Possible association between complex congenital heart defects and 11p15 hypomethylation in three patients with severe Silver-Russell syndrome

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by pre- and post-natal growth restriction that spares head growth, feeding difficulties, and variable dysmorphic facial features without major malformations. Hypomethylation of the paternal 11p15 imprinting control region 1 (ICR1) and maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 are found in 50-60% and in 5-10% of SRS patients, respectively. We report on the pre- and post-natal features of three unrelated SRS patients with unusual congenital heart defects (CHDs). Two patients born prematurely had total anomalous pulmonary venous return and died shortly after birth, and a third patient, now 4 years old, had cor triatriatum sinistrum, which was surgically corrected. In all three patients, the underlying molecular defect was 11p15 ICR1 hypomethylation. Based on a large cohort with molecularly proven SRS, the prevalence of CHD in SRS is estimated at 5.5%. We suggest that the occurrence of CHD in SRS with 11p15 ICR1 hypomethylation is not coincidental, but specific to this genotype.

[Medical indications of labor induction: a comparison between intravaginal misoprostol and intravenous prostaglandin E2]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of misoprostol compared to dinoprostone at term, in cervical priming and labor induction for medical indications.

MATERIAL

and methods. Retrospective analysis of 87 patients. 43 patients received intravaginal misoprostol (50microg) and 44 intravenous dinoprostone (0,225 microg/mn with progressive increasing).

RESULTS

The mean time from administration to delivery was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group than in the dinoprostone group (10,2 vs 26,0 hours, p<0,01). A significantly greater number of deliveries occurred within 24 hours following administration of misoprostol ( 95 vs 55%, p<0,01). There was no difference in the rates of cesarean section (21 vs 23%, NS), in the rates of tachysystole (30 vs 27%, NS). Hyperstimulations (excessive uterine response: hypertony or tachysystole with non reassuring fetal heart rate) were increased in the misoprostol group, but not significantly (16 vs 7%, NS). Three cesarean sections were performed for hyperstimulation syndrome in the misoprostol group. There was no significant difference between the two agents administered in neonatal outcome or meconial fluid.

CONCLUSION

Misoprostol appears interesting in promoting cervical priming and induction of labour at term, but the increased frequency of hyperstimulation and meconial fluid reported in the literature indicate than larger studies than ours are necessary to accurately define the fine incidence of adverse effect. Moreover, dose and administration modalities should be defined by those studies.