scholarly journals Early pregnancy screening for preeclampsia and preterm birth using maternal characteristics and biomarkers

2022 ◽  
Vol 226 (1) ◽  
pp. S638
Author(s):  
Tianhua Huang ◽  
Shamim Rashid ◽  
Alan Dennis ◽  
Ellen Mak-Tam ◽  
Megan Priston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Maternal Characteristics

scholarly journals Maternal biological age assessed in early pregnancy is associated with gestational age at birth

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva E. Lancaster ◽  
Dana M. Lapato ◽  
Colleen Jackson-Cook ◽  
Jerome F. Strauss ◽  
Roxann Roberson-Nay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Cellular Aging ◽  
Biological Age ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Gestational Age At Birth ◽  
Age At Birth

AbstractMaternal age is an established predictor of preterm birth independent of other recognized risk factors. The use of chronological age makes the assumption that individuals age at a similar rate. Therefore, it does not capture interindividual differences that may exist due to genetic background and environmental exposures. As a result, there is a need to identify biomarkers that more closely index the rate of cellular aging. One potential candidate is biological age (BA) estimated by the DNA methylome. This study investigated whether maternal BA, estimated in either early and/or late pregnancy, predicts gestational age at birth. BA was estimated from a genome-wide DNA methylation platform using the Horvath algorithm. Linear regression methods assessed the relationship between BA and pregnancy outcomes, including gestational age at birth and prenatal perceived stress, in a primary and replication cohort. Prenatal BA estimates from early pregnancy explained variance in gestational age at birth above and beyond the influence of other recognized preterm birth risk factors. Sensitivity analyses indicated that this signal was driven primarily by self-identified African American participants. This predictive relationship was sensitive to small variations in the BA estimation algorithm. Benefits and limitations of using BA in translational research and clinical applications for preterm birth are considered.

Complement Activation Fragment Bb in Early Pregnancy and Spontaneous Preterm Birth

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-132
Author(s):  
A. M. Lynch ◽  
R. S. Gibbs ◽  
J. R. Murphy ◽  
T. Byers ◽  
M. C. Neville ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Complement Activation ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth

scholarly journals Prediction of Healthy Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Overweight and Obesity: The Role of Maternal Early-Pregnancy Metabolites

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Rama J. Wahab ◽  
Vincent W. V. Jaddoe ◽  
Romy Gaillard
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Large For Gestational Age ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Healthy Pregnancy ◽  
Increased Risk

Women with obesity receive intensified antenatal care due to their increased risk of pregnancy complications, even though not all of these women develop complications. We developed a model based on maternal characteristics for prediction of healthy pregnancy outcomes in women with obesity or who are overweight. We assessed whether early-pregnancy metabolites improved prediction. In a population-based cohort study among a subsample of 1180 Dutch pregnant women with obesity or who are overweight, we developed a prediction model using 32 maternal socio-demographic, lifestyle, physical and pregnancy-related characteristics. We determined early-pregnancy amino acids, nonesterifed fatty acids, phospholipids and carnitines in blood serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A healthy pregnancy outcome was the absence of fetal death, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, caesarian section, preterm birth, large-for-gestational-age at birth, macrosomia, postpartum weight retention and offspring overweight/obesity at 5 years. Maternal age, relationship status, parity, early-pregnancy body mass index, mid-pregnancy gestational weight gain, systolic blood pressure and estimated fetal weight were selected into the model using backward selection (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.68)). Early-pregnancy metabolites did not improve model performance. Thus, in women with obesity or who are overweight, maternal characteristics can moderately predict a healthy pregnancy outcome. Maternal early-pregnancy metabolites have no incremental value in the prediction of a healthy pregnancy outcome.

scholarly journals Vaginal Microbiota, Genital Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Remodelling Collagenase: MMP-9 in Pregnant Women With HIV, a Potential Preterm Birth Mechanism Warranting Further Exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte-Eve S. Short ◽  
Rachael A. Quinlan ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
Veronica Georgiana Preda ◽  
Ann Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Vaginal Fluid ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes ◽  
Genital Tract Infection ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Tnf Α

