The comparison of systemic inflammatory response markers and Doppler ultrasound parameters between pregnancies with intrahepatic cholestasis and control cases

Objective: This study aims to detect a relationship between inflammatory markers, ductus venosus (DV) pulsatility index (PI), middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI, and umbilical artery (UA) systole to diastole ratio (S/D) and PI between pregnancies with intrahepatic cholestasis and control cases. Methods: This prospective study included 82 cases having intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and 80 gestational age-matched healthy control cases. The Doppler measurements (DV PI, MCA PI, and UA S/D and PI), inflammatory markers (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet to lymphocyte ratio [PLR], mean platelet volume [MPV], and red blood cell distribution width [RDW]), and fetal and maternal outcomes were compared. Results: Patients with ICP had increased PLR value (p=0.019) and decreased lymphocyte count (p=0.004) compared to control cases. Also, there was a positive correlation between PLR value and the presence of ICP (χ2=5.774, p=0.016). There were no significant differences between ICP and control groups concerning NLR, RDW, MPV, and UA PI values. We found higher UA S/D, and DV PI values and lower MCA PI values in pregnancies with ICP compared to controls (p<0.001, p=0.026, and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: In ICP cases, the PLR value was significantly increased than the controls, but the NLR, RDW, MPV, and UA PI values were found to be similar to control cases. The UA S/D, and DV PI values were increased, and MCA PI was significantly decreased in the ICP group compared to healthy pregnancies. However, we could not demonstrate the benefit of Doppler measurements in predicting neonatal outcomes in ICP cases.

The course of infection with the Delta variant of COVID-19 in pregnancy: analysis of clinical, laboratory, and neonatal outcomes

Objective

This study aimed to examine the effects of infection with the Delta variant of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the clinical course, laboratory parameters, and neonatal outcome in pregnant women.

Material and Methods

A total of 96 pregnant women who tested positive for the Delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19 were retrospectively examined. The pregnant women were divided into three groups: Asymptomatic; non-severe; and severe. Age, obstetric history, symptoms and findings, blood tests, medication and vaccination history, clinical course, and perinatal outcome of pregnant women were analyzed.

Results

Pregnant women who tested positive for the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 had an intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate of 9.4% and a mortality rate of 5.2%. Pregnant women in the severe disease group had significantly higher rates of preterm birth and cesarean section compared with the non-severe and asymptomatic group. Pregnant women in the severe group had high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at the time of admission. White blood cell count (WBC) and procalcitonin levels were increased in clinical follow-up in women in the severe group.

Conclusion

The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was found to increase mortality rates in pregnant women compared to pre-Delta variants of COVID-19. In pregnant women infected with the Delta variant, advanced gestational age at diagnosis, high CRP, WBC, and procalcitonin levels were significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Pregnant women infected with the Delta variant and with severe COVID-19 had an increased risk for preterm delivery and cesarean section. Although newborns of women with severe disease were found to have significantly higher rates of ICU admission, there was no significant difference in neonatal mortality rates. We recommend close monitoring of CRP, WBC, and procalcitonin levels, in addition to symptoms, in pregnant women infected with the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 and diagnosed in the third trimester.

Fetal left ventricular myocardial performance index measured at 11-14 weeks of gestation in fetuses with an increased nuchal translucency

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an increase in nuchal translucency (NT) thickness on the myocardial performance index (MPI) in fetuses without cardiac anomaly in the first trimester and to determine whether a difference in MPI between those with and without trisomy 21 in these fetuses could be determined.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 53 pregnancies complicated with increased NT thickness without any associated structural anomalies. Forty-six gestational age-matched pregnant women whose fetuses had normal NT thickness were enrolled as the control group.

RESULTS

In the increased NT thickness group, the mean isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) value (0.050 ± 0.011 s) was significantly higher and the mean ejection time (ET) value (0.149 ± 0.010 s) was significantly lower than those values in the normal NT thickness group (0.045 ± 0.005 and 0.155 ± 0.009 s, p = 0.023 and p = 0.009, respectively). We found a significantly higher mean left MPI value in the increased NT thickness group (0.574 ± 0.153) versus the normal NT thickness group (0.487 ± 0.107, p < 0.001). Within the increased NT thickness group, the mean left MPI value was similar in the fetuses with normal karyotype and those with trisomy 21 (p = 0.419).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a significantly greater mean MPI value in the increased NT thickness group than in the normal NT thickness group. Within the increased NT thickness group, no differences in the left MPI value in the fetuses with normal karyotype and the fetuses with trisomy 21 were found.

