Hypothyroidism incidence in and around pregnancy: a Danish nationwide study

Objective Immunological changes in and after a pregnancy may influence the onset of autoimmune diseases. An increased incidence of hyperthyroidism has been observed both in early pregnancy and postpartum, but it remains to be studied if the incidence of hypothyroidism varies in a similar way. Design Population-based cohort study using Danish nationwide registers. Method All women who gave birth to a singleton live-born child in Denmark from 1999 to 2008 (n = 403 958) were identified, and data on hospital diagnosis of hypothyroidism and redeemed prescriptions of thyroid hormone were extracted. The overall incidence rate (IR) of hypothyroidism during 1997–2010 and the IR in three-month intervals before, during and after the woman’s first pregnancy in the study period were calculated and compared with the IR of hyperthyroidism. Results Altogether 5220 women were identified with onset of hypothyroidism from 1997 to 2010 (overall IR 92.3/100 000/year) and 1572 women developed hypothyroidism in the period from 2 years before to 2 years after birth of the first child in the study period. The incidence of hypothyroidism decreased during the pregnancy (incidence rate ratio (IRR) vs overall IR in the rest of the study period: first trimester: 0.89 (95% CI: 0.66–1.19), second trimester: 0.71 (0.52–0.97), third trimester: 0.29 (0.19–0.45)) and increased after birth with the highest level at 4–6 months postpartum (IRR 3.62 (2.85–4.60)). Conclusion These are the first population-based data on the incidence of hypothyroidism in and around pregnancy. The incidence declined during pregnancy followed by a sharp increase postpartum. Notably, hypothyroidism as opposed to hyperthyroidism showed no early pregnancy increase.

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Patterns of medication use before, during and after pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based cohort study

Lupus ◽

10.1177/0961203319863111 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (10) ◽

pp. 1205-1213 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E Z Zusman ◽

E C Sayre ◽

J A Aviña-Zubieta ◽

M A De Vera

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Medication Use ◽

First Trimester ◽

Population Based ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Systemic Lupus ◽

Start Date ◽

The Third

Objectives This study aimed to characterize the patterns of medication use before, during and after pregnancy in a population-based cohort of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Using population-based administrative data in British Columbia, Canada, with valid information on start date of pregnancy, we identified women with SLE who had singleton pregnancies ending in deliveries between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2012. We assessed the proportion of SLE pregnancies exposed to SLE medications – namely antimalarials and immunosuppressants – as well as glucocorticosteroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 24 months before pregnancy, each trimester of pregnancy, and 12 months postpregnancy. We also assessed discontinuation of antimalarials and immunosuppressants, defined as no prescriptions in a given window following a prescription in a preceding window. Results Of 376 pregnancies (284 women) with SLE, 24.2% had one or more dispensing for antimalarials, 8.2% for azathioprine, 19.7% for glucocorticosteroids and 4.8% for NSAIDs during pregnancy. We observed a 16.7% discontinuation of antimalarials in the year prior to pregnancy, 29.8% in the first trimester, 9.7% in the second trimester, and 26.0% in the third trimester. We also observed a 29.2% discontinuation of azathioprine in the first trimester, 8.0% in the second trimester, and 9.1% in the third trimester. Conclusions These population-based data show frequent discontinuation of medications, particularly antimalarials, in SLE pregnancies. These findings suggest the importance of educating women with SLE who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant on the benefits and risks of medications during pregnancy.

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Maternal bisphenol urine concentrations, fetal growth and adverse birth outcomes: A population-based prospective cohort

Environmental Health ◽

10.1186/s12940-021-00747-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chalana M. Sol ◽

Charissa van Zwol - Janssens ◽

Elise M. Philips ◽

Alexandros G. Asimakopoulos ◽

Maria-Pilar Martinez-Moral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Outcomes ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Head Circumference ◽

Lower Risk ◽

First Trimester ◽

Population Based ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Bisphenol S ◽

