Maternal serum PAPP-A levels are lower in women who develop preeclampsia, those with SGA fetus and those who deliver preterm. However, on its own, maternal serum PAPP-A performs poorly (OR for PE between 1.76 and 2.41 with the lower percentile of PAPP-A) as a screening test for these conditions.
Objectives
In the mid-trimester ultrasound, nasal bone (NB) length can be used to correct the a priori risk for trisomy 21. Our study aims to evaluate if there is a correlation between an absent NB in the first trimester and a hypoplastic NB in the second trimester.
Methods
Our two year retrospective analysis of data derived from routine clinical practice. Single euploid fetuses were included. The NB was assessed in both trimesters according to international guidelines and transformed into categorical variables. Logistic regression was performed in order to accomplish our main objective.
Results
From the 759 normal pregnancies included, 45 (5.93%) had abnormal NB in the first trimester and 23 (3%) in the second trimester. Eleven cases (47.8%) of the abnormal NB in the second trimester were abnormal in the 11–14 weeks scan. After the diagnosis of an absent NB in the first trimester the odds ratio (OR) for a hypoplastic NB in the second trimester is 18.926 (7.791–45.977; p-value <0.01).
Conclusions
Our data suggest a strong association between the NB in the first and in the second trimester in normal euploid fetuses. This is important information to consider when counseling patients on the basis of this ultrasound marker.
Introduction: One third of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) will have diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism at postpartum screening. Objective: Evaluate the percentage of women submitted postpartum screening and associate the result with maternal history. Methods: Retrospective investigation of 1013 pregnancies with GDM (2005-2009). We divided the population into two groups according to the result: normal (group 1) and with diabetes or impaired glucose metabolism (group 2). For both groups we evaluated maternal age, body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, need for insulin therapy, risk factors for GDM, and newborn weight. Results: Postpartum screening was achieved in 76.8% of women (n=778). The test was considered normal (group 1) in 628 women (80.7%) and modified (group 2) in 150 women (19.3%). Group 2 had older women (median age 34 vs. 33 years; p-value 0.013), higher body mass index (28.5 vs. 25.8kg/cm2; p-value 0.000), more women with diabetes mellitus family history in first degree (50.3% vs. 39.9%; p-value 0.026) and prior personal history of macrosomia (12.1% vs 5.4%; p-value 0.003). Earlier diagnosis of GDM was also made in this group (27 vs. 31 weeks; p-value 0.000) and a higher percentage had made insulin therapy (41% vs. 15%; p-value 0.000), having started earlier (28 vs 30 weeks; p-value 0.010). There was a higher percentage of multiparous pregnant in group 2 (64% vs 49.4%; p-value 0.001) and a larger number of cases of newborns large for gestational age (17.1% vs 8.3%; p-value 0.001). Personal history of GDM and weight gain during pregnancy was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Women who test abnormal in postpartum screening are usually older, heavier, multiparous, with a family related to DM patients and prior personal history of macrosomia. GDM diagnosis is made ealier in pregnancy, more often they need insulin therapy started ealier and there was a higher number of newborns large for gestational age.
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