Serum autotaxin levels correlate with the severity of pruritus in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine autotaxin (ATX) concentrations in the serum of pregnant women complicated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and compare them with individuals with uncomplicated healthy pregnancies.

METHODS

This prospective case-control study took place with 83 pregnant women. The study group included 43 pregnant women presenting with a singleton pregnancy diagnosed with ICP in their third trimester of pregnancy. The diagnostic power of the ATX variable was examined by receiver operating characteristic analysis, and the cut-off value calculated according to the Youden index was summarized with the related sensitivity and specificity points.

RESULTS

The mean serum concentration of maternal ATX was significantly higher in the ICP cases (8.91 ± 2.69 pg/mL) compared to the pregnant women in the control group (3.59 ± 1.39 ng/mL, p < 0.001). According to the Youden index, a 5.80 ng/mL cut-off value of serum ATX concentrations can be used to diagnose ICP with 97.7% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity. A significant highly positive correlation was found between maternal serum ATX levels and maternal serum total bile acid levels (r = 0.633 and p < 0.001) and itch intensity, which was objectified by the visual analog scale score (r = 0.951 and p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Maternal serum ATX levels were significantly increased in ICP patients as compared with healthy pregnant women. Also, serum ATX activity was highly correlated with the itch intensity. We consider that ATX might represent a robust, accurate, and reliable circulating biomarker to diagnose ICP.

Maternal mortality cases due to COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary referral hospital

Objective: This study aimed to report the clinical prognoses, laboratory findings, treatment procedures, and neonatal outcomes, from hospitalization to death, of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related cases of maternal mortality at our clinic. Methods: Fifteen cases of COVID-19-related maternal mortality, between April 2020 and October 2021, in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of a Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively analyzed for the purpose of the study. Results: During the study period, a total of 501 symptomatic pregnant women received inpatient treatment for COVID-19. In our case group, 93.3% of maternal deaths due to COVID-19 occurred as a result of the worsening of the clinical condition of third-trimester pregnant women. In these patients whose clinical condition deteriorated, delivery was performed after the decision to give birth, and 86.6% of mortalities occurred in the postpartum period and 13.4% before delivery. There was at least one risk factor in 60% of the cases, with obesity being the most prevalent. In all mortality cases, there were pulmonary complaints (shortness of breath and cough) at admission, and bilateral lung involvement was observed during lung imaging; furthermore, there was a corresponding increase in the mean leukocytosis, AST, ALT, LDH, D-dimer, ferritin, procalcitonin, IL-6, and pro-BNP levels with the worsening of the clinical prognosis. The duration of hospitalization and intensive care unit stays were 6.87±3.18 and 5.33±3.27 days, respectively. The mean period of the delivery-to-mortality for mothers was 5.92±3.48 days and the mean period of the intubation-to-mortality for mothers was 3.33±3.15 days. Conclusion: The risks of severe illness and death associated with COVID-19 increased in the third trimester compared to the first and second trimesters. All mortality cases involved unvaccinated pregnant women, of which most had at least one risk factor, obesity being the most prevalent. There was no COVID-19-related mortality in the newborns, and it was found that prematurity rates increased due to maternal disease.

The reduced serum concentrations of β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 in pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze maternal serum β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 concentrations in pregnant women complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and compare them with the normoglycemic uncomplicated healthy control group.

METHODS

A prospective case-control study was conducted, including pregnant women complicated with GDM between 15 February 2021, and 31 July 2021. We recorded serum β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 concentrations of the participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to describe and compare the performance of diagnostics value of variables β-arrestin-1, and β-arrestin-2.

RESULTS

The mean β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 levels were found to be significantly lower in the GDM group (41.0 ± 62.8 ng/mL, and 6.3 ± 9.9 ng/mL) than in the control group (93.1 ± 155.4 ng/mL, and 12.4 ± 17.7, respectively, p < .001). When we analyze the area under the ROC curve (AUC), maternal serum β-arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 levels can be considered a statistically significant parameter for diagnosing GDM. β-arrestin-1 had a significant negative correlation with fasting glucose (r = -0.551, p < .001), plasma insulin levels (r = -0.522, p < .001), HOMA-IR (r = -0.566, p < .001), and HbA1C (r = -0.465, p < .001). β-arrestin-2 was significantly negatively correlated with fasting glucose (r = -0.537, p < .001), plasma insulin levels (r = -0.515, p < .001), HOMA-IR (r = -0.550, p < .001), and HbA1C (r = -0.479, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

β-arrestin 1 and β-arrestin 2 could be utilized as biomarkers in the diagnosis of GDM. The novel therapeutic strategies targeting these β-arrestins may be designed for the GDM treatment.

