Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(1):41-47
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000100007
PURPOSE: to verify the effectiveness of the maternal blood serum assays of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and nitric oxide (NO) to predict pregnancy complications. METHODS: the sample was made of 49 primigravidae women. They were included in the study at the 18th week of gestation, when blood sample was collected in order to analyze the serum assays. ANP was assayed by radioimmunoassay, using Euro-dianostica kits (2000), considering abnormal values over 237.4 pg/ml (95 percentil). NO level was evaluated by the chemiluminescence method, considering abnormal values over 17.8 mmol/l (percentil 95). For the statistical analysis of continuous quantitative variables with normal distribution, the unpaired t test was used; Mann-Whitney’s test was used for non parametrical quantitative samples; Fisher’s exact test, for the qualitative parameter assessment; and Pearson’s test for the assessment of correlations. RESULTS: there was no significant difference in the blood serum concentration of ANP between the group that presented complications during pregnancy and/or peridelivery (139.3±77.1 pg/ml) and the control group (119.6±47.0 pg/ml), nor in the serum concentration of NO, either, among the ones with complications in the pregnancy and/or in the peridelivery (11.1±4,6 mmol/l) and the control group (10.0±3.4 mmol/l). CONCLUSIONS: the results show that ANP and NO serum levels are not good predictors of pregnancy complications.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(8):467-472
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000800005
PURPOSE: to assess human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) seroprevalence among pregnant women attended at Public Health Units in Goiânia-Goiás and some epidemiologic characteristics of the studied group. METHODS: from September/2003 to December/2004, 15,485 pregnant women were submitted to enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA), to screen HTLV-I, using filter paper - dried blood in, and to confirm the infection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of whole blood was performed. The epidemiologic factors evaluated were: average age, age of 30 years and above, schooling less than nine years, marital status and number of pregnancies. The factors average age, age of 30 years and above, and schooling less than nine years were compared between the infected and non-infected pregnant group. Statistical analysis used Fisher's exact test and Student's t test. RESULTS: the found prevalence was 0.1%. The average age among the infected pregnant group was 26.4 years, 43.7% of them being 30 years old and above, and 62.5% with schooling less than nine years. The non-infected group showed an average age of 24.4 years, 15.4% of them being ³ 30 years old and above, and only 41.5% with schooling less than nine years. Significant statistical difference was noticed only regarding age of 30 years and above and schooling less than nine years. CONCLUSION: the study shows that HTLV-I seroprevalence among pregnant women in Goiânia during the studied period was 0.1%. It occurred more among pregnant women who were 30 years old and above and those with schooling of less than nine years.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(6):324-330
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000600002
PURPOSE: to compare the maternal factors, clinical aspects and perinatal results in placental abruption during two periods. METHODS: retrospective analysis of placental abruption cases that occurred from January 1, 1994 through December 31, 1997 (period 94-97), and from April 4, 2001 through March 3, 2005 (period 01-05), in singleton delivery with birthweight higher than 500 g and after 20 weeks of gestation. The following factors were analyzed: maternal age, previous obstetric history, prenatal care, premature rupture of membranes, obstetric and/or clinical intercurrent events, vaginal bleeding, uterine tonus, fetal anomaly, mode of delivery, hemoamnion and maternal complication (hysterectomy, uterine atony, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, and maternal death), and the perinatal results. RESULTS: the rate of placental abruption was 0.78% (60 cases) in the period 94-97 (n=7692 deliveries), and 0.59% (51 cases) in the period 01-05 (n=8644 deliveries), without significant difference. A significant difference was observed between the periods 94-97 and 01-05 regarding mean number of previous gestations (3.5±2.4 and 2.6±1.8, p=0.04), patients without prenatal care (13.3 and 2.0%, p=0.03) and maternal intercurrences (38.3 and 64.7%, p=0.01). No significant difference was observed related to vaginal bleeding, tonus abnormalities and perinatal results, between the periods, but a higher proportion of hemoamnion in 94-97 was found when compared to 01-05 (28.3 and 11.8%, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: in spite of obstetrical advances, maternal complications and perinatal results were similar in the analyzed periods. The severity and the unexpected results emphasize the importance of prevention and adequate control of associated factors, when this pathology is approached.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(6):340-344
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000600004
PURPOSE: the study the effects of maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy on placental maturation (calcifications) and the placental-uterine circulation, evaluated through umbilical and uterine Doppler. METHODS: prospective cohort study involving 244 pregnant women, 210 of them non-smokers and 34 smokers. Participants were submitted to four serial sonograms. The first was performed up to the 16th week of pregnancy to determine gestational age, and the other three at 28, 32 and 36 weeks for fetal biometry, evaluation of placental texture and Doppler studies of the uterine and umbilical arteries. Premature placental calcification was defined as grade III before 36 weeks. The chi2 and Fisher exact tests were used to compare placental grading, and the Mann-Whitney test to evaluate the resistance index of uterine and umbilical arteries. RESULTS: the frequency of grade III placenta and the resistance of the uterine arteries did not differ significantly between smokers and non-smokers, at all gestational ages. Umbilical artery Doppler was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers at 32 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: no association was found between cigarette smoking and premature placental calcification. Smoking was associated with increased umbilical artery resistance at 32 weeks.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(2):112-121
