). Systolic blood pressure, serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, platelet counts, serum potassium level, white blood cell count, serum calcium level, and urinary protein were the most influential variables included in the prediction models. C-statistics for the decision tree model, naïve Bayes classification, support vector machine, random forest algorithm, stochastic gradient boosting method, and logistic regression models were 0.857, 0.776, 0.573, 0.894, 0.924, and 0.806, respectively. The stochastic gradient boosting model had the best prediction performance with an accuracy and false positive rate of 0.973 and 0.009, respectively. The combined use of maternal factors and common antenatal laboratory data of the early second trimester through early third trimester could effectively predict late-onset preeclampsia using machine learning algorithms. Future prospective studies are needed to verify the clinical applicability algorithms.

Early prediction of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age via multi-marker model in Chinese pregnancies: a prospective screening study

BACKGROUND

Recent evidence suggests early screening of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) would benefit pregnancies followed by subsequent prophylactic use of aspirin. Multi-marker models have shown capability of predicting preeclampsia and SGA in first trimester. Yet the clinical feasibility of combined screening model for Chinese pregnancies has not been fully assessed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of a multi-marker screening model to the prediction of preeclampsia and SGA in first trimester particularly among Chinese population.

METHODS

Three thousand two hundred seventy pregnancies meeting the inclusion criteria took first-trimester screening of preeclampsia and SGA. A prior risk based on maternal characteristics was evaluated, and a posterior risk was assessed by combining prior risk with multiple of median (MoM) values of mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum placental growth factor (PLGF) and pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A). Both risks were calculated by Preeclampsia PREDICTOR™ software, Perkin Elmer. Screening performance of prior and posterior risks for early and late preeclampsia by using PREDICTOR software was shown by Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves. The estimation of detection rates and false positive rates of delivery with both preeclampsia and SGA was made.

RESULTS

Eight cases developed early preeclampsia (0.24%) and 35 were diagnosed as late preeclampsia (1.07%). Five with early preeclampsia and ten with late preeclampsia later delivered SGA newborns (0.46%); 84 without preeclampsia gave birth to the SGAs (2.57%). According to ROC curves, posterior risks performed better than prior risks in terms of preeclampsia, especially in early preeclampsia. At 10% false positive rate, detection rates of early and late preeclampsia were 87.50 and 48.57%, detection rates of early and late SGA were 41.67 and 28.00%, respectively. For SGA, detection rates in cases with preeclampsia were much higher than those in absence of it.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that combined screening model could be useful for predicting early preeclampsia in Chinese pregnancies. Furthermore, the performance of SGA screening by same protocol is strongly associated with preeclampsia.