Fetal Head ◽

Urine Concentrations

Abstract Background Exposure to bisphenols may affect fetal growth and development. The trimester-specific effects of bisphenols on repeated measures of fetal growth remain unknown. Our objective was to assess the associations of maternal bisphenol urine concentrations with fetal growth measures and birth outcomes and identify potential critical exposure periods. Methods In a population-based prospective cohort study among 1379 pregnant women, we measured maternal bisphenol A, S and F urine concentrations in the first, second and third trimester. Fetal head circumference, length and weight were measured in the second and third trimester by ultrasound and at birth. Results An interquartile range increase in maternal pregnancy-averaged bisphenol S concentrations was associated with larger fetal head circumference (difference 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.34) standard deviation scores (SDS), p-value< 0.05) across pregnancy. When focusing on specific critical exposure periods, any detection of first trimester bisphenol S was associated with larger second and third trimester fetal head circumference (difference 0.15 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.26) and 0.12 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.23) SDS, respectively) and fetal weight (difference 0.12 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.22) and 0.16 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.26) SDS, respectively). The other bisphenols were not consistently associated with fetal growth outcomes. Any detection of bisphenol S and bisphenol F in first trimester was also associated with a lower risk of being born small size for gestational age (Odds Ratio 0.56 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.74) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.85), respectively). Bisphenols were not associated with risk of preterm birth. Conclusions Higher maternal bisphenol S urine concentrations, especially in the first trimester, seem to be related with larger fetal head circumference, higher weight and a lower risk of being small size for gestational age at birth.

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Infliximab clearance decreases in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease

United European Gastroenterology Journal ◽

10.1177/2050640620964619 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 205064062096461

Author(s):

Ana-Marija Grišić ◽

Maria Dorn-Rasmussen ◽

Bella Ungar ◽

Jørn Brynskov ◽

Johan F K F Ilvemark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Bowel Disease ◽

First Trimester ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

Therapeutic Drug ◽

Population Pharmacokinetic ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

The Third ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

Background Infliximab therapy during pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease is challenged by a dilemma between maintaining adequate maternal disease control while minimizing fetal infliximab exposure. We investigated the effects of pregnancy on infliximab pharmacokinetics. Methods The study population comprised 23 retrospectively identified pregnancies. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease were generally in clinical remission at pregnancy conception (74%) and received steady infliximab maintenance therapy (5 mg/kg q8w n = 17; q6w n = 4; q10w n = 1; 10 mg/kg q8w n = 1). Trough blood samples had been obtained in the same patients prior to pregnancy ( n = 119), the first trimester ( n = 16), second trimester ( n = 18), third trimester ( n = 7), and post-pregnancy ( n = 12). Data were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects population pharmacokinetic modelling. Results Dose-normalized infliximab concentrations were significantly higher during the second trimester (median 15 µg/mL/kg, interquartile range 10–21) compared to pre-pregnancy (7, 2–12; p = 0.003), the first trimester (9, 1–12; p = 0.04), or post-pregnancy (6, interquartile range 3–11; p > 0.05) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Similar trends were observed in the third trimester (13, 7–36; p > 0.05). A one-compartment model with linear elimination described the pharmacokinetics of infliximab (volume of distribution = 18.2 L; clearance 0.61 L/day). Maternal infliximab exposure was influenced by the second and third trimester of pregnancy and anti-infliximab antibodies, and not by pregnancy-imposed physiological changes in, for example, body weight or albumin. Infliximab clearance decreased significantly during the second and third trimesters by up to 15% as compared to pre- and post-pregnancy and the first trimester. The increased maternal infliximab exposure was weakly associated with lowered clinical disease activity. Pharmacokinetic model simulations of virtual patients indicated the increased maternal infliximab trough concentrations imposed by pregnancy will not completely counteract the decrease in infliximab concentration if therapy is paused in the third trimester. Conclusion Infliximab clearance decreases significantly in the second and third trimesters, leading to increasing maternal infliximab concentrations in any given regimen. Maternal infliximab levels may thus be maintained as constant in a de-intensified regimen by therapeutic drug monitoring guidance in inflammatory bowel disease.

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Calcium-regulating hormones and parathyroid hormone-related peptide in normal human pregnancy and postpartum: a longitudinal study

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje.0.1370402 ◽

1997 ◽

pp. 402-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 113

Author(s):

MS Ardawi ◽

HA Nasrat ◽

HS BA'Aqueel

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Parathyroid Hormone ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

First Trimester ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Human Pregnancy ◽

Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽

Normal Human ◽

Parathyroid Hormone Related Peptide

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate calcium-regulating hormones and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in normal human pregnancy and postpartum in women not deficient in vitamin D. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in pregnant Saudi women during the course of pregnancy (n = 40), at term and 6 weeks postpartum (n = 18). Maternal concentrations of serum calcidiol and calcitriol were determined, together with those of serum intact-parathyroid hormone (PTH), PTHrP, calcitonin, osteocalcin, human placental lactogen (hPL), prolactin, vitamin D binding protein, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphate and magnesium. A group of non-pregnant women (n = 280) were included for comparative purposes. RESULTS: The calcidiol concentrations decreased (mean +/- S.D.) significantly from 54 +/- 10 nmol/l in the first trimester to 33 +/- 8 nmol/l in the third trimester (P < 0.001) and remained decreased at term and postpartum (both P < 0.001). The calcitriol concentration increased through pregnancy, from 69 +/- 17 pmol/l in the first trimester to 333 +/- 83 pmol/l at term (P < 0.001). Intact-PTH concentrations increased from 1.31 +/- 0.25 pmol/l in the first trimester to 2.26 +/- 0.39 pmol/l in the second trimester, but then declined to values of the first trimester and increased significantly postpartum (4.02 +/- 0.36 pmol/l) (P < 0.001). PTHrP concentration increased through pregnancy from 0.81 +/- 0.12 pmol/l in the first trimester to 2.01 +/- 0.22 pmol/l at term and continued its increase postpartum (2.63 +/- 0.15 pmol/l) (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were evident between PTHrP and alkaline phosphatase up to term (r = 0.051, P < 0.001) and between PTHrP and calcitriol (r = 0.46, P < 0.001), osteocalcin (r = 0.23, P < 0.05) and prolactin (r = 0.41, P < 0.05) during pregnancy. Osteocalcin started to increase from 0.13 +/- 0.01 nmol/l in the second trimester, through pregnancy and postpartum (P < 0.001). Calcitonin was increased more than twofold by the second trimester compared with the first trimester (P < 0.001) and subsequently decreased (P < 0.001). Prolactin concentrations were significantly greater in the second (6724 +/- 1459 pmol/l) and third (8394 +/- 2086 pmol/l) trimesters compared with values before pregnancy (P < 0.001). hPL, increased throughout the course of pregnancy, reaching a maximum at term (7.61 +/- 2.57 microIU/ml). There was no direct correlation between serum calcitriol concentrations during pregnancy and serum prolactin (r = -0.12, P < 0.19) or serum hPL (r = 0.17, P < 0.21). Significant changes were observed in the serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate, but not in that of magnesium, during the course of pregnancy; calcium concentrations showed a maximal decrease at term. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in serum PTHrP during the course of pregnancy, at term and postpartum have been demonstrated, suggesting that the placenta (during pregnancy) and mammary glands (postpartum) are the main sources of PTHrP. No support for the concept of 'physiological hyperparathyroidism' of pregnancy could be demonstrated in the present work. The pregnancy-induced increase in calcitriol concentration may thus be the primary mediator of the changes in maternal calcium metabolism, but the involvement of other factors cannot be excluded.

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The Effect of Preserving Pregnancy in Cervical Cancer Diagnosed During Pregnancy: A Retrospective Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-507502/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zuoxi He ◽

Chuan Xie ◽

Xiaorong Qi ◽

Zhengjun Hu ◽

Yuedong He

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Rare Event ◽

Oncologic Outcome ◽

First Trimester ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Delayed Treatment ◽

The Third ◽

Survival Difference ◽

Estimated Blood Loss

Abstract ObjectiveCervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is a rare event, and data regarding efficacy of cancer treatment during pregnancy is limited. This study aimed to assess the safety of continuation of the pregnancy for mother and fetus when concomitantly diagnosed with cervical cancer.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed all cervical cancer patients diagnosed while pregnant or immediately postpartum, inclusive from Jan 2010 to June 2019 at our institute. Patient clinical details and follow-up were obtained from hospital records. ResultsThe study comprised 40 patients with clinical cancer stages of ⅠA1 (1/40, 2.5%); ⅠB1 (15/40, 37.5%); IB2 (10/40, 25%); ⅡA (12/40, 30%); and ⅡB (2/40, 5%). There were 38 patients diagnosed during pregnancy, and 2 diagnosed in the postpartum period. Of the 38 patients, 17 were diagnosed in the first trimester, 13 in the second trimester, and 8 in the third trimester. Ten of 38 patients (26.3%) continued their pregnancy after learning of their diagnosis; 7 (70%) in the third trimester and 3 (30%) in the second trimester. The mean time from diagnosis to surgery in the patients who continued their pregnancy was 52.7 days, which was statistically significantly greater than the termination of pregnancy group (52.7 vs 16.3 days, P < 0.01). Notably, there was no survival difference between the 2 groups (100% vs 90.91%, P =0.54), and none of the pregnant women who ultimately died had delayed treatment due to pregnancy. Similarly, the surgical estimated blood loss and operative duration comparing the 2 groups were not significantly different. ConclusionsIn the present study, the gestational age of pregnancy at the time of initial diagnosis of cervical cancer was an important determinant in the disease management. Continuation of the pregnancy when diagnosed with cervical cancer did not affect the oncologic outcome of the mother nor increase either surgical or obstetric complications. Additionally, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not threaten the health of the fetus. These results may be useful in counseling patients facing the diagnosis of cervical cancer during pregnancy.