Multifetal pregnancy reduction outcomes from triplets to singletons and twins

Objective: To study the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of reduction to singleton and twin pregnancies by multifetal pregnancy reduction (MPR) in patients with triplet pregnancies. Methods: The multifetal reduction was performed in 27 patients with triplet pregnancies. Fourteen patients were reduced to singleton pregnancies and 13 patients to twin pregnancies. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean gestational age at the time of the procedure was 12.43±0.76 weeks in patients reduced to singleton pregnancies and 12.08±0.64 weeks in those reduced to twin pregnancies. The most common complications of the procedure were abdominal pain (21.4%) in women with singleton pregnancies and both the presence of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding (30.8%) in women with twin pregnancies. Gestational age at birth (33.07±5.73 versus 35.78±6.14 weeks, p=0.009) and neonatal birth weight (1998.46±808.07 versus 2765±803.03 gram, p=0.003) was significantly higher in the group reduced to singleton pregnancies than in twin pregnancies. Conclusion: The MPR procedure is a good and acceptable option for patients with multiple pregnancies of three or more children. Multifetal pregnancy reduction of triplets to singletons is associated with better pregnancy outcomes such as birth at higher weeks of gestation and higher neonatal birth weight than MPR of triplets to twins.

The evaluation of the antepartum and intrapartum risk factors in predicting the risk of birth asphyxia

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the related antepartum and intrapartum factors of birth asphyxia among neonates born in a tertiary referral hospital.

METHODS

A total of 45 singleton pregnant women who delivered live births with a gestational age of ≥35 weeks and their neonates who suffered from birth asphyxia from June 2016 to June 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Data regarding maternal demographic features, maternal laboratory values, pregnancy complications, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

Significant risk factors associated with birth asphyxia were nulliparity (odds ratio [OR] = 5.357, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.169-24.950, p = 0.001), placental abruption (OR = 8.667, 95% CI = 2.223-33.784, p = 0.002), intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 1.394, 95% CI = 1.109-8.631, p = 0.012), the prolonged second stage of labor (OR = 6.121, 95% CI = 2.120-17.595, p = 0.001), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (OR = 7.615, 95% CI = 2.394-24.223, p = 0.001), bloody amniotic fluid (OR = 9.423, 95% CI = 2.885-35.232, p = 0.001), the presence of FHR category II (OR = 12.083, 95% CI = 7.081-48.849, p <0.001) and FHR category III before labor (OR = 15.500, 95% CI = 8.394-56.176, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

We identified that nulliparity, placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, the prolonged second stage of labor, meconium-stained or bloody amniotic fluid, and FHR tracings categories II and III were significantly associated with birth asphyxia.

Fetal intracranial hemorrhage: prenatal sonographic diagnosis criteria and postnatal outcomes

Objective

This study aimed to provide sufficient knowledge of prenatally diagnosed fetal intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) defining the ultrasound (US) examination results, the contribution of fetal magnetic resonance imagination (MRI) to the diagnosis, and the pregnancy outcomes from our series of fetal ICH cases.

Material and methods

This retrospective observational study included eleven fetuses who were diagnosed as having ICH from April 2016 to August 2020. The data regarding the medical records, prenatal US and MRI findings, treatments applied, and prognosis of fetal ICH cases were collected from the hospital database and analyzed.

Results

Fetal ICHs were grade 3 in 6 cases, and grade 4 in the remaining 5 cases. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.2 weeks. Nine (81.8%) of the cases were diagnosed in the third trimester and two (18.2%) were diagnosed in the second trimester. Fetal cranial MRI was performed in 7/11 cases following ultrasonographic diagnosis. The fetal MRI confirmed the fetal ICH diagnosis and previous US findings regarding location and grade in all cases. Five patients (45.5%) diagnosed with grade 3 (n=1) and grade 4 (n=4) ICH underwent pregnancy termination. Of the remaining 6 cases, one case (9.1%) diagnosed with grade 3 fetal ICH resulted in an IUFD. Four cases classified as grade 3 fetal ICH and one case with grade 4 fetal ICH were born alive at term.

Conclusion

The clinical manifestations of fetal ICH are diverse and have a wide spectrum of severity and prognostic implications. Fetal ICH cases were mainly detected in the third trimester, with a minority detected in the second trimester. These cases can be safely diagnosed and graded with US examination, but the underlying etiology frequently cannot be determined. Fetal cranial MRI might aid in the diagnosis confirmation and combined use with the US provide appropriate counseling to the parents.

