[Construction of model for calculating and recording neonatal weight percentiles]

Comparative analysis of foetal and neonatal growth curves

INTRODUCTION

Our aim was to determine which foetal or neonatal growth curves discriminate the probability of dying of newborns with low birth weight for their gestational age (small for gestational age, SGA) and sex (weight < 10th percentile) and to establish the curves that are presumably most useful for monitoring growth through age 10 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The analysis included every neonate (15 122) managed in our hospital (2013-2022) and all neonates born preterm before 32 weeks (6913) registered in the SEN1500 database (2019-2022). We considered most useful those curves with the highest likelihood ratio (LR) for dying with or without a history of SGA in each subgroup of gestational ages. Theoretically, the optimal curves for monitoring growth would be those with a higher R2 in the quantile regression formulas for the 50th percentile.

RESULTS

The growth curves exhibiting the strongest association between SGA and hospital mortality are the Intergrowth fetal curves and the Fenton neonatal curves in infants born preterm before 32 weeks. However, the optimal curves for premature babies and neonates overall were those of Olsen and Intergrowth. The most useful curves to monitor anthropometric values alone until age 10 years of age are the longitudinal Intergrowth curves followed by the WHO standards, but if a single reference is desired from birth through age 10 years, the best option is the Fenton curves followed by the WHO standards.

CONCLUSIONS

The Intergrowth reference provides the most discriminating foetal growth curves. In neonatal clinical practice, the optimal references are the Fenton followed by the WHO charts.

Maternal Thinness and Obesity and Customized Fetal Weight Charts

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine if customized fetal growth charts developed excluding obese and underweight mothers (CC(18.5-25)) are better than customized curves (CC) at identifying pregnancies at risk of perinatal morbidity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data from 20,331 infants were used to construct CC and from 11,604 for CC(18.5-25), after excluding the cases with abnormal maternal BMI. The 2 models were applied to 27,507 newborns and the perinatal outcomes were compared between large for gestational age (LGA) or small for gestational age (SGA) according to each model. Logistic regression was used to calculate the OR of outcomes by the group, with gestational age (GA) as covariable. The confidence intervals of pH were calculated by analysis of covariance.

RESULTS

The rate of cesarean and cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) were higher in LGAonly by CC(18.5-25) than in LGAonly by CC. In SGAonly by CC(18.5-25), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and perinatal mortality rates were higher than in SGAonly by CC. Adverse outcomes rate was higher in LGAonly by CC(18.5-25) than in LGAonly by CC (21.6%; OR = 1.61, [1.34-193]) vs. (13.5%; OR = 0.84, [0.66-1.07]), and in SGA only by CC(18.5-25) than in SGAonly by CC (9.6%; OR = 1.62, [1.25-2.10] vs. 6.3%; OR = 1.18, [0.85-1.66]).

CONCLUSION

The use of CC(18.5-25) allows a more accurate identification of LGA and SGA infants at risk of perinatal morbidity than conventional CC. This benefit increase and decrease, respectively, with GA.

Value of Placental Volume and Vascular Flow Indices as Predictors of Early and Late Preeclampsia at First Trimester

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the utility of placental volume and three-dimensional (3D) vascular flow indices to predict early and late preeclampsia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 1,004 pregnancies attending routine care, we recorded first-trimester screening program for aneuploidy (FTSA) parameter and measured uterine artery pulsatility index (uterine-a PI). Placental volume and vascular flow indices were obtained using 3D power Doppler and VOCAL techniques.

RESULTS

Placental volume was lower and uterine-a PI was higher in both early and late preeclampsia groups versus nonaffected pregnancies. The prediction rate of placental volume in late preeclampsia was higher than that of uterine-a PI (AUROC 0.707 vs. 0.581, p < 0.011). The inclusion of placental volume improved significantly the prediction rate of total and late preeclampsia in the models constructed with maternal characteristics, FTSA, and uterine-a PI (AUROC 0.745 vs. 0.818, p < 0.004, and 0.740 vs. 0.812, p < 0.012, respectively). The inclusion of vascular indices did not improve the predictive value of these models.