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Spiral artery blood flow during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

10.21203/rs.2.16611/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Veronique Schiffer ◽

Laura Evers ◽

Sander de Haas ◽

Chahinda Ghossein ◽

Salwan Al-Nasiry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Resistance Index ◽

First Trimester ◽

Trophoblast Invasion ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Spiral Artery ◽

Third Trimester

Abstract Background: Downstream remodeling of the spiral arteries (SpA) decreases utero-placental resistance drastically, allowing sustained and increased blood flow to the placenta at all circumstances. We systematically evaluated available reports to visualize adaptation of spiral arteries throughout pregnancy by ultra-sonographic measurements and evaluated when this process is completed.Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of spiral artery flow (pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV)) was performed. English articles were obtained from Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library and included articles were assessed on quality and risk of bias. Weighted means of Doppler indices were calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In healthy pregnancies, PI and RI decreased from 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.83) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.46-0.53) in the first trimester to 0.52 (95% CI: 0.48-0.56, p=0.003) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.38-0.42, p=0.080) in the second trimester and to 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44-0.53, p=0.510) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.35-0.37, p=0.307) in the third trimester, respectively. In parallel, PSV altered from 0.24 m/s (95% CI: 0.17-0.31 m/s) to 0.28 m/s (95% CI: 0.22-0.34 m/s, p=0.377) and to 0.25 m/s (95% CI: 0.21-0.28 m/s, p=0.919) in the three trimesters. In absence of second and third trimester Doppler data in complicated gestation, only a difference in PI was observed between complicated and healthy pregnancies during the first trimester (1.49 vs 0.76, p<0.001). Although individual studies have identified differences in PI between SpA located in the central part of the placental bed versus those located at its periphery, this meta-analysis could not confirm this (p=0.349).Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis concludes that an observed decrease of SpA PI and RI from the first towards the second trimester parallels the physiological trophoblast invasion converting SpA during early gestation, a process completed in the midst of the second trimester. Higher PI and RI were found in SpA of complicated pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies, possibly reflecting suboptimal utero-placental circulation. Longitudinal studies examining comprehensively the predictive value of spiral artery Doppler for complicated pregnancies are yet to be carried out.

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Silencing SEC5 inhibits trophoblast invasion via integrin/Ca2+ signaling

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-19-0088 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 159 (1) ◽

pp. 59-71

Author(s):

Wen-Wen Gu ◽

Long Yang ◽

Xing-Xing Zhen ◽

Yan Gu ◽

Hua Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Pregnancy ◽

First Trimester ◽

Cytosolic Calcium ◽

Extravillous Trophoblast ◽

Trophoblast Invasion ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Imaging Results ◽

Fetal Bovine ◽

And Migration

The invasion of maternal decidua by extravillous trophoblast (EVT) is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, and abnormal trophoblast invasion could lead to placenta-associated pathologies including early pregnancy loss and preeclampsia. SEC5, a component of the exocyst complex, plays important roles in cell survival and migration, but its role in early pregnancy has not been reported. Thus, the present study was performed to explore the functions of SEC5 in trophoblast cells. The results showed that SEC5 expression in human placental villi at first trimester was significantly higher than it was at the third trimester, and it was abundantly localized in the cytotrophoblast (CTB) and the trophoblastic column. SEC5 knockdown was accompanied by reduced migration and invasion in HTR-8/SVneo cells. In addition, the expression and plasma membrane distribution of integrin β1 was also decreased. Furthermore, shRNA-mediated knockdown of SEC5 inhibited the outgrowth of first trimester placental explants. SEC5 and InsP3R were colocalized in the cytoplasm of HTR-8/SVneo cells, and the cell-permeant calcium chelator BAPTA-AM could significantly inhibit HTR-8/SVneo cell invasion. The Ca2+ imaging results showed that the 10% fetal bovine serum-stimulated cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) was not only reduced by downregulated SEC5 but also was blocked by the InsP3R inhibitor. Furthermore, either the [Ca2+]c was buffered by BAPTA-AM or the knockdown of SEC5 disrupted HTR-8/SVneo cell F-actin stress fibers and caused cytoskeleton derangement. Taken together, our results suggest that SEC5 might be involved in regulating trophoblast cell migration and invasion through the integrin/Ca2+ signal pathway to induce cytoskeletal rearrangement.