Clinical significance of prenatally diagnosed persistent left superior vena cava

AIMS

The aim of our study was to investigate the persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) cases diagnosed in the prenatal period in our clinic and to compare the obstetric and genetic outcomes of isolated PLSVC cases with cases accompanied by other cardiac or extracardiac anomalies.

METHODS

The cases diagnosed as PLSVC between January 2015 and January 2019 in our perinatology clinic were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two subgroups as isolated PLSVC and PLSVC accompanied by another anomaly. Furthermore, patients with extra anomalies were divided into three groups which are cardiac anomaly, extracardiac anomaly and those with both. The groups were compared in terms of genetic results and obstetric outcomes.

RESULTS

89 patients were included in our study. Cases with positive pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher in the isolated PLSVC group than with extra anomaly group (p<0.001). No karyotype anomaly was observed in the isolated group. Pregnancy results were significantly worse (postpartum demise, termination of pregnancy, in utero demise) in with both cardiac and extracardiac anomalies group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of karyotype results (p=0.535).

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of PLSVC has gained importance and it can be made easier due to the fact that anatomic imaging can be performed in more detail. The isolated PLSVC cases have a very good prognosis. Obstetric outcomes vary according to the accompanying anomaly.

The comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes between planned and emergency cesarean deliveries in placenta previa patients without placenta accreata spectrum

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate whether a significant difference exists in maternal and fetal outcomes between planned cesarean delivery (PCD) compared to emergency cesarean delivery (ECD) in placenta previa (PP) patients without placenta accreata spectrum (PAS) in a tertiary referral hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 237 singleton pregnant women who were diagnosed with PP without PAS at the time of delivery. PP patients who were delivered at the scheduled time were included in the PCD group. Patients with PP delivered in an emergency setting before the scheduled date were assigned to the ECD group. We recorded demographic and clinical characteristics, maternal and neonatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 237 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 157 patients (66.8%) underwent PCD, and 80 patients required ECD (33.2%). Patients' hospitalization and pre-discharge hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in the ECD group (11.25 ± 1.97 g/dL and 9.74 ± 2.09 g/dL, respectively) than in the PCD group (10.77 ± 2.67 g/dL and 9.27 ± 2.70, p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). While six patients (7.5%) were required intensive care unit (ICU) admission in the ECD group, no patient was required to follow up in ICU in the PCD group (p < 0.001). The hospital length of stay (LOS) was tended to be significantly longer in the ECD group (2.8 ± 0.7 days) than in the PCD group (2.4 ± 0.6 days, p < 0.001). Neonatal outcomes of birth weight, Apgar scores, NICU admission, and neonatal death were significantly better in the PCD group than in the ECD group.

CONCLUSIONS

The PCD group has better maternal outcomes, including preoperative and discharge hemoglobin levels, ICU admission and hospital LOS, and better neonatal outcomes than the ECD group. Clinicians should pay regard to that scheduling the delivery to advanced pregnancy weeks has a failure possibility, and patients could not reach the scheduled day due to the emergency states.

Increased maternal serum aquaporin-9 expression in pregnancies complicated with early-onset preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate maternal serum aquaporin-9 (AQP9) concentrations in patients with early-onset preeclampsia and compare them with the uncomplicated control group with normal blood pressure.

METHODS

This was a prospective case-control study including pregnant women who were diagnosed with early-onset preeclampsia between 20^0/7 -34^0/7 weeks of gestation. Demographic and clinical characteristics, complete blood count and biochemical parameters, and serum AQP9 concentrations were documented. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to illustrate the sensitivity and specificity performance characteristics of AQP9 and a cut-off value was estimated by using the Youden index.

RESULTS

The mean serum concentrations of maternal AQP9 were significantly increased in the early-onset preeclampsia group (722.22 ± 211.80 pg/mL) than the control group (499.97 ± 68.89 pg/mL, p < 0.001). When we analyze the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the serum AQP9 value can be considered a statistically significant parameter for diagnosing preeclampsia. According to the Youden index, a 587.70 ng/mL cut-off value of serum AQP9 level can be used to diagnose early-onset preeclampsia with 80.0% sensitivity and 89.7% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Maternal serum AQP9 concentrations were significantly increased in early-onset preeclampsia patients than healthy normotensive pregnant patients. We suggest that AQP9 might be a crucial biomarker of the inflammatory process in early-onset preeclampsia.