DISCUSSION

Placental volume was an independent predictor of total, early, and late preeclampsia and its inclusion in combined predictive models significantly improved prediction rates. Reduced placental volume observed at first trimester in women with early and late preeclampsia suggests that these entities are the clinical expression of a similar pathophysiological process.

New birthweight charts according to parity and type of delivery for the Spanish population

OBJECTIVE

Birthweight by gestational age charts enable fetal growth to be evaluated in a specific population. Given that maternal profile and obstetric practice have undergone a remarkable change over the past few decades in Spain, this paper presents new Spanish reference percentile charts stratified by gender, parity and type of delivery. They have been prepared with data from the 2010-2014 period of the Spanish Birth Statistics Bulletin.

METHODS

Reference charts have been prepared using the LMS method, corresponding to 1,428,769 single, live births born to Spanish mothers. Percentile values and mean birth weight are compared among newborns according to gender, parity and type of delivery.

RESULTS

Newborns to primiparous mothers show significantly lower birthweight than those born to multiparous mothers (p<0.036). Caesarean section was associated with a substantially lower birthweight in preterm births (p<0.048), and with a substantially higher birthweight for full-term deliveries (p<0.030). Prevalence of small for gestational age is significantly higher in newborns born by Caesarean section, both in primiparous (p<0.08) and multiparous mothers (p<0.027) and, conversely, the prevalence of large for gestational age among full-term births is again greater both in primiparous (p<0.035) and in multiparous mothers (p<0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Results support the consideration of establishing parity and type of delivery-specific birthweight references. These new charts enable a better evaluation of the impact of the demographic, reproductive and obstetric trends currently in Spain on fetal growth.

Manejo obstétrico de la deficiencia hereditaria de antitrombina durante el embarazo y puerperio. Dos casos clínicos

Resumen Introducción: la deficiencia de antitrombina III hereditaria es una rara enfermedad que afecta al 0.02-0.2% de la población. Puede presentar mayor frecuencia de complicaciones y resultados adversos tanto en la madre como en el feto. Se presenta el manejo obstétrico de dos gestaciones consecutivas en una mujer con deficiencia de antitrombina III. Descripción: en ambos embarazos la madre realiza profilaxis de la enfermedad tromboembólica con heparina de bajo peso molecular para evitar la aparición de esta patología tanto en el embarazo como en el puerperio y mejorar el flujo útero-placen-tario. Con respecto a las complicaciones obstétricas, sólo existe un enlentecimiento del crecimiento fetal que obliga a un control obstétrico estricto. En ambas gestaciones los estudios eco-Doppler están dentro de la normalidad lo que permite una conducta expectante, consiguiendo llegar a término. Discusión: la profilaxis con heparina de bajo peso molecular en las gestantes con esta trombofilia y las intervenciones preventivas de factores de riesgo de enfermedad tromboembólica, junto con un control obstétrico adecuado, ha conseguido evitar la apari-ción de complicaciones derivadas de esta patología en el embarazo y en el puerperio. Por otra parte, el control del crecimiento fetal y el estudio Eco-Doppler han permitido asegurar el bienestar fetal no adelan-tando el parto, consiguiendo partos a término.

Twin pregnancy among women with pregestational type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of twin versus singleton pregnancy on obstetric and perinatal outcomes among women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODS

Multicenter retrospective cohort study of women with pregestational DM and twin or singleton pregnancy, conducted in Spain during 2005-2010. Each group included 63 women (type 1 DM, n=39; type 2 DM, n=24).

RESULTS

Of 269 565 deliveries, 68 (0.025%) were twins of mothers with pregestational DM, with 28/63 (44.4%) conceptions achieved with assisted reproduction technology. Among women with type 1 DM, hypertensive complications were more common among those with twins than among controls (13% versus 3%, P=0.02); the rate of preterm birth was higher (69% versus 15%, P<0.001); and the rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was higher (51% versus 21%, P=0.005). Twin pregnancy was an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes regardless of the type of diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Twin pregnancy in women with either type of DM dramatically increased the risk of perinatal morbidity. In mothers with type 1 DM, twin pregnancy was more often associated with hypertensive complications than singleton pregnancy. Transfer of more than one embryo should be avoided if ART is needed in a woman with DM.