BackgroundPregnant women living with HIV infection (PWLWH) have elevated rates of preterm birth (PTB) in which HIV and cART are implicated. PWLWH also have a high prevalence of adverse vaginal microbiota, which associate with genital tract inflammation. The mechanism underlying PTB in PWLWH is unknown. We present the first data in PWLWH on genital-tract matrix-metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), an important collagenase implicated in labour onset, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1) and explore correlations with local inflammation and vaginal bacteria.Material and MethodsCervical vaginal fluid (CVF) collected by a soft cup and high vaginal swabs (HVS) were obtained from PWLWH and HIV uninfected pregnant women (HUPW) at three antenatal time points. Maternal characteristics, combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) exposure, and pregnancy outcome were recorded. Concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and ten cytokines were measured by immunoassays. Vaginal microbiota composition was determined through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. MMP-9, TIMP-1 and cytokine concentrations were compared by HIV status, cART, and prematurity and in PWLWH correlations with polymorphonuclear leucocytes, cytokines and bacterial genera were explored.ResultsCVF was available for 50 PWLWH (108 samples) and 12 HUPW (20 samples) between gestation weeks 14-38. Thirty-six PWLWH conceived on cART and 14 initiated post-conception. There were five and one PTB outcomes in PWLWH and HUPW respectively. PWLWH had higher mean CVF concentrations of MMP-9 (p<0.001) and TIMP-1 (p=0.035) in the second trimester compared with HUPW with a similar trend in the third trimester. PWLWH also had higher CVF values of cytokines: IL-1β, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α in both trimesters compared to HUPW (p ≤ 0.003). In PWLWH, MMP-9 positively correlated with TIMP-1 (r=0.31, p=0.002) and CVF polymorphonuclear leucocytes (r=0.57, p=0.02). Correlations were observed between MMP-9 and three cytokines: IL-1β (r=0.61), IL-8 (r=0.57) and TNF-α (r=0.64), p<0.001, similarly for TIMP-1. Abundance of anaerobic pathobionts correlated with MMP-9: Gardnerella (r=0.44, p<0.001), Atopobium (r=0.33, p=0.005), and Prevotella genera (r=0.39, p<0.001). Conversely proportion of Lactobacillus genera negatively correlated with MMP-9 (rho=-0.46, p<0.001). MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio increased with gestational age at sampling in PWLWH, but this was no longer significant after adjusting for confounders and no difference by prematurity was observed in this sub-study.ConclusionsHere we show strong correlations of MMP-9 to genital tract inflammation and sub-optimal bacterial genera in PWLWH indicating the ascending genital tract infection pathway may be a contributory mechanism to the high risk of PTB.

scholarly journals Accelerated Fetal Growth in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Elenis ◽  
Anna-Karin Wikström ◽  
Marija Simic
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background: Preterm birth (occurring before 37 completed weeks of gestation) affects 15 million infants annually, 7.5% of which die due to related complications. The detection and early diagnosis are therefore paramount in order to prevent the development of prematurity and its consequences. So far, focus has been laid on the association between reduced intrauterine fetal growth during late gestation and prematurity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between accelerated fetal growth in early pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 69 617 singleton pregnancies without congenital malformations and with available biometric measurements during the first and second trimester. Estimation of fetal growth was based on measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD) at first and second trimester scan. We investigated the association between accelerated fetal growth and preterm birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation. The outcome was further stratified into very preterm birth (before 32 weeks of gestation) or moderate preterm birth (between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation) and medically induced or spontaneous preterm birth and was further explored. Results: The odds of prematurity were increased among fetuses with accelerated BPD growth (> 90th centile) estimated between first and second ultrasound scan, even after adjustment for possible confounders (aOR 1.36; 95% CI 1.20-1.54). The findings remained significant what regards moderate preterm births but not earlier births. Regarding medically induced preterm birth, the odds were found to be elevated in the group of fetuses with accelerated growth in early pregnancy (aOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.11-1.63). On the contrary, fetuses with delayed fetal growth exhibited lower risk for both overall and spontaneous preterm birth.Conclusions: Fetuses with accelerated BPD growth in early pregnancy, detected by ultrasound examination during the second trimester, exhibited increased risk of being born preterm. The findings of the current study suggest that fetal growth in early pregnancy should be taken into account when assessing the likelihood for preterm birth.

Modified Multiple Marker Aneuploidy Screening as a Primary Screening Test for Preeclampsia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianhua Huang ◽  
H. Melanie Bedford ◽  
Shamim Rashid ◽  
Evasha Rasasakaram ◽  
Megan Priston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Biochemical Markers ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Aneuploidy Screening ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Screening Performance ◽  
Β Hcg

Abstract Background: Maternal biochemical markers used in multiple marker aneuploidy screening have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to assess if a combination of maternal characteristics and biochemical markers in the first and second trimesters can be used to screen for preeclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension and preterm birth. Methods: This case-control study used information on maternal characteristics and residual blood samples from pregnant women who have undergone multiple marker aneuploidy screening. The median multiple of the median (MoM) of first and second trimester biochemical markers in cases (women with PE, gestational hypertension and preterm birth) and controls were compared. Biochemical markers included pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PlGF), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha feto-protein (AFP), unconjugated estriol (uE3) and Inhibin A. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate screening performance using different marker combinations. Screening performance was defined as detection rate (DR) and false positive rate (FPR). Preterm and early-onset preeclampsia PE were defined as women with PE delivered < 37 and < 34 weeks of gestation.Results: There were 147 pregnancies with PE (81 term, 49 preterm and 17 early-onset), 295 with gestational hypertension, and 166 preterm birth. Compared to controls, PE cases had significantly lower median MoM of PAPP-A (0.77 vs 1.10, p<0.0001), PlGF (0.76 vs 1.01, p<0.0001) and free-β hCG (0.81 vs. 0.98, p<0.001) in the first trimester along with PAPP-A (0.82 vs 0.99, p<0.01) and PlGF (0.75 vs 1.02, p<0.0001) in the second trimester. The lowest first trimester PAPP-A, PlGF and free β-hCG were seen in those with preterm and early-onset PE. At a 20% FPR, 67% of preterm and 76% of early-onset PE cases can be predicted using a combination of maternal characteristics with PAPP-A and PlGF in the first trimester.Conclusions: Maternal characteristics with first trimester PAPP-A and PlGF measured for aneuploidy screening provided reasonable accuracy in identifying women at risk of developing early onset PE, allowing triage of high-risk women for further investigation and risk-reducing therapy.

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