The implications for advanced maternal age on pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes

Objective This study aimed to determine the effect of advanced maternal age (AMA) on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women aged ≥35 years compared with patients aged 30–34 years. Also, we aimed to analyze the risk estimates of potential confounders to identify whether these variables contributed to the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes or not. Methods This retrospective cohort study included 2284 pregnant women aged ≥35 years at the time of delivery who was delivered in a tertiary referral hospital from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. We further classified these women into two subgroups: 35–39 years as early AMA (EAMA), and ≥40 years as very AMA (VAMA). Pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results Compared to younger women, pregnant AMA women had significantly higher risks of complicated pregnancies, including a higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, p<0.001), polyhydramnios (p<0.001), cesarean section (p<0.001), stillbirths (p<0.001), major fetal abnormality (p<0.001), preterm delivery (p<0.001), lower birth weight (p<0.001), lower 5-minute Apgar scores (p<0.001), lower umbilical artery blood pH values (p<0.001), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission (p<0.001), and length of NICU stay (p<0.001). Conclusion We found a strong and significant association between VAMA and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including an increased risk of GDM, polyhydramnios, cesarean section, and adverse neonatal outcomes, including a higher risk of stillbirths, preterm delivery, lower birth weight, lower 5-minute Apgar scores, and NICU admission.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Double Aortic Arch: Associated Findings and Postnatal Clinical Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to share our experience in the prenatal diagnosis and characteristics of double aortic arc and neonatal consequences.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 2153 fetal echocardiography reports between 2014 and 2019 years. Records of 14 fetuses with double aortic arc were examined. Prenatal and postnatal medical records, sonographic images, genetic reports, associated cardiac and extracardiac anomalies, and neonatal clinical results of affected fetuses were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

DAA was isolated in 9 of 14 (64.2%) cases, while the other five cases had cardiac or extracardiac accompanying ultrasound findings. Three of cases (21.4%) were associated with other heart pathologies, including ventricular septal defect, double outlet right ventricle, and persistent left superior vena cava. In 10 cases (71.43%), the right aortic arch diameter was dominant. The left aortic arc was dominant in two cases and both arcs were symmetrical in the remaining two cases. 22q11 microdeletion was the only chromosomal abnormality and was detected in two of nine patients who accepted genetic analysis. Intrauterine fetal death occurred in two of the cases. After birth, in 58.3% (7/12) of the live born cases various degrees of symptoms. Surgical repair was performed with the division of the aorta to all symptomatic cases at different times according to severity of the complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

Since it can cause severe respiratory distress in the postnatal period and may accompany chromosomal anomalies, it is important to provide antenatal diagnosis of double aortic arc and adequate counseling to the family.

A case of corpus callosum dysplasia with different development of the corpus callosum in the right and left brain hemispheres

The corpus callosum (CC) is a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebral cortex lobes into the left and right hemispheres. Prenatal diagnosis of corpus callosum agenesis (partial/total) has been described frequently in the literature. In this case report, a case of corpus callosum dysplasia with different development of the halves of the corpus callosum in the right and left brain hemispheres, which was not previously discussed in the literature, will be described. Whenever we have any doubts about CC, axial, coronal, and sagittal scans of the fetal brain should be performed with TVUSG (transvaginal ultrasonography) or TAUSG (transabdominal ultrasonography) according to the position of the fetal head, and both length and thickness should be measured.

The combined effect of anti-D and non-D Rh antibodies in maternal alloimmunization

Objective

This study aims to investigate the distribution of antibodies that cause hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and compare the clinical outcomes of pregnancies affected by anti-D and anti-D combined with non-D Rh alloimmunization.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively searched and obtained the perinatal and neonatal data of patients with anti-D antibodies and anti-D combined with non-D Rh antibodies (anti-c, -C, -e, -E, and -Kell) from October 2015 to December 2018 at the University of Health Sciences Turkey, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses and adjusted odds ratios with their confidence intervals were used to define independent risk factors for non-D antibody positive.

Results

The severe fetal hydrops rate was significantly higher in the anti-D combined non-D group (3/25, 12%) than in the anti-D group (1/128, 0.08%, p<0.001). The intrauterine transfusion (IUT) requirement in the anti-D combined non-D group (16/25, 64%) tended to be significantly higher than that in the anti-D group (5/128, 7.46%, p<0.001). The incidence of neonatal exchange transfusion, top-up transfusion, and postnatal phototherapy frequency in the anti-D combined non-D group was significantly higher than in the anti-D group.