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000200007
PURPOSE: to investigate the presence and outcome of uterinevascular malformations (UVAM) after gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). METHODS: retrospective study of 2764 patients with GTD diagnosed from 1987 to 2004. All patients were followed up annually at the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" Trophoblastic Disease Center (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) with transvaginal ultrasonography (US) and color Doppler imaging. Seven patients had a final diagnosis of UVAM based on ultrasonographic analysis - pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV) - and pelvic magnetic nuclear resonance (MNR) findings. Negative beta-hCG values were of utmost importance to establish differential diagnosis with persistent GTD. RESULTS: the incidence of UVAM after GTD was 0.2% (7/2764). US features of UVAM: PI mean 0.44±0,058 (extremes: 0.38-0.52); RI mean 0.36±0.072 (extremes: 0.29-0.50); PSV mean 64.6±23.99 cm/s (extremes: 37-96). MNR image showed a bulky uterus, myometrial inhomogeneity, serpiginous flow-related signal voids, and prominent parametrial vessels. The most common UVAM clinical presentation was vaginal hemorrhage, present in 52.7% (4/7). Pharmacological management with 150 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate was employed to control bleeding, after hemodynamic stabilization. These patients are still being followed and remain asymptomatic nowadays. Two patients with persistent UVAM became pregnant and had successful outcomes. CONCLUSION: patients with antecedent of GTD presenting transvaginal bleeding and negative beta-hCG may be considered to have UVAM and should be investigated through US with Doppler velocimetry. Conservative management is a valuable option in many of the acquired UVAM after GTD.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1999;21(5):297-298
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031999000500009
Endometrial ablation is a useful technique in patientes with abnormal uterine bleeding without response to clinical measures. Pregnancy is possible even after the destruction or resection of the endometrium. The case reported is a normal term pregnancy after endometrial ablation because ot menorrhagia without successful prior clinical treatment.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(1):10-17
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000100003
PURPOSE: to describe to emotional process experienced with termination of pregnancy after the diagnosis of lethal fetal malformation. METHODS: thirty-five pregnant women who underwent termination of pregnancy for lethal fetal anomaly after judicial permission were interviewed. The most frequent fetal malformation was anencephaly (71.5%). The patients were submitted to an open interview as soon as the diagnosis of fetal malformation was confirmed, allowing them to express their feelings and stimulating them to think about asking for termination of pregnancy. The mean time spent until the judicial agreement was 16.6 days. The women who requested and were submitted to the procedure of abortion were invited to return for psychological evaluation after 30-60 days. At this moment, a semi-structured interview was performed to find the emotional aspects and feelings that existed. RESULTS: thirty-five patients were interviewed. The decision-making feelings about termination of pregnancy were negative for 60%, 51.4% declared that they had no doubts about the assumed decision and 65.7% declared that their own opinion was more important for decision than anyone else's. Most of the women (89%) affirmed to remember the facts about the procedure that they experienced, 91% affirmed that they would have the same attitude in the case of another similar situation in the future and 60% declared that they would advise someone to opt for termination of pregnancy if asked about the same situation. CONCLUSIONS: the anguish experienced showed that the process of thinking is very important for the decision-making process and posterior satisfaction with the assumed posture. The psychological follow-up allows to review the moral and cultural values in order to help the decision-making process with the aim of minimizing the suffering.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(12):719-725
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001200003
PURPOSE: to evaluate the prevalence, epidemiological profile (age and origin) and vertical transmission rate of HTLV I/II infection in pregnant women screened by the Pregnant Protection Program of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil. METHODS: it is a descriptive and transversal study of 32,512 pregnant women submitted to a prenatal screening from November 2002 to October 2003. HTLV I/II infection was diagnosed in all pregnant women by ELISA, confirmed by Western blot and PCR. Congenital HTLV infection was investigated by ELISA test, Western blot and PCR performed on the child's blood sample. The associations between data (age, origin and HTLV infection) were statistically analyzed by the chi2 test considering p<0.05 to reject the null hypothesis. RESULTS: a prevalence of 0.1% (37) 0.1% HTLV I/II among 32,512 pregnant women was found. The mean age of the infected women was 25.4 ± 6.4 years, and 78.4% of them were from other areas than the capital. There was no association between maternal age and the patients' origin and infection. In all the eight evaluated newborns, which represented 21.6% of the sample, HTLV I/II serum antibodies were found. Only one newborn infant was breast-fed. CONCLUSIONS : HTLV I/II prevalence among pregnant women of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil was lower than the rates reported by endemic HTLV countries. This rate was almost the same as that described for non-endemic areas and in some Brazilian reports. The vertical transmission rate of HTLV I/II was 100%, in spite of breast-feeding having been proscribed. Improving the follow-up of the pregnant women and their newborns in the State is mandatory, since only a few infants were investigated.