Induction of labor in pregnancies with small-for-gestational age - does the method affect pregnancy outcome?

Background:Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are often associated with a negative effect on pregnancy outcome. Most obstetrical complications are placenta-mediated such as preterm delivery and growths restrictions. In women with Sjögren syndrome, data on placenta- mediated complications are scarce and conflicting (1,2).Objectives:To analyse neonatal outcome in women with Sjögren syndrome with focus on preterm delivery and growth restriction.Methods:We retrospectively analysed 23 pregnancies of 16 patients with Sjögren syndrome that were followed at our centre with regard to pregnancy outcome, medication and disease characteristics. Small for gestational age was defined as birthweight percentile <10th. Preterm delivery was defined as delivery before 37, early term as delivery between 37-39 and term as delivery between 39-42 weeks of gestation.Results:Of 23 pregnancies, one ended in a miscarriage and 22 resulted in live births including one set of twins. Treatment used during pregnancy was hydroxychloroquine (20 pregnancies), prednisone (8), azathioprine (5) and cyclosporine (2). Concomitant treatment with low-dose aspirin was used in 9 pregnancies.Of the 22 live births, 17 were born at early term and 5 at term. There were no preterm deliveries. Median birth weight was 2820g (range 2095-3845g). Nine newborns (40.9%) were small for gestational age (SGA). Maternal treatment during these pregnancies was hydroxychloroquine in all cases and additional low-dose aspirin in three cases. Elevated CRP levels during pregnancy were found in 57% of the cases with SGA outcome. Only one woman with an SGA infant had positive anti-phospholipid antibodies.Regarding delivery mode, most patients had caesarean sections.Conclusion:In our cohort of women with Sjögren syndrome the prevalence of small for gestational age infants was high despite maternal treatment with hydroxychloroquine. Inflammatory markers could help to identify the patients at risk for placental insufficiency, yet prospective studies of larger cohorts are needed.References:[1]Gupta S et al; Sjögren Syndrome and Pregnancy: A literature review. Perm J 2017; 21:16-047[2]De Carolis S et al; The impact of primary Sjögren’s syndrome on pregnancy outcome: Our series and review of the literature. Autoimmun Rev 2014; 13(2):103-7Disclosure of Interests:Isabella Troester: None declared, Florian Kollert Employee of: Novartis, Astrid Zbinden: None declared, Luigi Raio: None declared, Frauke Foerger Grant/research support from: unrestricted grant from UCB, Consultant of: UCB, GSK, Roche, Speakers bureau: UCB, GSK

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Perinatal Outcome and its Prediction Using Longitudinal Feto-Maternal Doppler Follow-Up in Late Onset Small for Gestational Age Fetuses – A Prospective Cohort Study

Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound ◽

10.1055/a-1493-2367 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Silvia M. Lobmaier ◽

Oliver Graupner ◽

Javier U. Ortiz ◽

Bernhard Haller ◽

Christina Ried ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gestational Age ◽

Small For Gestational Age ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Perinatal Outcome ◽

Late Onset ◽

Induction Of Labor ◽

University Hospital ◽

Operative Delivery ◽

Longitudinal Measurements ◽

Cesarean Delivery Rate

Abstract Purpose To describe the perinatal outcome of a prospective cohort of late-onset small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses and to test adverse perinatal outcome (APO) prediction using Doppler measurements. Methods Singleton pregnancies from 32 weeks with suspicion of SGA (followed-up each 2 weeks) and randomly selected healthy controls at a university hospital were included. The whole SGA group was divided into the FGR subgroup or SGA percentile 3–10 subgroup. The following Doppler measurements were evaluated prospectively: umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI), middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI, cerebro-placental ratio (CPR), and mean uterine artery (mUtA) PI. APO was defined as arterial cord blood pH ≤ 7.15 and/or 5-minute Apgar ≤ 7 and/or emergency operative delivery and/or admission to the neonatal unit. Induction of labor was indicated according to a stage-based protocol. Results A total of 149 SGA and 143 control fetuses were included. The number of operative deliveries was similar between both groups (control: 29 %, SGA: 28 %), especially the cesarean delivery rate after the onset of labor (11 % vs. 10 %). Most SGA cases ended up in induction of labor (61 % vs. 31 %, p < 0.001). The areas under the curve (AUC) for APO prediction were similar using the last UA PI, MCA PI, CPR, and mUtA PI and barely reached 0.60. The AUC was best for the FGR subgroup, using the minimal CPR or maximum mUtA PI z-score of all longitudinal measurements (AUC = 0.63). Conclusion SGA fetuses do not have a higher rate of operative delivery if managed according to a risk stratification protocol. Prediction of APO is best for SGA and FGR using the “worst” CPR or mUtA PI but it remains moderate.

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