Conclusion

Anti-D combined with another non-D Rh alloantibody resulted in significantly higher HDFN rates than the anti-D alloimmunized pregnancies. Also, anti-D in association with non-D Rh antibodies resulted in more severe HDFN requiring more invasive treatment procedures, including IUT, neonatal exchange transfusion, or top-up transfusion.

Maternal serum IL-22 concentrations are significantly upregulated in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the serum IL-22 levels between preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) patients and the control group with intact membranes. We also hypothesized whether serum IL-22 upregulation might contribute to defense against inflammatory responses and improve the pregnancy outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed this prospective case-control study between 24-34 weeks of pregnancy. We enrolled 40 singleton pregnant patients with PPROM and 40 healthy gestational age- and gravidity-matched patients without PPROM. The degree of association between variables and IL-22 were calculated by Spearman correlation coefficients where appropriate. Scatter plots were given for statistically significant correlations. ROC curve was constructed to illustrate the sensitivity and specificity performance characteristics of IL-22, and a cutoff value was estimated by using the index of Youden.

RESULTS

Maternal serum IL-22 levels were significantly higher in PPROM patients (60.34 ± 139.81 pg/mL) compared to the participants in the control group (20.71 ± 4.36 pg/mL, p < 0.001). When we analyze the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the IL-22 value can be considered a statistically significant parameter for diagnosing PPROM. According to the Youden index, a 23.86 pg/mL cut-off value of IL-22 can be used to diagnosing PPROM with 72% sensitivity and 61.5% specificity. There was no positive correlation between serum IL-22 levels and maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) value, procalcitonin value, latency period, birth week, birth weight, and umbilical cord blood pH value.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal serum IL-22 levels were significantly higher in PPROM patients than healthy pregnant women with an intact membrane. We suggest that IL-22 might be a crucial biomarker of the inflammatory process in PPROM.

Blake's pouch cyst: Prenatal diagnosis and management

Objective:

This study aimed to present the characteristic features of 19 patients who were diagnosed as having Blake’s pouch cyst (BPC) at our center.

Materials and Methods:

Nineteen patients diagnosed as BPC between 2015 and 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Follow-up examinations were performed using ultrasonography (US) every three weeks up to 35 weeks of gestation. Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at the time of diagnosis or during follow-up in 13 patients. MRI or transfontanellar US was performed to confirm the diagnosis of BPC after delivery. Karyotype results of eight patients were recorded.

Results:

Isolated BPC was observed in 9 (47%) patients, and associated anomalies were detected in 10 (53%) patients, including seven (36%) with the central nervous system and four (21%) with cardiac anomalies. Two fetuses had abnormal karyotype analysis as trisomy 21 and 13. The MRI report of eight patients was “differential diagnosis required for Dandy-Walker complex” and only in five (26%) patients, it was reported to be compatible with BPC. Spontaneous resolution was seen in four patients. Postnatal MRI was performed in five patients, and transfontanellar US in two patients, and all MRI and US results were consistent with BPC. During the neonatal period, abnormal neurologic development was observed in four (21%) patients, and one (5%) died.

Conclusion:

Although the prognosis of isolated BPC is very good with healthy neurologic development until advanced ages, death in the early neonatal period and abnormal neurologic development may be observed depending on the condition of the associated anomalies.

Does fetal MR alter the management of pregnancy in the diagnosis of isolated corpus callosum agenesis?

Objective To determine if fetal MR alters the management of pregnancy and family decisions in the isolated corpus callosum agenesis (CCA) cases or not. Methods Fetal MR was carried out in the cases diagnosed with CCA in the Perinatology Unit of our hospital between 2013 and 2019 after they were differentiated as complex and isolated CCA cases. The impact of MR results on the family decisions and their approaches towards termination were assessed. Results A total of 109 out 139 cases were evaluated as isolated CCA. While 93 (85.32%) of them were diagnosed with the complete CCA, 16 (14.68%) cases were diagnosed with the partial CCA. When the period after 2017 during which fetal MR was recommended to all patients was reviewed, it was seen that 7 (23.3%) of 30 cases who underwent fetal MR and 2 (20%) of 10 cases who did not undergo fetal MR terminated their pregnancies. There was no statistical difference between two groups in terms of the decisions of the patients for gestational termination who did and did not undergo fetal MR. Conclusion Fetal MR imaging in the isolated CCA does not change the decisions of the families for the gestational termination. In terms of the termination decision, week of gestation and socio-cultural factors may have more impacts.