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Vitamin D status in pregnant Indian women across trimesters and different seasons and its correlation with neonatal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711451100170x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 106 (9) ◽

pp. 1383-1389 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

R. K. Marwaha ◽

N. Tandon ◽

S. Chopra ◽

N. Agarwal ◽

M. K. Garg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Hypovitaminosis D ◽

First Trimester ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Indian Women ◽

Hydroxyvitamin D ◽

25 Hydroxyvitamin D

The present cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the vitamin D status of pregnant Indian women and their breast-fed infants. Subjects were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics, Armed Forces Clinic and Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi. A total of 541 apparently healthy women with uncomplicated, single, intra-uterine gestation reporting in any trimester were consecutively recruited. Of these 541 women, 299 (first trimester, ninety-seven; second trimester, 125; third trimester, seventy-seven) were recruited in summer (April–October) and 242 (first trimester, fifty-nine, second trimester, ninety-three; third trimester, ninety) were recruited in winter (November–March) to study seasonal variations in vitamin D status. Clinical, dietary, biochemical and hormonal evaluations for the Ca–vitamin D–parathormone axis were performed. A subset of 342 mother–infant pairs was re-evaluated 6 weeks postpartum. Mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) of pregnant women was 23·2 (sd 12·2) nmol/l. Hypovitaminosis D (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) was observed in 96·3 % of the subjects. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in winter in the second and third trimesters, while serum intact parathormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher in winter in all three trimesters. A significant negative correlation was found between serum 25(OH)D and iPTH in mothers (r − 0·367, P = 0·0001) and infants (r − 0·56, P = 0·0001). A strong positive correlation was observed between 25(OH)D levels of mother–infant pairs (r 0·779, P = 0·0001). A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed in pregnancy, lactation and infancy with no significant inter-trimester differences in serum 25(OH)D levels.

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Visual Acuity Changes during Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

Journal of Pregnancy ◽

10.1155/2014/675792 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Khashayar Mehdizadehkashi ◽

Shahla Chaichian ◽

Abolfazl Mehdizadehkashi ◽

Ebrahim Jafarzadepour ◽

Zeinab Tamannaie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Refractive Error ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

First Trimester ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Pregnancy And Postpartum ◽

Myopic Shift

In this research, we represent the changes in visual acuity during pregnancy and after delivery. Changes as myopic shift start during second trimester and will be stopped after delivery; however it is obtained that women will have the same refractive error as what they had in the first trimester, after postpartum. So, any change in their spectacle prescription during this period is forbidden. As a result, not only changing in hormones can cause myopic shift in vision, but also overweight has its retributive role. What we are trying to do is to notify gynecologists and optometrists to be aware of these changes, so as to leave spectacle prescription writing to the session after postpartum period.

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Histogenesis and Histomorphometric study of Human Fetal Small Intestine

Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.4314/ejhs.v29i6.5 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Salva MN ◽

Chandni Gupta ◽

Arvind Kumar Pandey ◽

Nitesh Kumar ◽

Sushma R Kotian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Normal Growth ◽

Later Life ◽

First Trimester ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Histomorphometric Study ◽

Microscopic Features ◽

Early Life Events ◽

Muscularis Externa

Background: Intestine plays a major role for the normal growth of the fetus during the prenatal period. The process of the embryonic development is not quantified histologically. Therefore the main aim of the study was to measure the thickness of all part of the wall of the small intestine that are mucosa, submucosa and muscularis externa and to look for the appearance of the Brunner’s glands and Peyer’s patches in the submucosa of duodenum and ileum.Methods: The present study was carried out on 30 fetuses of gestational ages ranging from 11-36 weeks. Ten fetuses from each trimester were used in the study. Fetal small intestine were dissected carefully, and were separated as duodenum, jejunum & ileum and fixed in formalin solution. The tissue was processed for histology and then slides were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The microscopic features were noted using light microscope.Results: The thickness of the mucosa, submucosa and the muscularis externa was observed to be increased in first trimester, decreased in the second trimester and again increased in the third trimester, which could be because of the increase cell turnover and the arrangement of the collagen fibers as to support the mucosa and the muscularis externa.Conclusion: Thus, the knowledge of the histogenesis and histomorphometry of the human fetal small intestine is crucial for the adult gastroenterologist to appreciate, because of the potential for these early life events to affect the responsiveness of the intestine to physiological or pathological challenges in later life.

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