Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(3):155-160
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005000300010
PURPOSE: to evaluate the outcome of fetuses with risk of chromosomal anomalies over 1:300, based on the nuchal translucency measurement, according to the Fetal Medicine Program. METHODS: in the pregnancies with risk of chromosomal anomalies over 1:300, variables like fetal karyotype, spontaneous or induced abortion, prematurity, stillbirth, neonatal death, malformations, and healthy newborn were considered. We used Fisher's exact test to compare differences in proportions between groups. RESULTS: we selected 193 (3.6%) single pregnancies with risk of chromosomal anomalies over 1:300. Only 165 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these only 32.1% underwent fetal karyotyping and of which 8.5% had chromosomal anomalies (85.7% had trisomy 21). Regarding pregnancy outcomes, 4.2% were spontaneous miscarriages, 4.2% induced abortions, 4.8% were premature, 1.8% had neonatal death, 1.8% were stillborn, and 4.2% had structural malformation (85.7% congenital heart diseases). Almost 85.0% were healthy newborns. Patients with abnormal karyotyping had more induced abortions (p<0.001) and more structural malformations (p<0.001) than patients with normal karyotyping. None of the genetic diseases or miscarriages was associated with invasive procedures. Sixty-six percent of the pregnancies with prenatal diagnosis of abnormal karyotype were interrupted. CONCLUSION: nuchal translucency is an important screening tool for chromosomal diseases especially for low-risk pregnancies. However, counseling pregnancies with high risk of chromosomal anomalies should consider that, although these fetuses have a worse prognosis, most of the outcomes are favorable.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2000;22(3):129-134
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000300002
Purpose: to compare the performance of cervical canal and vaginal cul-de-sac samples for colpocytology testing, in order to diagnose cervical neoplasia. Methods: three sequential groups were constituted: group 1 - 10,048 women with ectocervix and cul-de-sac samples collected with the use of an Ayre spatula; group 2 - 3,847 women with ectocervix, cul-de-sac and cervical canal samples taken with an Ayre spatula and a cytobrush, and group 3 -- 4,059 women with ectocervix and cervical canal samples, using an Ayre spatula and a cytobrush. ANOVA (analysis of variance) and comparison of proportions were utilized for the statistical analysis. Results: the rates of abnormal tests in groups 2 (2.6%) and 3 (2.4%), including all squamous and glandular lesions, were significantly higher than in group 1 (2.0%). The diagnosis rates of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL) were not statistically different between the three groups (1.27, 1.25 and 1.07%). On the other hand, the diagnosis rates of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL) were statistically higher in groups 2 (0.81%) and 3 (0.77%) than in group 1 (0.54%). The difference between the rates of the second and the third groups did not present any statistical significance. Conclusions: the cervical canal sampling improves the performance of cytologic testing for the diagnosis of HGSIL, while cul-de-sac sampling does not change significantly the performance in diagnosing cervical neoplasia.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2003;25(8):571-576
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000800005
PURPOSE: to estimate the prevalence of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in parturients admitted to the "Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP)", Recife-PE, and to determine the serologic profile of the positive ones. METHODS: this is a prospective cross-sectional study where the VIDAS and VIDAS HBs systems were used for detection and confirmation of HBsAg, respectively. The parturients were randomly selected. In HBsAg+ patients, the other serologic markers were tested by the use of the AxSYM automated system. The newborn babies of HBsAg+ mothers were vaccinated with the Engerix B vaccine. RESULTS: among 1584 parturients, there were 9 (0.6%) HBsAg positive. None of them had anti-HBc IgM, thus they were all prevalent cases. In 1/9 (11.1%) of the HBsAg+ mothers, HBeAg was isolated and in 4/9 (44.4%), this antigen circulated along with its antibody, hence the importance of establishing the different magnitudes of risk of vertical transmission. Except for two newborn babies from a twin pregnancy (one with low birth weight), all presented seroconversion to anti-HBs with 3 doses of the vaccine. The premature twin babies showed seroconvertion only after the fourth dose of the vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of hepatitis B among parturients at IMIP is relatively low and all patients diagnosed had the chronic form of the infection.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(9):601-608
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000900006
Purpose: to appraise the value of ultrasonographic parameters for the diagnosis of fetal Down syndrome (T21), in order to permit its use in routine clinical practice. Methods: this is a prospective cohort study using various ultrasonographic parameters for the prediction of T21. A total of 1662 scans were evaluated in the cohort study and 289 examinations were analyzed as a differential sample to test the normality curve from October 1993 to November 2000. The statistical analysis was based on the calculation of intra- and interobserver variations, the construction of normality curves for the studied parameters, as well as their validity tests, and the calculation of sensitivity, specificity, relative risk, likelyhood ratio and posttest predictive values. Results: among 1662 cases, 22 fetuses (1.32%) with T21 were identified. The normality curves were built for nucal fold thickness, femur/foot ratio and nasal bone length. Renal pelvis had a semiquantitative distribution and the proposed cutoff level was 4.0 mm. Sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, relative risk and likelyhood ratio for nucal fold measurements above the 95th percentile were 54.5%, 95.2%, 4.9%, 20.2 and 11, respectively. For nasal bone measurements below the 5th percentile, 59.0%, 90.1%, 9.0%, 13.4 and 6.5. For femur/foot ratio below the 5th percentile, 45.5%, 84.4%, 15.6%, 3.7 and 2,6. For renal pelvis greater than 4.0 mm, 36.4%, 89.2%, 10.9%, 4.5 and 3.4. For absent fifth finger middle phalanx, 22.7%, 98.1%, 1.9%, 13.2 and 11.9. For the presence of major malformations, 31.8%, 98.7%, 1.3%, 27.2 and 24,8. After calculating the probability rates and the incidence of T21 in different maternal ages, a table for posttest risk using ultrasonographic parameters was set up. Conclusions: normality curves and indices for the assessment of risk for fetal Down syndrome on a population basis were established by the utilization of different maternal ages and by multiplying factors proposed by the authors. It was not possible to establish a normality curve for renal pelvis measurements, because of their semiquantitative distribution.