BackgroundPlacenta-mediated pregnancy complications (PMPCs) are a significant contributor to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Though the exact cause of the array of pregnancy-related vascular disorders is still unknown, increased maternal serum homocysteine (Hct) levels have been linked to the pathophysiology. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHct) has been strongly linked with the risk of developing PMPCs such as preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), preterm births and placental abruption. MethodologyThe present observational study was carried out on 810 low-risk antenatal women in their early second trimester (13-20 weeks gestation age) in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of a tertiary care rural hospital to identify the significance of abnormally raised maternal serum Hct level in developing PMPCs. ResultsOf the 810 participants studied, 224 (27.65%) had raised Hct levels whereas the rest of the 586 (72.35%) participants had normal Hct levels. The mean Hct level of raised homocysteine group (18.59 ± 2.46 micromol/L) was substantially raised than the normal Hct group (8.64 ± 3.1 micromol/L). It was observed that women with elevated serum Hct levels developed PMPCs significantly more than women with normal serum Hct levels (p-value <0.05). Among HHct subjects, 65.18% developed PE, 34.38% had FGR, 28.13% had a preterm delivery, 4.02% had abruptio placentae and 3.57% had IUFD. ConclusionsThe focus of the current study is on an easy and quick intervention such as assessing the often-ignored levels of Hct during pregnancy that can help predict and prevent PMPCs. It also highlights the necessity for well-thought-out large-scale studies and trials to further examine the phenomena, as pregnancy may be the only time when rural women will have the opportunity to receive advice and to be tested for HHct.

Pseudo broad ligament fibroids originate in the uterus but grow into the broad ligament while retaining their attachment to the uterus. We report a case of a right-sided pseudo broad ligament fibroid mimicking an adnexal mass in a 40-year-old woman presenting with dysmenorrhoea and heavy menstrual bleeding. She had a uterine mass corresponding to an 18-week pregnant uterus size, which clinically and radiologically posed a diagnostic dilemma between an ovarian cyst, a bicornuate uterus with multiple fibroids, and a broad ligament fibroid. She underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which revealed a pseudo broad ligament fibroid of 12x10x6 centimeters, weighing 1.2 kg. The histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis of a leiomyoma with normal ovaries.