Comparison of Rocuronium Induced Neuromuscular Blockade in Late Second Trimester Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women

Cigarette smoke contains over 7000 different substances some of them exerting harmful effects on embryo and pregnant woman. Nowadays 15 % of adult people and around 10-15% of pregnant women smoke. Previous studies showed that cigarette smoke compounds could exert pharmacodinamic effects and influence some of the second trimester biochemical markers concentration. Therefore there is a need to adjust the reference values of second trimester markers depending of the smoker status. The aim of our study was to analyse which of the markers are influenced by smoking and whether the software used to calculate the risk for aneuploidies is able to counterbalance this influence. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and free estriol (uE3) values were measured in second trimester sera of 1242 pregnant women: 1089 non-smokers and 153 smokers. Only hCG second trimester values were influenced by smoking whereas AFP and uE3 values were not. The correction of medians according to the smoking status was able to counterbalance this effect.

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Is there a Need for Own Median Calculation in the Second Trimester Biochemical Markers Screening?

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.17.5.5613 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 1070-1072

Author(s):

Dan Navolan ◽

Mirela Nicolov ◽

Simona Vladareanu ◽

Ioana Ciohat ◽

Marius Craina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Biochemical Markers ◽

Biochemical Marker ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Established Method ◽

Crown Rump Length ◽

The Difference ◽

Fetal Aneuploidies ◽

Singleton Pregnancies

Screening of fetal aneuploidies in early pregnancy is a well-established method in the materno-fetal medicine. The aim of our study was to analyze if the medians recommended by the manufacturers are adequate to perform an accurate screening or if there is a need for own laboratory medians calculation in second trimester biochemical marker screening.Sera were collected between 14 wp and 22 wp from 3374 singleton pregnancies. We analyzed three second trimester biochemical markers (AFP, hCG and free Estriol) concentration in all pregnant women and in a subgroup of pregnant women in which gestational age was determined based on crown-rump length. Our results showed that for all biochemical markers the difference between the manufacturer and the own calculated median was lower than 10% excepting the hCG value in the group of pregnant women in which the gestational age was determined on basis of crown-rump-length. Our results show it is recommended to replace the values of the median for hCG measurement with the own laboratory calculated medians. This does not seem to be necessary in the case of AFP and free Estriol measurement.

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Sertraline concentrations in pregnant women are steady and the drug transfer to their infants is low

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.1007/s00228-021-03122-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

E. Heinonen ◽

M. Blennow ◽

M. Blomdahl-Wetterholm ◽

M. Hovstadius ◽

J. Nasiell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cord Blood ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Relative Difference ◽

Interindividual Variation ◽

Therapeutic Drug ◽

Cytochrome P450 Enzyme ◽

Second Trimester ◽

P450 Enzyme ◽

Placental Passage

Abstract Purpose Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is one of the most commonly used antidepressant during pregnancy. Plasma sertraline concentrations vary markedly between individuals, partly explained by variability in hepatic drug metabolizing cytochrome P450-enzyme activity. Our purpose was to study the variability in the plasma concentrations in pregnant women and the passage to their infants. Method Pregnant women with moderate untreated depression were recruited in 2016–2019 in Stockholm Region and randomized to treatment with sertraline or placebo. All received Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy as non-medical treatment. Sertraline plasma concentrations were measured around pregnancy weeks 21 and 30, at delivery, 1-month postpartum, in cord blood and at 48 h of age in the infant. The clinical course of the infants was followed. Results Nine mothers and 7 infants were included in the analysis. Median dose-adjusted sertraline concentration in second trimester was 0.15(ng/mL) /(mg/day), in third trimester and at delivery 0.19 and 1-month postpartum 0.25, with a 67% relative difference between second trimester and postpartum. The interindividual variation was 10-fold. Median concentrations in the infants were 33% and 25% of their mothers’, measured in cord blood, and infant plasma, respectively. Only mild and transient adverse effects were seen on the infants. Conclusion Placental passage of sertraline to the infant is low. However, the interindividual variation in maternal concentrations during pregnancy is huge, why therapeutic drug monitoring might assist in finding the poor metabolizers at risk for adversity and increase the safety of the treatment. Trial registration The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov July 9, 2014 with TRN: NCT02185547.

