Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and human parturition

OBJECTIVE

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is an acute-phase protein of predominantly hepatic origin, capable of binding the lipid A fraction of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The complex LBP-LPS binds to CD14, and has been implicated in the host response to gram-negative infection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) and parturition (term and preterm) are associated with changes in the amniotic fluid concentration of LBP.

STUDY DESIGN

Amniotic fluid was retrieved by amniocentesis from 343 patients in the following groups: (1) those in mid-trimester with a subsequent normal pregnancy outcome (n = 84); (2) those in mid-trimester with a fetal loss after the procedure (n = 10); (3) those with preterm labor and intact membranes without MIAC who delivered at term (n = 36) or prematurely (n = 52), and those with preterm labor with MIAC (n = 26); (4) those with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) with (n = 26) and without (n = 26) MIAC; and (5) those delivering at term with intact membranes in the absence of MIAC, in labor (n = 52) and not in labor (n = 31). The concentration of LBP in amniotic fluid was determined with a specific and sensitive immunoassay. Non-parametric statistics were used. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

LBP was detected in 98% (335/343) of the amniotic fluid samples. MIAC was associated with a significant increase in amniotic fluid concentration of LBP in women with preterm labor and intact membranes, but not in preterm PROM. Spontaneous preterm parturition was associated with a significant increase in amniotic fluid concentration of LBP. Patients who had a spontaneous fetal loss after a mid-trimester amniocentesis had a significantly higher median amniotic fluid LBP concentration than those who had a mid-trimester amniocentesis and a normal perinatal outcome.

CONCLUSION

Preterm labor with MIAC and preterm parturition are associated with higher amniotic fluid concentrations of LBP than those with sterile amniotic fluid.

Success rate of cytogenetic analysis at the time of second-trimester dilation and evacuation

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the success rate of cytogenetic analysis from specimens obtained at the time of second-trimester termination of pregnancy by dilation and evacuation.

STUDY DESIGN

All second-trimester dilation and evacuations performed by a single practitioner at a single institution from 1993 through 1995 were evaluated to pick out those patients in whom biopsy specimens were submitted for cytogenetic analysis. The main outcome studied was the ability to obtain karyotype results for these specimens.

RESULTS

Cytogenetic studies were performed on 258 dilation and evacuation specimens with a median gestational age of 18 weeks (range 13-25 weeks). The indications for termination were fetal aneuploidy (n = 88, 34%), sonographically diagnosed fetal malformations (n = 82, 32%), intrauterine fetal death (n = 67, 26%), oligohydramnios or premature rupture of membranes (n = 16, 6%), and others (hematologic and metabolic disorders, n = 5, 2%). Successful karyotyping was achieved for 99% of specimens obtained at second-trimester dilation and evacuation, with 3 failures of growth (1% failure rate). The failures included a 14-week molar pregnancy, an 18-week fetus with Dandy-Walker malformation, and a 19-week intrauterine fetal death. Of the samples obtained in cases of intrauterine fetal death, 99% (66/67) provided adequate cytogenetic information.

CONCLUSIONS

Karyotyping for abnormal second-trimester pregnancies and intrauterine fetal deaths at the time of a dilation and evacuation procedure has a success rate nearing 100%. In contrast to previous reports, our data indicate that it is unnecessary to perform pretermination invasive karyotyping in patients with abnormal second-trimester pregnancies or intrauterine fetal death who elect to undergo dilation and evacuation. Chromosome analysis at the time of termination of pregnancy by dilation and evacuation reduces patient discomfort, risk of infection, and cost while still providing reliable and vital cytogenetic information for future genetic counseling.

Extracardiac anomalies, aneuploidy and growth retardation in 100 consecutive fetal congenital heart defects

The importance of extracardiac anomalies in 100 consecutive fetuses with congenital heart disease was evaluated. The most common cardiac diagnoses were hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 35% and atrioventricular canal defect in 15%. Extracardiac anomalies were present in 42%, abnormal karyotype in 19% and intrauterine growth retardation in 20%. There were 45 survivors (35 required neonatal surgery, ten did not require early surgery) and 80% (36/45) of the survivors had isolated congenital heart disease. Extracardiac anomalies and abnormal karyotype were more frequently present in non-survivors (p < 0.001). Also, intrauterine growth retardation was more frequent in non-survivors (p < 0.05).

Outcome after maternal varicella infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Infection with the varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy can produce an embryopathy characterized by limb hypoplasia, eye and brain damage, and skin lesions. The risk is greatest when infection occurs during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, but the magnitude of the risk is uncertain.

METHODS

We studied 106 women with clinically diagnosed varicella infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and compared the outcomes with those in 106 age-matched, nonexposed controls.

RESULTS

Among the women with varicella, there was a trend toward more elective terminations of pregnancy (14 percent, vs. 7.5 percent among the controls; P = 0.1), corresponding to a significantly higher perception of teratogenic risk (P = 0.03). The proportions of miscarriages and live births and the mean birth weights were similar in the two study groups; there were more premature births (< or = 37 weeks) among the women with varicella infection (14.3 percent vs. 5.6 percent, P = 0.05). Congenital defects occurred in four infants born to the women with varicella (varicella embryopathy, hydrocephalus, meningocele and clubfeet, and hammer toe) and two infants born to the controls (ventricular septal defect and hip dislocation). The risk of varicella embryopathy after infection in the first 20 weeks was 1.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0 to 2.4 percent). When we pooled our results with those from other prospective studies, the mean risk of embryopathy after infection with varicella-zoster virus in the first trimester was 2.2 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0 to 4.6 percent).

CONCLUSIONS

The absolute risk of embryopathy after maternal varicella infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is about 2 percent.