Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2022;44(8):771-775
Preeclampsia, a human pregnancy syndrome, is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. Its etiology remains unknown, and its pathophysiological mechanisms are related to placental hypoperfusion, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and coagulation cascade activation. Recently, the role of the complement system has been considered. This syndrome is one of the main causes of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. This article discusses the hypothesis of preeclampsia being triggered by the occurrence of inadequate implantation of the syncytiotrophoblast, associated with bleeding during the first stage of pregnancy and with augmented thrombin generation. Thrombin activates platelets, increasing the release of antiangiogenic factors and activating the complement system, inducing the membrane attack complex (C5b9). Immature platelet fraction and thrombin generation may be possible blood biomarkers to help the early diagnosis of preeclampsia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2018;40(8):471-476
Evaluate the influence of prenatal care on the occurrence of gestational hypertension.
The Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials electronic databases were searched for articles published between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2016. No language restrictions were imposed. The following keywords were used: prenatal care, medical assistance, prenatal education, pregnancy-induced hypertension. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist was employed. Two hundred and forty articles were identified during the initial search, but only seven met the inclusion criteria. This systematic review is registered with the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO; #CRD42017064103).
The seven studies hada lowriskof bias,withmethodological quality scores ranging fromsix to eight points. Five studies found a positive relationship between prenatal care and pregnancy-induced hypertension, whereas two studies found no significant association between the two variables. The divergence among the studies may have been due to the type of healthcare service at which the study was conducted and the sample size.
Although the studies analyzed differed with regard to methodological aspects, the findings demonstrate the importance of prenatal care during the gestational period as a prevention and health promotion measure.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(11):516-519
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320150005454
To investigate the frequencies of polymorphic allele and genotypes for the LT-α gene, position +252 (rs909253), in Brazilian women with preeclampsia.
This is a case-control study, in which 30 women with preeclampsia, classified according to the criteria of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and 115 women in the control group, with at least two healthy pregnancies, were selected. Peripheral blood was collected, and DNA was extracted, followed by genotyping, using specific primers and restriction analysis. The genotypes obtained were AA, AG and GG. Statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 association test. The Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was tested using the Haploview Program.
The results showed no association between genotypes and preeclampsia development (χ2=2.0; p=0.4). When the AG and GG genotypes were grouped according to allele G presence or absence (genotype AA), the data showed that the presence of allele G was not significantly different between cases (women with preeclampsia) and controls (χ2=0.0; p=1.0). The LT-α gene polymorphism, position +252 (rs909253), seems not to be an important candidate for the development of preeclampsia. Other inflammatory genes should be researched, and studies involving gene-environment interactions should be performed, in order to reach a better understanding of the etiology of the preeclampsia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2014;36(10):461-466
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005029
To compare clinical and laboratory characteristics, obstetric and perinatal outcomes of patients with pre-eclampsia versus gestational hypertension.
A retrospective study was carried out to analyze medical records of patients diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension whose pregnancies were resolved within a period of 5 years, for a total of 419 cases. We collected clinical and laboratory data, obstetric and perinatal outcomes. Comparisons between groups were performed using the test suitable for the variable analyzed: unpaired t test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ2test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05.
Were evaluated 199 patients in the gestational hypertension group (GH) and 220 patients in the pre-eclampsia group (PE). Mean body mass index was 34.6 kg/m2 in the GH group and 32.7 kg/m2 in the PE group, with a significant difference between groups. The PE group showed higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure and higher rates of abnormal values in the laboratory tests, although the mean values were within the normal range. Cesarean section was performed in 59.1% of cases of PE and in 47.5% of the GH group; and perinatal outcomes in terms of gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in the PE group.
Women with gestational hypertension exhibit epidemiological characteristics of patients at risk for chronic diseases. Patients with pre-eclampsia present clinical and laboratory parameters of greater severity, higher rates of cesarean delivery and worse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(7):309-316
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000700005
PURPOSE: To determine perinatal outcomes and factors associated with fetal brain sparing effect diagnosed by Doppler flow velocimetry in patients with arterial hypertension. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study including 129 pregnant women with arterial hypertension and submitted to Doppler flow velocimetry, within fifteen days before delivery. Women with multiple pregnancies, fetal malformations, genital bleeding, placenta praevia, premature rupture of membranes, smoking, illicit drug use and chronic diseases were excluded. We analyzed the biological, socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, as well the perinatal outcomes. To determine the association between variables, we used the χ² test, Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with fetal centralization. RESULTS: Pre-eclampsia was the most frequent hypertensive disorder (53.5%) and fetal brain sparing effect was observed in 24.0% of fetuses. The prenatal factors associated with fetal brain sparing were the persistence of bilateral protodiastolic notches in uterine arteries (OR 3.6; 95%CI 1.4 - 9.4; p=0.009) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (OR 3.3; 95%CI 1.2 - 9.3; p=0.02). The perinatal outcomes associated with fetal brain sparing were gestational age <32 weeks, small for gestational age (SGA) infants, birth weight <2,500 g and perinatal death. There was no association with other maternal or neonatal variables. CONCLUSIONS: The main factors associated with fetal brain sparing were persistence of uterine arteries notches, IUGR, and increased frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(11):566-573
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009001100007
PURPOSE: to identify the profile, tendency and causes of maternal death by pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in Paraná. METHODS: descriptive, transversal cohort study on maternal death by pre-eclampsia/eclampsia from 1997 to 2005. Data were obtained from case studies prepared by Maternal Death Committees that employ the Reproductive Age Mortality Survey Method to examine all the cases of death among women in fertile age. The general and specific maternal death rate (MDR) by pre-eclampsia/eclampsia were considered. To evaluate the tendency, triennial periods have been compared, two by two, taking into consideration the MDR of each period (p<0.05). In the triennial period from 2003 to 2005, 56 deaths by pre-eclampsia/eclampsia were analyzed. The variables focused were: age, income, schooling, gestation number and complications, pre-natal conditions, signs and symptoms related to the condition, delivery route, the time gestation was interrupted, the newborn conditions, access and treatment, ability to avoid and prevention measures. RESULTS: the general triennial MDR has presented significant decline, with 64.3/100,000 born-alive babies. There has been stability along the period for MDR by hypertensive disorder, with MDR of 11.8/100,000 born-alive. Primiparous women, women over 40 and with low socio-economical status have presented higher risks. In relation to the treatment, there has been underuse or inadequate use of conventional medicines for severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. The committees' analysis indicated that all the maternal death due to these conditions could have been avoided. CONCLUSIONS: actions aiming at minimizing the set of causes that lead to death by pre-eclampsia in Paraná should be enforced, including the training and monitoring of health professionals in order to apply the treatment protocols, besides the formalization of a reference net of clinics and hospitals, qualified for the care of high risk pregnancy and its intercurrences, to which pre-natal pregnant women are enrolled.