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The relation between second-trimester placental elasticity and poor obstetric outcomes in low-risk pregnancies

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2020-0464 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Murat Akbas ◽

Faik Mumtaz Koyuncu ◽

Burcu Artunç-Ülkümen ◽

Gökce Akbas

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Value Added ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Multiple Regression Model ◽

Low Risk ◽

Obstetric Outcomes ◽

Second Trimester ◽

The Mean ◽

Random Measurements

AbstractObjectivesIncreased placental stiffness is associated with various pathological conditions. Our objective was to evaluate the relation between the second-trimester placental elasticity value in low-risk pregnant women and poor obstetric outcomes.MethodsA total of 143 pregnant women were enrolled. Placental elasticity values were measured using the transabdominal point shear wave elastography method. 10 random measurements were obtained from different areas of the placenta. The mean was accepted as the mean placental elasticity value. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent variables associated with obstetric outcomes.ResultsSecond-trimester placental elasticity value was significantly and positively associated with the poor obstetric outcomes (p=0.038). We could predict a poor outcome with 69.2% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity if we defined the placental elasticity cut-off as 3.19 kPa. Furthermore, in the multiple regression model, the placental elasticity value added significantly to the prediction of birth weight (p=0.043).ConclusionsOur results showed that the pregnancies with a stiffer placenta in the second trimester were associated with an increased likelihood of exhibiting poor obstetric outcomes. Also, placental elasticity was independently associated with birth weight.

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POS0058-PARE INCREASING PREECLAMPSIA KNOWLEDGE IN SLE WITH A SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL TOOL: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1480 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 235.2-235

Author(s):

J. Y. E. Lee ◽

A. Mendel ◽

I. Malhamé ◽

S. Bernatsky ◽

E. Vinet

Keyword(s):

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Vulnerable Population ◽

Control Group ◽

Educational Tool ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Systemic Lupus

Background:Pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at high risk of preeclampsia, leading to substantial maternal and fetal morbidity. Aspirin reduces preeclampsia risk but recent studies suggest aspirin is used only in a minority of SLE pregnancies. There is an urgent need to improve preeclampsia counselling and management in this vulnerable population.Objectives:We are conducting the PREPARE (PREeclamPsia knowledge & Aspirin adheRence in lupus prEgnancies) trial, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating an educational tool on preeclampsia knowledge and aspirin adherence among pregnant women with SLE. We present preliminary analyses of the effect of this tool on preeclampsia knowledge.Methods:Consecutive pregnant SLE women are recruited until the 16th gestational week at 5Canadian Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics centres (i.e. Montreal, Halifax, Quebec, Winnipeg, and Calgary) since 05/2018. Subjects are randomly assigned to receive either the specifically-designed educational tool (intervention group) or standard of care (control group). At baseline (i.e. first trimester) and second trimester visits, the participants complete self-administered preeclampsia knowledge questionnaires (scored out of 30 by the research team blinded to the intervention). We restricted the current analysis to participants enrolled in Montreal (accounting for nearly half of the total planned sample size). We performed a univariate linear regression analysis to assess the effect of the educational tool on preeclampsia knowledge (i.e. mean score difference between the two groups from baseline to second trimester visit).Results:Thirty-three pregnant SLE women were included in the study, among which 16 were exposed to the intervention and 17 were unexposed. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups with similar mean maternal age between intervention group (32.2 years, standard deviation, SD, 4.6) and control group (34.1 years, SD 4.2) and identical proportion of subjects with post-secondary education (i.e. 80%). The difference in mean preeclampsia knowledge scores between second trimester and baseline visits in the intervention group was 4.4 points (95% CI -0.1, 9.0) and in the control group was 1.5 points (95% CI -2.7, 5.7). The mean difference in knowledge scores (from baseline to second trimester) for those receiving the educational tool was 2.7 points higher (95% CI -1.5, 6.9) than those receiving standard of care.Conclusion:Approximately midway into the PREPARE trial, we observed a trend for improvement in preeclampsia knowledge from the baseline to the second trimester visit in pregnant women with SLE who received a specifically-designed educational tool compared to the control group, although the CIs included the null. Our RCT is well-poised to provide a new evidence-based approach to improve preeclampsia knowledge in pregnant women with SLE, which could help to optimize aspirin use and outcomes in this vulnerable population.References:[1]Schramm AM, Clowse ME. Aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia in lupus pregnancy. Autoimmune Dis. 2014;2014:920467. doi:10.1155/2014/920467[2]Bujold E, Roberge S, Lacasse Y, et al. Prevention of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction with aspirin started in early pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;116(2 Pt 1):402-414. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181e9322a[3]Andreoli L, Bertsias GK, Agmon-Levin N, et al. EULAR recommendations for women’s health and the management of family planning, assisted reproduction, pregnancy and menopause in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017 Mar;76(3):476–85. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209770.[4]Mendel A, Bernatsky SB, Hanly JG, et al. Low aspirin use and high prevalence of preeclampsia risk factors among pregnant women in a multinational SLE inception cohort. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(7):1010-1012. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214434Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

