Search

Objective This study was aimed to estimate the value of transabdominal (TA) ultrasound measurement of cervical length (CL), as an alternative of transvaginal (TV) ultrasound, for universal screening of short cervix in the midtrimester. Study Design We conducted a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy at 20 to 24 weeks of gestation. All participants underwent TA ultrasound followed by TV ultrasound with acquisitions of images and videos of the uterine cervix. A second sonographer, blinded to the participants' data and pregnancy outcomes, measured the CL using TA and TV images and videos. Pearson's correlation test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results A total of 805 participants were recruited, including 780 (97%) where TA CL measurement was feasible. We observed a strong correlation of CL between TA and TV (correlation coefficient: 0.57; p Conclusion Universal short cervix screening in nulliparous women could be performed using TA ultrasound, which could allow the avoidance of TV ultrasound in more than three quarter of women. In low-risk population, TV ultrasound could be reserved to women with TA CL Key Points

Objective The study aimed to estimate the predictive value of midtrimester cervical length (CL) and the optimal cut-off of CL that should be applied with asymptomatic nulliparous women for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Study Design This is a prospective cohort study of asymptomatic nulliparous women with a singleton gestation. Participants underwent CL measurement by transvaginal ultrasound between 20 and 24 weeks of gestation. The participants and their health care providers remained blinded to the results of CL measurement. The primary outcomes were sPTB before 35 weeks and sPTB before 37 weeks. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Analyses were repeated by using multiples of median (MoM) of CL adjusted for gestational age. Results Of 796 participants, the mean midtrimester CL was 40 ± 6 mm with a 1st, 5th, and 10th percentile of 25, 29, and 32 mm, respectively. ROC curve analyses suggest that a cut-off of 30 mm was the optimal CL to predict sPTB before 35 weeks (area under the ROC curve [AUC]: 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56–0.85) and before 37 weeks (AUC: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.59–0.80). Midtrimester CL Conclusion A midtrimester CL cut-off of 30 mm (instead of 25 mm), or CL less than 0.75 MoM, should be used to identify nulliparous women at high risk of sPTB. Key Points

Objective Daily aspirin, started in the first trimester of pregnancy, is commonly used for the prevention of preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction in multiple gestation. However, the optimal dose remains controversial and the evidence for the use of aspirin in multiple pregnancies is scarce. We aimed to estimate the impact of 80 mg of aspirin in twin pregnancies. Study Design We performed a pilot double-blind randomized trial of women with twin pregnancies recruited between 8 and 14 weeks of gestation. Fifty participants (25 in each group) were randomized to 80 mg of aspirin daily at bedtime or a placebo from randomization until 36 weeks of gestation. Primary and secondary outcomes included the birth weight of live infants, preeclampsia, and aspirin responsiveness evaluated by a platelet aggregation test (platelet function assay [PFA]-100). Results All participants were followed until birth, including 48 and 47 live newborns in the aspirin and the placebo groups, respectively. The mean birth weight difference between the aspirin (2,385 ± 529 g) and placebo (2,224 ± 706 g) groups was of 179 g (95% confidence interval [CI]: −172–531 g, p = 0.32). We observed two (8%) cases of preeclampsia in the aspirin group and no case with placebo (p = 0.49). Most importantly,16 of 24 participants who received aspirin (67%; 95% CI: 45–84%) had a normal PFA-100 test at 22 to 23 weeks, including the two cases of preeclampsia, suggesting that the majority of the participants were nonresponsive to 80 mg of aspirin. Conclusion Our results suggest that the majority of women with twin pregnancies showed a lack of response to a daily dose of 80 mg of aspirin according to the PFA-100 test, compared with the expected 29% of nonresponsiveness in singleton pregnancies. A daily dose of 80 mg of aspirin is likely to be insufficient for the prevention of preeclampsia and other placenta-mediated complications in twin pregnancies. Key Points

Objective Increased expression of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), associated with a decrease in placental growth factor (PlGF), plays a key role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). We evaluated the prognostic value of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for the onset of adverse maternofetal outcomes (AMFO) in case of early-onset PE with attempted expectant management. Study Design From October 2016 through November 2018, all singleton pregnancies complicated by early-onset PE (before 34 weeks of gestation) were included in a cohort study. The plasma levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF were blindly measured on admission. For the statistical analysis, we performed a bivariate analysis, a comparison of the receiving operating characteristic curves and a survival analysis estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Among 109 early PE, AMFO occurred in 87 pregnancies (79.8%), mainly hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome and severe fetal heart rate abnormalities requiring urgent delivery. The area under the curve (AUC) of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73–0.88) for the risk of AMFO and the difference between the AUCs was significant for each separate standard parameter (p = 0.018 for initial diastolic blood pressure, p = 0.013 for alanine aminotransferase, p Conclusion The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is an additional tool in the prediction of AMFO in proven early-onset PE, which is likely to improve care by anticipating severe complications. Key Points