How to differentiate PHACES syndrome from Blake's pouch cyst in first half of pregnancy

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Absence of Zika virus among pregnant women in Vietnam in 2008

BACKGROUND

Despite being first identified in 1947, Zika virus-related outbreaks were first described starting from 2007 culminating with the 2015 Latin American outbreak. Hypotheses indicate that the virus has been circulating in Asia for decades, but reports are scarce.

METHODS

We performed serological analysis and screened placental samples isolated in 2008 for the presence of Zika virus from pregnant women in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

RESULTS

None of the placental samples was positive for Zika virus. Four serum samples out of 176 (2.3%) specifically inhibited Zika virus, with variable degrees of cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses. While one of the four samples inhibited only Zika virus, cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses not included in the study could not be ruled out.

CONCLUSION

Our results support the conclusion that the virus was not present among pregnant women in the Vietnamese largest city during the initial phases of the epidemic wave.

Déterminants de l’adhésion vaccinale contre la COVID-19 chez les femmes enceintes et en post-partum pendant la troisième vague de la pandémie : une étude transversale multinationale européenne

Introduction

La vaccination contre le coronavirus (COVID-19) est recommandée chez les femmes enceintes, car elles courent un risque plus élevé de développer une forme sévère de la maladie. Cependant, malgré les preuves croissantes de l’intérêt de la vaccination anti-COVID-19 et de sa sécurité pendant la grossesse, l’hésitation vaccinale demeure élevée dans la population obstétricale – 48,6 % selon une méta-analyse de 46 études publiées jusqu’en février 2022. Ainsi, notre objectif était d’évaluer le statut vaccinal et/ou la volonté de se faire vacciner contre la COVID-19 chez les femmes enceintes et en post-partum dans cinq pays européens et d’en rechercher les facteurs associés.

Méthodes

Il s’agissait d’une étude transversale, menée en Belgique, en Norvège, aux Pays-Bas, en Suisse et au Royaume-Uni entre juin et août 2021. Cette enquête en ligne faisait partie d’un projet de recherche international sur la COVID-19 visant à fournir des informations sur les expériences vécues par les femmes enceintes et les mères ayant accouché dans les 3 derniers mois, pendant la troisième vague de la pandémie.

Résultats

Parmi les 5210 femmes ayant participé à l’étude, nous avons exclu 216 femmes enceintes et 140 en post-partum qui n’avaient pas répondu à la question sur leur statut vaccinal. Chez les femmes enceintes (n = 3195), les proportions de femmes déjà vaccinées et/ou souhaitant être vaccinées étaient 80,5 % en Belgique, 78,5 % au Royaume-Uni, 62,6 % aux Pays-Bas, 32,1 %, en Suisse et 21,5 % en Norvège. Les caractéristiques associées à l’adhésion vaccinale contre la COVID-19 pendant la grossesse étaient l’activité professionnelle, une profession dans le secteur de la santé, un niveau d’éducation élevé, le premier trimestre de la grossesse, et la résidence en Belgique comparée à la Norvège, la Suisse et aux Pays-Bas.

Parmi les femmes en post-partum (n = 1659), les proportions de femmes déjà vaccinées et/ou souhaitant être vaccinées étaient 86,0 % au Royaume-Uni, 85,7 % en Belgique, 81 % en Norvège, 72,6 % aux Pays-Bas et 58,6 % en Suisse. Lors du post-partum, les caractéristiques associées à l’adhésion vaccinale contre la COVID-19 étaient l’âge maternel de « 36–40 ans », puis « 31–35 ans », suivi de « 25–30 ans » par rapport à la catégorie « 18–25 ans », une profession dans le domaine de la santé, l’absence d’antécédent d’infection au SARS-CoV-2, l’absence d’allaitement, et la résidence en Belgique par rapport à la Suisse ou aux Pays-Bas.

Conclusion

L’hésitation vaccinale dépend de nombreux facteurs démographiques et socio-culturels. La connaissance de ces notions est nécessaire afin de mieux l’appréhender, et d’encourager respectueusement l’adhésion à la vaccination.

Prenatal diagnosis of rhombencephalosynapsis: neuroimaging features and severity of vermian anomaly

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prenatal neuroimaging spectrum of rhombencephalosynapsis (RES) and criteria for its classification according to the severity of vermian anomaly.

METHODS

In this multicenter retrospective study of fetuses with RES between 2002 and 2020, the medical records and brain ultrasound and magnetic resonance images were evaluated comprehensively to determine the severity of the vermian anomaly and the presence of associated brain findings. RES was classified, according to the pattern of vermian agenesis and the extent of the fusion of the hemispheres, as complete RES (complete absence of the vermis) or partial RES (further classified according to the part of the vermis that was missing and, consequently, the region of hemispheric fusion, as anterior, posterior, severe or mixed RES). Findings were compared between cases with complete and those with partial RES.

RESULTS

Included in the study were 62 fetuses with a gestational age ranging between 12 and 37 weeks. Most had complete absence of the vermis (complete RES, 77.4% of cases), a 'round-shaped' cerebellum on axial views (72.6%) and a transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) < 3^rd centile (87.1%). Among the 22.6% of cases with partial RES, 6.5% were classified as severe partial, 6.5% as partial anterior, 8.1% as partial mixed and 1.6% as partial posterior. Half of these cases presented with normal or nearly normal cerebellar morphology and 28.5% had a TCD within the normal limits. Infratentorially, the fourth ventricle was abnormal in 88.7% of cases overall, and anomalies of the midbrain and pons were frequent (93.5% and 77.4%, respectively). Ventriculomegaly was observed in 80.6% of all cases, being more severe in cases with complete RES than in those with partial RES, with high rates of parenchymal and septal disruption.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides prenatal neuroimaging criteria for the diagnosis and classification of RES, and identification of related features, using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. According to our findings, a diagnosis of RES should be considered in fetuses with a small TCD (severe cerebellar hypoplasia) and/or a round-shaped cerebellum on axial views, during the second or third trimester, especially when associated with ventriculomegaly. Partial RES is more common than previously thought, but presents an extreme diagnostic challenge, especially in cases with normal or nearly-normal cerebellar morphobiometric features. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Placental infection by Zika virus in French Guiana

OBJECTIVES

To describe placental findings on prenatal ultrasound and anatomopathological examination in women with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, and to assess their association with congenital ZIKV infection and severe adverse outcome, defined as fetal loss or congenital Zika syndrome (CZS).

METHODS

This was a prospective study of pregnancies undergoing testing for maternal ZIKV infection at a center in French Guiana during the ZIKV epidemic. In ZIKV-positive women, congenital infection was defined as either a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction result or identification of ZIKV-specific immunoglobulin-M in at least one placental, fetal or neonatal sample. Placental ZIKV-infection status was classified as non-exposed (placentae from non-infected women), exposed (placentae from ZIKV-infected women without congenital infection) or infected (placentae from ZIKV-infected women with proven congenital infection). Placentae were assessed by monthly prenatal ultrasound examinations, measuring placental thickness and umbilical artery Doppler parameters, and by anatomopathological examination after live birth or intrauterine death in women with ZIKV infection. The association of placental thickness during pregnancy and anatomopathological findings with the ZIKV status of the placenta was assessed. The association between placental findings and severe adverse outcome (CZS or fetal loss) in the infected group was also assessed.

RESULTS

Among 291 fetuses/neonates/placentae from women with proven ZIKV infection, congenital infection was confirmed in 76 cases, of which 16 resulted in CZS and 11 resulted in fetal loss. The 215 remaining placentae from ZIKV-positive women without evidence of congenital ZIKV infection represented the exposed group. A total of 334 placentae from ZIKV-negative pregnant women represented the non-exposed control group. Placentomegaly (placental thickness > 40 mm) was observed more frequently in infected placentae (39.5%) than in exposed placentae (17.2%) or controls (7.2%), even when adjusting for gestational age at diagnosis and comorbidities (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 2.02 (95% CI, 1.22-3.36) and aHR, 3.23 (95% CI, 1.86-5.61), respectively), and appeared earlier in infected placentae. In the infected group, placentomegaly was observed more frequently in cases of CZS (62.5%) or fetal loss (45.5%) than in those with asymptomatic congenital infection (30.6%) (aHR, 5.43 (95% CI, 2.17-13.56) and aHR, 4.95 (95% CI, 1.65-14.83), respectively). Abnormal umbilical artery Doppler was observed more frequently in cases of congenital infection resulting in fetal loss than in those with asymptomatic congenital infection (30.0% vs 6.1%; adjusted relative risk (aRR), 4.83 (95% CI, 1.09-20.64)). Infected placentae also exhibited a higher risk for any pathological anomaly than did exposed placentae (62.8% vs 21.6%; aRR, 2.60 (95% CI, 1.40-4.83)).

CONCLUSIONS

Early placentomegaly may represent the first sign of congenital infection in ZIKV-infected women, and should prompt enhanced follow-up of these pregnancies. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Association between Zika virus and fetopathy: a prospective cohort study in French Guiana

OBJECTIVE

To establish the incidence of fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies (including microcephaly), signs of congenital infection and fetal loss in pregnant women infected with Zika virus (ZIKV) and non-infected pregnant women in western French Guiana.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted between 1 January and 15 July 2016. We evaluated and compared clinical and fetal ultrasound examinations of 301 pregnant women with biological confirmation of ZIKV infection and 399 pregnant women who were negative for ZIKV infection.

RESULTS

Overall, the total number of fetuses with CNS involvement was higher in the infected than in the control group (9.0% vs 4.3%; relative risk, 2.11 (95% CI, 1.18-4.13)). Anomalies of the corpus callosum and presence of cerebral hyperechogenicities were significantly more common in the infected group. There was an increased risk of microcephaly in the infected compared with the control group (1.7% vs 0.3%; relative risk, 6.63 (95% CI, 0.78-57.83)), although this was not statistically significant. When the mother was infected during the first or second trimester, there was a greater risk of severe CNS involvement, more signs of infection and intrauterine fetal death than with infection in the third trimester. The rate of vertical transmission in the exposed group was 10.9%.

CONCLUSION

ZIKV infection during pregnancy is associated with a significant risk of fetal CNS involvement and intrauterine fetal death, particularly when infection occurs during the first or second trimesters. Microcephaly was not present in every case of congenital ZIKV syndrome that we observed. Until more is known about this disease, it is paramount to evaluate suspected cases by detailed neurosonography on a monthly basis, paying particular attention to the corpus callosum and the presence of hyperechogenic foci. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.