INTRODUCTIONHypertensive disorders are the most common medical complications of pregnancy with an incidence of 2 to 8 %.1,2 It is one of the major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are several major categories of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy ranging from mild to moderate rise in blood pressure without proteinuria usually called pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), preeclampsia (hypertension with proteinuria), severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. Maternal hypertension, even of the mild to moderate category, can lead to adverse perinatal outcomes like low birth weight, prematurity, stillbirth and intrauterine growth retardation.3 Though hypertension occurs in 2 to 8% of pregnancies, yet information on the safety of antihypertensive medication use during pregnancy is limited. For severe hypertension, anti-hypertensive medication is used to prevent serious maternal and foetal complications; however, there is no consensus on when to treat mild-to-moderate hypertension. According to ACOG (American college of gynaecology) technical bulletin recommends that drugs not to be administered in pregnancy associated with hypertension, if systolic BP is less than 160 and diastolic BP less than 110. 4 Hypertensive pregnant mothers are at increased risks for premature delivery, intrauterine foetal death, growth retardation and abruptio placentae; they also have an increased risk of vascular injury with thrombotic microangioplasty, coagulopathy, cerebral haemorrhage, and multi organ injury especially of kidney and liver. So as to avoid all such complications, it is better to start the treatment with antihypertensive after assessing correct stage and class of hypertension and always prescribe the safe drug to avoid adverse effects over the foetus and ABSTRACT Background: Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical complications of pregnancy with an incidence of 2-8%. Maternal hypertension, even of the mild to moderate category, can lead to adverse perinatal outcomes like low birth weight, prematurity, stillbirth and intrauterine growth retardation. Though hypertension occurs up to 8% of pregnancies, yet information on the safety of antihypertensive medication use during pregnancy is limited. The objective of this study was to analyse the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs in pregnant woman and also to assess the neonatal outcome in pregnant woman on antihypertensive drugs. Methods:The retrospective study includes analysis of all the prescriptions from case records of hypertensive pregnant women till the delivery for one year. Results: Total number of 122 hypertensive pregnant patients was included in the study. Mean age of the patients was 25.8 years. 51.6% were primigravida. Most of them were diagnosed after 28±2 weeks of pregnancy. 54% were on monotherapy. Most commonly used drug was alpha methyl dopa followed by nifedipine. Out of 86.9% (n=106) live birth delivered; 29.2% were of low birth weight. Conclusions: All the prescriptions were prescribed rationally. Most ...

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening gynecological emergency, and a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.Methods: This is a retrospective study of ectopic pregnancies managed at M. S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India over a period of 1 year from March 2015 to March 2016. The medical records of the patients managed for ectopic pregnancy during the period, under review were retrieved and data were collected from registers. There were 30 cases of ectopic pregnancies over one year.Results: Ectopic pregnancy constituted 3% of all gynecological admissions, and its incidence was 2.5%. The mean age of the patients was 26 ± 2 years, 21 of 30 (70%) had ruptured ectopic pregnancies, and the remaining nine (30%) were unruptured. The commonest (20 of 30, 66.6%) clinical presentation was abdominal pain, and the commonest (9 of 30, 30%) identified risk factor was a previous history of induced abortion.Conclusions: Ectopic pregnancy is a recognized cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and has remained a reproductive health challenge to manage.

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Background: Abnormal placentation during the 1 st trimester results in oxidative stress, affecting the subsequent gestational course. This study evaluated if the condition of pathological perfusion is distinguished by an altered plasma antioxidant capacity along with investigating the efficacy of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) measurement as an adjunct to doppler sonography. Methodology: Pregnant women (2 nd trimester), categorized into 2 groups [Control (n=25, normal uterine perfusion) and case (n=25, abnormal uterine perfusion)], were evaluated for TAC. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. Results: Mean plasma TAC was higher in the control (750.02±74.12 µmol/l) than the case group (580.97±168.37 µmol/l) (p<0.0001). Difference in the mean period of gestation between groups was significant (p<0.0001). The gestation period and birth weight in case group was lower than that of control. Conclusion: Hindered uterine perfusion causing reduced plasma TAC levels was observed. Estimating TAC may have diagnostic, pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications concerning abnormal uterine perfusion.

Background: The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic worldwide. Older people, individuals with comorbidities, and pregnant women are more susceptible to this virus, leading to adverse outcomes and mortality. Methods: Mothers with COVID-19 were divided into two groups of symptomatic and asymptomatic positive cases. Neonates were clinically evaluated and screened at 24 - 48 hours of age for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Maternal and neonatal demographics, clinical characteristics, and follow-up at 14 days post-discharge were recorded. The adverse birth outcomes, preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM), cesarean section delivery (C-section), and duration of hospital stay were evaluated. Results: Out of 453 pregnant women, 59 (13.1%) and 394 (86.9%) were positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2, respectively. We subclassified 59 infected pregnant women were into two groups symptomatic (10.1%) and asymptomatic (89.8%). The PPROM (P = 0.001), gestational diabetes mellitus (P = 0.006), C-section (P = 0.002), and APGAR score (P = 0.029) had a significant association with SARS-CoV-2 presence in mothers and neonates. Conclusions: None of the neonates from infected pregnant women were infected with SARS-CoV-2, suggesting no negligible risk for mother-to-child transmission of the virus. However, the mother-newborn dyad needs to be followed up further to confirm our results.