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Evaluation of prenatal changes in fetal cardiac morphology and function in maternal diabetes mellitus using a novel fetal speckle-tracking analysis: a prospective cohort study

Cardiovascular Ultrasound ◽

10.1186/s12947-021-00256-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dong Wang ◽

Caixia Liu ◽

Xinyu Liu ◽

Ying Zhang ◽

Yu Wang

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Control Group ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Cardiac Morphology ◽

Sphericity Index ◽

And Function

Abstract Background Due to metabolic changes in the second trimester and the increasing number of pregnant women with obesity and advanced maternal age, the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains high. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GDM on fetal cardiac morphology and function, and to determine whether these changes increase with increasing estimated fetal weight (EFW). Methods Fifty-eight women with GDM (GDM group) and 58 women with a healthy pregnancy (control group) were included in this prospective observational cohort study. Each group included subgroups of 31 pregnant women with a gestational age between 24+0 weeks and 27+6 weeks as well as 27 pregnant women with a gestational age between 28+0 weeks and 40+0 weeks. For all fetuses, a cine of 2–3 s in the four-chamber view was obtained, and online speckle-tracking analysis was performed using the GE Automatic Fetal Heart Assessment Tool (fetal HQ; General Electric Healthcare Ultrasound, Zipf, Austria) to measure the global sphericity index (GSI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), fractional area change (FAC), 24-segment sphericity index (SI), and 24-segment end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV). Data were analyzed using the independent t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as applicable. Results The GDM group (mean HbA1c value was 5.3 ± 0.57 mmol/L) showed a lower GSI value than the control group (1.21 vs. 1.27, P = 0.000), which indicated a rounder shape of the heart. In addition, fetuses in the GDM group demonstrated significant impairment in cardiac function compared to those in the control group (LV-GLS: -18.26% vs. -22.70%, RV-GLS: -18.52% vs. -22.74%, LV-FAC: 35.30% vs. 42.36%, RV-FAC: 30.89% vs. 36.80%; P = 0.000 for all). Subgroup analyses according to gestational age (24+0–27+6 weeks and 28+0–40+0 weeks) showed that the statistical differences were retained between the GDM and control groups in each subgroup. Conclusions Fetuses of women with GDM present with signs of biventricular systolic dysfunction according to deformation analysis using fetal HQ. Additionally, the heart had a rounder shape in the GDM group than in the control group. This study showed that fetal HQ can be used to assess fetal cardiac morphology and function easily and quickly, and the effects of GDM on fetal cardiac morphology and function appeared from the second trimester. Thus, whether earlier and stricter clinical intervention was necessary remained to be further studied. Furthermore, future studies will need to supplement the effects of blood glucose levels on GLS, FAC, GSI, and 24-segment SI. Additionally, the long-term follow-up after birth should also be improved to observe the influence of changes in the indicators on the prognosis.

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The correlation between maternal age, parity, cardiac diastolic function and occurrence rate of pre-eclampsia

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87953-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dan Zhu ◽

Weiyu Chen ◽

Yuchen Pan ◽

Tingcui Li ◽

Ming Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Diastolic Function ◽

Maternal Age ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Occurrence Rate ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Primiparous Women ◽

Effect Of Age

AbstractTo evaluate the effect of age and parity on maternal cardiac diastolic function in second trimester among pregnant women with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. To analyze the correlation between impaired diastolic function and pre-eclampsia. It had been suggested that maternal cardiac adaptations during pregnancy differed between nulliparous and primiparous women and also varied according to age. Impaired cardiac function may precede pre-eclampsia. Therefore, we examined the effects of parity and age on cardiac diastolic function during pregnancy and whether impaired diastolic function during the second trimester correlates with pre-eclampsia. Women with singleton pregnancies at 13 + 0 to 27 + 6 weeks’ gestation and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% were retrospectively identified. Diastolic function parameters were assessed using transthoracic echocardiography. Pre-eclampsia was identified from medical records. The effect of age and parity on maternal cardiac diastolic function as well as the correlation between impaired diastolic function and occurrence rate of pre-eclampsia were examined. 376 pregnant women were included (median age: 30 years; median gestational age: 14 weeks; 171 primiparous women). LVEF was 66%. Impaired cardiac diastolic function was seen in 7.8% of pregnant women < 35 years compared with 28.6% of those ≥ 35 years (p = 0.000). ROC curve showed women with maternal age over 32 began to have a higher rate of impaired cardiac diastolic function (AUC = 0.704, p = 0.000, sensitivity = 54.5%, specificity = 75.3%). There was no difference in diastolic function indices between maternal women grouped by parity. Higher maternal age was an independent risk factor of declining Em (p < 0.05). Em < 13 cm/s was significantly associated with pre-eclampsia occurrence (HR 8.56; 95% CI 3.40–21.57) after being adjusted for confounders. Maternal age is an independent risk factor for diastolic function decline. There is no difference in cardiac diastolic function between nulliparous women and primiparous women. Pre-eclampsia occurrence is significantly higher in patients with impaired diastolic function at mid-gestation. The application of risk grading using diastolic function at mid-gestation may improve the survival outcomes of pregnant women.

