Objective To assess the value of antenatally determined observed to expected fetal lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR) in the prediction of postnatal survival in isolated, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods Results In both the normal fetuses and those with CDH the LHR increased but the observed to expected LHR did not change significantly with gestational age. In normal fetuses the mean observed to expected LHR in the left lung was 100% (95% CI, 61-139%) and in the right lung it was 100% (95% CI, 67-133%). In fetuses with CDH the mean observed to expected LHR was 39% (range 7-79%). Regression analysis demonstrated that significant predictors of survival were the observed to expected LHR (odds ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% CI, side of CDH (left side OR 11.14, 95% CI, and gestational age at delivery (OR 1.18, 95% CI,). ConclusionIn CDH, the LHR increases while observed to expected LHR is independent of gestational age. In fetuses with both left-and right-sided CDH, measurement of the observed to expected LHR provides a useful prediction of subsequent survival.

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Objective To quantify the degree of intrathoracic liver herniation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evaluate its effect on postnatal survival in fetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods

Objectives To investigate the potential value of antenatally determined total fetal lung volume (TFLV) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the prediction of the postnatal survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods

Summary.In pregnant women with antecedents of autoimmune thrombocytopenia (AITP), no predictive factor for severe fetal thrombocytopenia has been identified. We evaluated the relationships between the course of the maternal disease before and during pregnancy and the risk of severe fetal thrombocytopenia, in 64 pregnant women with known chronic AITP antecedents, over a 12-year period. 28 pregnant women had undergone splenectomy before pregnancy and 17 experienced severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 × 10 9 /l) during pregnancy (monthly determination). Eight infants presented with severe thrombocytopenia at birth (12·5%), and four in the following days (6·25%). No severe haemorrhage was observed. Severe thrombocytopenia at birth was present in 57% (CI 95% 18-90%) of the infants born to mothers with severe pregnancy-associated thrombocytopenia and splenectomy antecedents, and in 0% (CI 95% 0-15%) of the infants born to mothers who presented none of these antecedents (P ¼ 0·001). In thrombocytopenic mothers the infant platelet counts at birth were positively correlated to the nadir maternal platelet count during the index pregnancy (r ¼ 0·42, P ¼ 0·0075).These results suggest that severe autoimmune disease is a risk factor for severe fetal thrombocytopenia, and that pregnant women with no antecedent of splenectomy nor severe thrombocytopenia during pregnancy have a very low risk of severe fetal thrombocytopenia.