Epilepsy and pregnancy: identifying risks

Pregnancy is a time of physical, physiological and psychological challenge. For women with epilepsy, as well as its potential for joy and fulfilment, pregnancy may bring additional risks and difficulties. Clinicians must anticipate and prevent these complications, ensuring that pregnancy, delivery and motherhood proceed without obstetric or medical complications, using available evidence to balance individual risks of undertreatment and overtreatment. Here we review epilepsy management in pregnancy, identifying some of the known effects of epilepsy and its treatment on gestation, fetal malformation, delivery, and neurocognitive and behavioural development. We outline strategies to reduce obstetric and fetal complications in women with epilepsy, while recognising the sometimes competing need to maintain or improve seizure control. We reinforce the importance of identifying those at highest risk, who may require additional measures or safeguards.

The exposure levels of phthalates in pregnant women and impact factors of fetal malformation

Methods Urine samples were collected from 157 women with fetal malformations (case group) and 147 women with normal fetuses (control group). High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect the content of eight metabolites of phthalate compounds in urine, including monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mononbutyl phthalate (MBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP). Demographic data were collected from questionnaires administered in specimen collection. Results The exposure level of MEOHP and MEHP in the case group was higher than the others. And there were significant differences between structural malformations and chromosomal malformations in the levels of MEHHP and MEOHP. Pregnant women with low income, high body mass index (BMI), frequent plastic contact, and low nutrients intake were at risk of suffering from fetal malformation. Conclusion This study provides evidence for the correlation between the concentration of phthalates and fetal malformation. In addition, decreasing plastic exposure and supplementing nutrients may reduce the incidence of fetal malformations.

The Application Value of Prenatal Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Fetal Malformation

Ultrasound examination during pregnancy has become an important part of prenatal care in China and even the world, and it has a vital diagnostic role for malformations and lesions of various fetal systems. A variety of fetal malformations can be treated in utero after prenatal diagnosis or timely treatment after delivery. However, many congenital diseases cannot be confirmed by ultrasound diagnosis, or the prenatal ultrasound performance is inconsistent with the postpartum clinical outcome, which has become a shortcoming of ultrasound diagnosis during pregnancy. This article reviews the main points of ultrasound diagnosis of common fetal malformations.

FEMORAL-FACIAL SYNDROME - A RARE CASE REPORT

Femoral-facial syndrome (FFS) is an extremely rare fetal malformation. It comprises bilateral femoral hypoplasia and craniofacial dysmorphism. Maternal diabetes is associated with approximately 40% of cases of FFS. We present the case of Femoral-Facial syndrome of Newborn female child. She was delivered by vaginal route at 36th week of gestation. Mother had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. She was having markedly shortened bilateral lower limbs, deformed hip joint and mild talipes equino-varus deformity of left foot. There was prominent forehead, short nose with broad tip, long philthrum, thin upper lip, micrognathism and malformed low set external ears. Skeletal radiograph shows complete absence of right femur and marked hypoplasia of left femur.

Radiation-Free Transabdominal Ultrasound-Guided Endoscopic Biliary Stenting in Pregnant Women with Choledocholithiasis

Background: Hepatobiliary disorders are common problems during pregnancy, causing significant morbidity and mortality in both mother and fetus. Biliary pancreatitis and cholangitis are common sequelae that warrant urgent endoscopic interventions. However, fetal radiation exposure is a major concern during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Fetal malformation, preterm labor, and intrauterine fetal death are the recognized complications of ERCP. Objectives: To evaluate the application of transabdominal ultrasound (US) guidance in endoscopic biliary stenting as a substitute for fluoroscopy and contrast injection. Methods: In this study, we reviewed the data of ten pregnant patients, who had undergone endoscopic biliary stenting under US guidance without fluoroscopy between January 2018 and October 2020. An abdominal US examination was performed to confirm that the guide wire and the stent were placed inside the common bile duct (CBD) without fluoroscopy. The CBD clearance was postponed until after delivery. Results: The mean gestational age was 12 weeks (range: 5 - 33 weeks), and the mean maternal age was 23 years (range: 19 - 33 years). All procedures were performed successfully, with biochemical and clinical improvements after endoscopy. In none of the patients, maternal or fetal complications were reported after endoscopy or at birth. Also, no cases of post-endoscopic pancreatitis were documented. Conclusions: Based on the present findings, abdominal US guidance in endoscopic biliary stenting can be a safe and effective approach.