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The effects of pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain on maternal lipid profiles, fatty acids and insulin resistance

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2020-0540 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Muge Gul Gulecoglu Onem ◽

Canan Coker ◽

Kemal Baysal ◽

Sabahattin Altunyurt ◽

Pembe Keskinoglu

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Total Cholesterol ◽

Gestational Weight Gain ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Gestational Weight

Abstract Objectives Pregnancy is associated with physiological alterations in insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. This study investigates the associations between pregestational body mass index (pBMI) and the rate of gestational weight gain (rGWG) in the second trimester with the biomarkers of lipid, fatty acids metabolism and insulin resistance. Methods Sixty nine pregnant women followed. The body weights of the pregnant women were measured and blood samples were obtained at 11–14th and 24–28th weeks of pregnancy. Glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, insulin levels and fatty acids were measured. Rate of GWG (kg/week) and The Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The pregnant women were stratified according to their pBMI and the 2nd trimester rGWG. Results The rate of GWG was significantly higher for the group with pBMI<25, compared to the group with pBMI≥25 (p=0.024). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol were significantly increased in the second trimester compared with the first trimester. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, myristic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA), total omega-6 (n − 6) and omega-3 (n − 3) fatty acid levels and n − 6/n − 3 ratio were significantly higher in the second trimester. Glucose was significantly decreased and insulin was increased in the second trimester. In the overweight/obese group; HOMA-IR, insulin, AA, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid were found to be high in comparison to the group with low/normal pBMI. No parameters were associated with rGWG. Conclusions The changes in lipid parameters, free fatty acids, insulin and HOMA-IR in the second trimester were compatible with the changes in lipid metabolism and the development of insulin resistance. Pregestational BMI was shown to have a stronger influence on lipid profile, insulin resistance, and fatty acids than rGWG.

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Trends in Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability during Pregnancy and Three Months Postpartum: Continuous Monitoring in a Free-Living Context (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33458 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fatemeh Sarhaddi ◽

Iman Azimi ◽

Anna Axelin ◽

Hannakaisa Niela-Vilen ◽

Pasi Liljeberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Time Domain ◽

Second Trimester ◽

Third Trimester ◽

Non Invasive ◽

The Third ◽

Invasive Method ◽

Frequency Power

BACKGROUND Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive method reflecting autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulations. Altered HRV is associated with adverse mental or physical health complications. ANS also has a central role in physiological adaption during pregnancy causing normal changes in HRV. OBJECTIVE Assessing trends in heart rate (HR) and HRV parameters as a non-invasive method for remote maternal health monitoring during pregnancy and three months postpartum. METHODS Fifty-eight pregnant women were monitored using an Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based remote monitoring system during pregnancy and 3-months postpartum. Pregnant women were asked to continuously wear Gear sport smartwatch to monitor their HR and HRV. In addition, a cross-platform mobile application was utilized for collecting pregnancy-related information. The trends of HR and HRV parameters were extracted using reliable data. We also analyzed the trends of normalized HRV parameters based on HR to remove the effect of HR changes on HRV trends. Finally, we exploited hierarchical linear mixed models to analyze the trends of HR, HRV, and normalized HRV parameters. RESULTS HR increased significantly during the second trimester (P<.001) and decreased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). Time-domain HRV parameters, average normal interbeat intervals (AVNN), standard deviation of normal interbeat intervals (SDNN), root mean square of the successive difference of normal interbeat intervals (RMSSD), normalized SDNN (nSDNN), and normalized RMSSD (nRMSSD) decreased significantly during the second trimester (P<.001) then increased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). Some of the frequency domain parameters, low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), and normalized HF (nHF) decreased significantly during the second trimester (P<.01), and HF increased significantly during the third trimester (P<.01). In the postpartum period, nRMSSD decreased (P<.05), and the LF to HF ratio (LF/HF) increased significantly (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that HR increased and HRV parameters decreased as the pregnancy proceeded, and the values returned to normal after the delivery. Moreover, our results show that HR started to decrease while time-domain HRV parameters and HF started to increase during the third trimester. Our results also demonstrate the possibility of continuous HRV monitoring in everyday life settings.

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