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Background: The risk of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is ≈6%, and evidence suggests HCV negatively affects pregnancy and infant outcomes. Despite this, universal antenatal HCV screening is not available in most settings, and direct acting antivirals (DAA) are yet to be approved for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding period. Larger safety and efficacy trials are needed. At current there is limited understanding of the acceptability of routine HCV screening and use of DAAs in pregnancy but only among women in high HCV burden countries. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of pregnant or post-partum (<6 months since delivery) women attending antenatal clinics or maternity hospitals in Egypt, Pakistan and Ukraine. In Ukraine, this included one HIV clinic. Acceptability of free universal antenatal HCV screening and potential uptake of DAA treatment in the scenario of DAAs being approved for use in pregnancy was assessed. Results were stratified by HCV status and in Ukraine by HIV status. Descriptive statistics were used to explore differences in acceptability of treatment in pregnancy by country. Findings: Among 630 women (n=210 per country) who participated, the median age was 30 [interquartile range (IQR) 26, 34] years, 73% were pregnant and 27% postpartum, and 27% ever HCV antibody or PCR positive. 40% of women in Ukraine were living with HIV. Overall 93% of women supported free universal HCV screening in pregnancy, with no difference by country. 88% would take DAAs in pregnancy if approved for use: 92%, 98% and 73% among women in Egypt, Pakistan and Ukraine, respectively. Motivation for use of DAAs in pregnancy (to avert vertical transmission or for maternal HCV cure) varied by country, HCV status and HIV status (in Ukraine). No predictors for acceptability of DAAs were identified. Interpretation: Our survey across 3 high burden countries found very high acceptability of free universal HCV screening and DAAs if approved for use in pregnancy. Clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DAAs during pregnancy and breastfeeding are urgently required.

Prevalence of HIV infection in Ukraine is 1.6% overall, with antenatal prevalence of 0.52%, the highest in Europe. According to national protocol, cesarean section has been recommended for women with viral load above 50 copies/mL to further prevent vertical transmission of HIV. The aim of our study was to compare the infectious complication rates after cesarean delivery in HIV-infected women with advanced WHO stages of HIV disease who received HAART, and HIV-infected women with I or II WHO stages. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on data derived from 150 HIV-infected women with advanced WHO stages of HIV disease (group I) and 150 HIV-infected women with I or II WHO stages (group II), who underwent cesarean delivery. Postoperative infectious morbidity in both groups was analyzed according to whether the cesarean section was an elective or emergent delivery. Descriptive, comparison analyses were performed. Results: There was no significant difference between the both groups in terms of gravidity, parity, number of previous cesarean sections, estimated gestational age at time of delivery. It has been shown that HIV-infected women from the group I have 2 times more factors for the appearance of postpartum infectious complications, such as anemia, the urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted infections. Both groups of women were statistically more likely to experience postpartum endometritis when being delivered by emergent cesarean section than by elective cesarean section (14.6% versus 4.6%, respectively in the group I and 5.3% versus 0.5%, respectively, in the group II), superficial or deep wound breakdown (22.6% versus 4.6%, respectively, in the first group and 5.3% versus 2.6%, respectively, in the second group). Septic pelvic thrombophlebitis was only in 2% of HIV-infected women from the group I. Urinary tract infection had 25% HIV-infected women in the both groups. Overall, the rate of postpartum infectious complications in the first group consist 28%, which was 2 times higher compared the second group. Conclusion: According to our study, there was no significant difference in infectious postoperative morbidity in HIV-infected women who delivered by elective cesarean section in the both groups. But HIV-infected women with advanced WHO stages of HIV disease undergoing emergency cesarean section are at increased risk for post-operative infectious complications

Research objective: to assess the morpho-functional status of the fetoplacental complex and hemostasis system in pregnant women with congenital malformations in the fetus to prevent antenatal fetal death and determine further tactics of management and delivery.Materials and methods. The state of fetoplacental circulation was studied in 120 pregnant women with fetal congenital malformations in the third trimester by Doppler assessment of blood flow in the umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the fetus, with resistance index, pulse index and maximum systolic and terminal diastolic velocities ratio. The functional activity of the hemostasis system was assessed by low-frequency piezoelectric thromboelastography. Morphological examination of the placenta was performed. The control group included 25 pregnant women without fetal congenital malformations.Results. In case of Doppler flow disturbances in UA and combination of these disturbances with hypercoagulability, the probability of antenatal fetal death if there were congenital malformations ranged from 2–3 to 7–14 days (r = 0.51 and r = 0.55, respectively). A high risk of antenatal fetal death occurred with blood flow disorders in the UA and MCA (r = 0.70), as well as with blood flow disorders in the UA in combination with hypercoagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis (r = 0.78). The highest risk of antenatal death occurred in case of impaired blood flow in the MCA with hypercoagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis (r = +0.99).An urgent delivery within a day is indicated when there are blood flow disorders in the UA or MCA, combined with hypercoagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. The respiratory distress syndrome is treated by administering a surfactant at gestational ages up to 34 weeks. Delivery within 2–3 days is indicated in case of impaired blood flow in the UA and hypercoagulation, this allows preventing of respiratory distress syndrome with corticosteroids if the gestational age is less than 34 weeks. Conclusions. In pregnant women with fetal congenital malformations, significant disturbances in blood flow in the UA (increased resistance index and maximum systolic and final diastolic velocities ratio) and decreased pulse index in the MCA were revealed, which indicates intrauterine hypoxia and centralization of blood flow. The functional activity of the hemostasis system was characterized by an increase in the blood coagulation potential in the vascular-platelet, a coagulation unit, which was accompanied by morphological and functional changes in the placenta in response to hypoxia.Implementation of the proposed algorithm for perinatal support of pregnant women with fetal congenital malformations and placental dysfunction helps to optimize pregnancy management and delivery, reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality.