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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Ultrasonography, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.

To determine Z-score equations and reference ranges for Doppler flow velocity indices of cardiac outflow tracts in normal fetuses. A prospective cross-sectional echocardiographic study was performed in 506 normal singleton fetuses from 18 to 40 weeks. Twelve pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) measurements were derived from fetal echocardiography. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2018 Oct 21;14:86-89. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Marat Ospanov, West Kazakhstan State Medical University, Aktobe, Kazakhstan.

Objective: The current study aims to assess the efficacy of fetal middle cerebral artery/umbilical artery pulsatility index ratio (cerebroplacental ratio CPR) in predicting the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated with severe pre-eclampsia.

Materials And Methods: This cohort study included 100 pregnant women between 34 and 40 weeks of gestation attended the labor ward and diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. Doppler evaluation was carried out to measure the CPR. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2018 Oct 17;14:79-85. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.

We explored whether there was a relationship between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in early-late and late-onset SGA patients and whether it is associated with neonatal birth weight.

Material/methods: 110 patients who were diagnosed with a fetal weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age and who at the same time delivered neonates with a birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age. For each of the patients sFlt-1, PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were studied and uterine artery (UtA) and umbilical artery (UA) Doppler were performed. Read More

Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2018 Nov 11;22(6):989-1005. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Departments of Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Radiology, University Hospital Southampton, United Kingdom; Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

Fetal stroke is an important cause of cerebral palsy but is difficult to diagnose unless imaging is undertaken in pregnancies at risk because of known maternal or fetal disorders. Fetal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging may show haemorrhage or ischaemic lesions including multicystic encephalomalacia and focal porencephaly. Serial imaging has shown the development of malformations including schizencephaly and polymicrogyra after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Read More

J Med Genet 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

The Morris Kahn Laboratory of Human Genetics, National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Background: Consanguineous kindred presented with an autosomal recessive syndrome of intrauterine growth retardation, marked developmental delay, spastic quadriplegia with profound contractures, pseudobulbar palsy with recurrent aspirations, epilepsy, dysmorphism, neurosensory deafness and optic nerve atrophy with no eye fixation. Affected individuals died by the age of 4. Brain MRI demonstrated microcephaly, semilobar holoprosencephaly and agenesis of corpus callosum. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2018 Nov 29;108:189-193. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna MUW, Austria.

Objective: Recently, a potentially useful diagnostic approach based on MR diffusion-tensor-imaging (DTI) was reported for the estimation of putative functional placenta tissue (PFPT), thus providing direct information about placental function. Yet, the relation between reduced PFPT and the phenomenon of brain-sparing remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relation between brain-sparing and reduced PFPT volume, as found in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct;57(5):730-733

Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Objective: We present prenatal diagnosis of a 15q11.2 (BP1-BP2) microdeletion encompassing TUBGCP5, CYFIP1, NIPA2 and NIPA1 in a fetus with ventriculomegaly, microcephaly and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on prenatal ultrasound.

Case Report: A 30-year-old, gravida 3, para 2, woman was referred to the hospital for amniocentesis because of fetal ventriculomegaly on prenatal ultrasound. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct;57(5):665-667

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Objective: Fetuses with fetal growth restrictions have higher perinatal mortality rates than fetuses without fetal growth restrictions. Vascularization of the fetal kidney is crucial to fetal growth. Hence, we assessed blood flow and vascularization of fetal kidneys in non-growth-restricted as well as growth-restricted fetuses using quantitative three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;53(1):36-46

Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Objective: To explore the impact of severity and management (expectant, laser treatment or selective reduction) on perinatal outcome of monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR).

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov and The Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies on outcome following expectant management, laser treatment or selective reduction in monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by sFGR. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2018 Jul 30;13:279-285. Epub 2018 Jun 30.

Fetal Medicine Unit-Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: To analyze the usefulness of a clinical protocol for early detection of preeclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction (PE/FGR) using, in previously selected pregnancies, the measurement of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 24-28 weeks of gestation.

Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study carried out in a single tertiary hospital in Spain. 5601 consecutive singleton pregnancies with complete follow-up were included. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;53(1):23-25

Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK.

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Aug;57(4):483-486

Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.

Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is one of the most serious complications of pregnancy. Up to date, there is no evidence of achieving antenatal treatment of IUGR with abnormal placentation. Although, Sildenafil citrate has shown promising results, there are no firm conclusion till now. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Aug;379(6):535-546

From the Department of Pediatrics (D.E.R., S.K.M., S.Z., E.P., J.K., J. Shi, R.W., P.S.S., L.G.P., H.Q.) and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (A.R.W.), University of Toronto, and the Centre for Global Child Health (D.E.R., S.K.M., S.Z., E.P., J.K., J. Shi, R.W., L.G.P., H.Q.), the Department of Diagnostic Imaging (J. Stimec), and the Ontario Child Health Support Unit (A.R.W.), Hospital for Sick Children, and the Departments of Pediatrics (P.S.S.), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (K.E.M.), Mt. Sinai Hospital - all in Toronto; the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA (A.D.G.); and the Maternal and Child Health Training Institute (I.J.) and the Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (T.A., S.S.S., M.M.I., F.K.K., M.M., Q.S.R., A.A.M.), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: It is unclear whether maternal vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and lactation improves fetal and infant growth in regions where vitamin D deficiency is common.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Bangladesh to assess the effects of weekly prenatal vitamin D supplementation (from 17 to 24 weeks of gestation until birth) and postpartum vitamin D supplementation on the primary outcome of infants' length-for-age z scores at 1 year according to World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. One group received neither prenatal nor postpartum vitamin D (placebo group). Read More

PLoS One 2018 12;13(7):e0200360. Epub 2018 Jul 12.

Maternity Department D, Obstetrical Day Care Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.

Objectives: Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction are obstetrical syndromes associated with abnormal placental implantation and changes in the activation status of maternal leukocytes. This study is aimed to determine by a simple, rapid fluorescent assay the changes in maternal serum total cell-free DNA (t-cfDNA) concentrations in women with preeclampsia and those with fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted measuring maternal serum t-cfDNA concentrations. Read More

Curr Hypertens Rep 2018 Jul 10;20(9):80. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

Optics and Imaging Centre, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Purpose Of Review: Because of the significant discrepancies on this topic, this review will focus on the role of uric acid in PE, uric acid as a predictor of preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation. We considered eligible review and original articles relevant to the research question.

Recent Findings: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia (PE) are a major cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 07;52(1):5-8

Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK.

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Oct 5;44(10):1922-1928. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Department of Fetal Maternal Medicine, National Nagara Medical Center, Gifu City, Gifu, Japan.

Aim: Although an absent or reversed a-wave in ductus venosus (DV-RAV) is reported to be the terminal finding of fetal growth restriction (FGR), we have seen DV-RAV that disappears within a short span of time in some FGR cases with a hypercoiled cord. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hypercoiled cord and reversible DV-RAV in FGR.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 499 FGR cases, including 14 with DV-RAV. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct 5;52(4):430-441. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.

Objective: The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) has been proposed for the routine surveillance of pregnancies with suspected fetal growth restriction (FGR), but the predictive performance of this test is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of CPR for predicting adverse perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes in suspected FGR.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Lilacs were searched from inception to 31 July 2017 for cohort or cross-sectional studies reporting on the accuracy of CPR for predicting adverse perinatal and/or neurodevelopmental outcomes in singleton pregnancies with FGR suspected antenatally based on sonographic parameters. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 09 10;35(9):1378-1384. Epub 2018 Jun 10.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Children's Heart Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Background: In fetuses with structurally normal heart and suboptimal fetal growth (SFG), umbilical artery vascular resistance increases as measured by umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI). The objective of this study is to compare hemodynamic responses to SFG in fetuses with single ventricle (SV) and controls with structurally normal heart.

Methods: Fetal echocardiograms around 30 weeks of gestation were reviewed. Read More

Vascul Pharmacol 2018 11 4;110:64-70. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Division of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

The increase in fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with twin pregnancies correlates with an increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Although the pathogenesis of IUGR is unclear and thus management remains a major challenge, feto-placental blood vessels are compromised, and altered umbilical blood flow is observed. In this pilot observational study we investigated the effects of pravastatin plus l-arginine on umbilical artery (umb art) blood flow. Read More

J Ultrason 2018 Mar 30;18(72):50-55. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

Ultrasonography, with its detailed imaging of the fetus, is very widely used in obstetrics. The primary aim of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy is to limit the risk of obstetric complications by early detection of abnormalities, such as intrauterine growth restriction and macrosomia. Currently, morphometric formulae are used for estimating fetal weight. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Jul 17;226:15-20. Epub 2018 May 17.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.

Objective: We quantitatively assessed placental perfusion using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound for twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) in one twin.

Study Design: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed for 104 normal monochorionic diamniotic twins and 30 twins with sIUGR. Twins with sIUGR were divided into two groups: in group I (19 twins), both fetuses had continuous forward end-diastolic blood flow in the umbilical artery; in group II (11 twins), the smaller fetus had a loss or a reverse end-diastolic blood flow in the umbilical artery, but the larger fetus had continuous forward end-diastolic blood flow. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018 May 26;49:89-102. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Electronic address:

Stillbirth, often defined as death of a fetus ≥20 weeks of gestation, is emotionally devastating for families and caregivers. It is often associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR). Indeed, FGR or small-for-gestational age fetus (SGA) is a major risk factor for stillbirth. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018 May 24;49:37-52. Epub 2018 Feb 24.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden. Electronic address:

The growth-restricted fetus in utero is exposed to a hostile environment and suffers undernutrition and hypoxia. To cope with the stress, the fetus changes its physiological functions. These adaptive changes aid intrauterine survival; however, they can lead to permanent functional and structural changes that can contribute to the development of serious chronic diseases later in life. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 07 5;52(1):52-59. Epub 2018 Jun 5.

Kings College Hospital, London, UK.

Objectives: To examine the effect of first-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) on the prediction of delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate and the effect of prophylactic use of aspirin on the prevention of SGA.

Methods: The data for this study were derived from two multicenter studies. In SPREE, we investigated the performance of screening for PE by a combination of maternal characteristics and biomarkers at 11-13 weeks' gestation. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 07 30;52(1):44-51. Epub 2018 May 30.

Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, UK.

Objective: To develop fetal and neonatal population weight charts. The rationale was that, while reference ranges of estimated fetal weight (EFW) are representative of the whole population, the traditional approach of deriving birth-weight (BW) charts is misleading, because a large proportion of babies born preterm arise from pathological pregnancy. We propose that the reference population for BW charts, as in the case of EFW charts, should comprise all babies at a given gestational age, including those still in utero. Read More

Fetal Diagn Ther 2018 24;44(4):277-284. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

INSERM UMR 970, PARCC-HEGP, Paris,

Purpose: To evaluate placental function and perfusion in a rat model of preeclampsia infused with L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) by dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI using gadolinium chelates.

Methods: Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were fitted on embryonic day 16 (E16) with subcutaneous osmotic minipumps loaded to deliver, continuously, L-NAME (50 mg/day per rat; case group) or saline solution (control group). DCE MRI was performed on E19 using gadolinium chelates and a 4. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018 May 24;49:79-88. Epub 2018 Feb 24.

Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University of London, 4th Floor, Lanesborough Wing, St. George's Hospital, London, SW17 0QT, UK; Molecular & Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, UK. Electronic address:

Twin pregnancies are more likely to be affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR), preterm birth and perinatal loss. The management of fetal growth restriction in multiple pregnancy, particularly where only one fetus is affected is complicated by the need to consider the interests of both twins. Selective growth restriction in monochorionic (MC) twins is a pathophysiological process distinct from FGR in dichorionic (DC) pregnancies and management demands an understanding of the monochorionic placental structure and interdependent fetal circulations. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Jun 31;225:19-21. Epub 2018 Mar 31.

Prenatal Diagnostic Center, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. Electronic address:

Objective: To present the experience on prenatal diagnosis of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) to further delineate the fetal presentation of this syndrome.

Study Design: This was a retrospective analysis of ten pregnancies with fetal WHS identified by chromosomal microarray (CMA). Clinical data were reviewed for these cases, including maternal demographics, indications for invasive testing, sonographic findings, CMA results and pregnancy outcomes. Read More

Ann Biomed Eng 2018 Jul 6;46(7):1066-1077. Epub 2018 Apr 6.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, #02-04, Singapore, 117575, Singapore.

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a serious and prevalent pregnancy complication that is due to placental insufficiency and IUGR babies suffer significantly higher risks of mortality and morbidity. Current detection rate for IUGR is generally poor and thus an alternative diagnostic tool is needed to improve the IUGR detection. Elastography, a non-invasive method that measures the tissue stiffness, has been proposed as one such technique. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 Jun 2;44(6):1057-1062. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Osaka Medical Center Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Osaka, Japan.

Aim: To examine the predictive value of ultrasound parameters for antepartum non-reassuring fetal status (NRFS) in fetal growth restriction (FGR) cases after late preterm.

Methods: Retrospective review of singleton FGR cases before 37 weeks gestation who delivered after 34 weeks gestation was performed. The association between ultrasound parameters that was assessed from 34 to 36 weeks gestation and the development of antepartum NRFS that was diagnosed by nonstress test and biophysical profile was analyzed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct;52(4):507-514

Fetal Medicine Research Institute, King's College London, London, UK.

Objectives: To assess whether, in a cohort of patients with a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus with estimated fetal weight ≤ 10 percentile, maternal hemodynamics, fetal biometry and Doppler indices at presentation can predict the subsequent development of an abnormal fetal Doppler index or delivery of a baby with birth weight < 3 percentile.

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted at a specialist clinic for the management of pregnancies with a SGA fetus at King's College Hospital, London, UK. The study population comprised 86 singleton pregnancies with a SGA fetus, presenting at a median gestational age of 32 (range, 26-35) weeks. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2018 May 1;49:53-65. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA. Electronic address:

A uniform approach to management of fetal growth restriction (FGR) improves outcome, prevents stillbirth, and allows appropriately timed delivery. An estimated fetal weight below the tenth percentile with coexisting abnormal umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), or cerebroplacental ratio Doppler index best identifies the small fetus requiring surveillance. Placental perfusion defects are more common earlier in gestation; accordingly, early-onset (≤32 weeks of gestation) and late-onset (>32 weeks) FGR differ in clinical phenotype. Read More

J Hum Genet 2018 Jun 19;63(6):749-753. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital, Sendai 989-3126, Japan.

Here we report a Japanese patient with new compound heterozygous truncating variants in the PCDH12 gene. As compared to the previously reported families who had congenital microcephaly, intrauterine growth retardation, intracranial calcification, and neonatal seizure associated with dysplasia of the midbrain-hypothalamus-optic tract, the present patient showed no midbrain-hypothalamus dysplasia or congenital/postnatal microcephaly, but dyskinetic cerebral palsy and severe intellectual disability as well as multifocal epilepsy. To understand phenotypic spectrum associated with PCDH12 variants, more reports are needed. Read More

J Perinat Med 2018 Oct;46(8):900-904

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.

Objective To compare the adrenal gland size of fetal growth restricted (FGR) and normal control fetuses. Study design In this prospective study the adrenal gland size of 63 FGR fetuses and 343 normal controls was measured between 20 and 41 weeks of gestation. The total width and the medulla width were measured in a new standardized transversal plane. Read More

Eur J Endocrinol 2018 Jun 9;178(6):R259-R266. Epub 2018 Mar 9.

Aix-Marseille Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1251, Marseille Medical Genetics, Marseille, France.

With fewer than 200 reported cases, Cushing's syndrome (CS) in pregnancy remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In normal pregnancies, misleading signs may be observed such as striae or hypokalemia, while plasma cortisol and urinary free cortisol may rise up to 2- to 3-fold. While the dexamethasone suppression test is difficult to use, reference values for salivary cortisol appear valid. Read More

Pregnancy Hypertens 2018 Jan 2;11:99-104. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto de Investigación 12 de Octubre (imas12), Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the uterine artery mean pulsatility index (mPI-UtA) and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) for the prediction of placental dysfunction-related adverse outcomes (AO), namely pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and for differential diagnosis between PE and SLE flares.

Study Design: Observational prospective cohort study of 57 pregnant women with SLE or APS.

Main Outcome Measures: mPI-UtA and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in maternal serum were obtained at four gestational age periods (11-14, 19-22, 24-29 and 32-34 weeks). Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2018 06 13;141(3):391-392. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

Department of Ultrasound Diagnosis, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Anat Histol Embryol 2018 Jun 27;47(3):206-215. Epub 2018 Feb 27.

Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Horses are precocial animals and able to stand and walk within hours after birth. To cope with associated loading, intrauterine bone development has shown to be anticipative. This study provides further insight into the post-natal development of structurally important features of trabecular and subchondral bone of the talus and sagittal ridge of the tibia of warm-blooded horses. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2018 Sep 24;37(9):2243-2249. Epub 2018 Feb 24.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in neonatal and pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies complicated by severe fetal growth restriction, defined as estimated fetal weight below the 5th percentile, compared with estimated fetal weight in the 5th to 10th percentiles at midgestation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of singleton nonanomalous gestations with estimated fetal weight at or below the 10th percentile (Hadlock et al. Radiology 1991; 181:129-133) at 18 to 24 weeks' gestation. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Feb 21;19:194-198. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

BACKGROUND Troponin I is the gold standard for the diagnosis of adult acute coronary syndrome. Although it is known that a hypoxic fetus may produce cTnI, fetal cTnI passage in maternal blood has never been documented. CASE REPORT We report a case where the rise of cTnI in the blood of a pregnant woman was not related to maternal heart disease. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Feb;57(1):161-162

Department of Pathology, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Shalu, Taichung, Taiwan.

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Feb 9;105:72-74. Epub 2017 Dec 9.

Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) encompasses a heterogeneous group of pathologies leading to poor lung development and difficulty oxygenating the newborn after delivery. While previously uniformly fatal, the ex utero intrapartum therapy (EXIT) procedure has provided a method to treat these patients and provide an airway to potentiate survival. We present a patient diagnosed prenatally with CHAOS secondary to tracheal atresia complicated by severe intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) who was successfully delivered via an EXIT procedure at 33-weeks. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct 23;52(4):488-493. Epub 2018 Aug 23.

Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of London, London, UK.

Objective: To investigate the influence of ethnicity, fetal gender and placental dysfunction on birth weight (BW) in term fetuses of South Asian and Caucasian origin.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 627 term pregnancies assessed at two public tertiary hospitals in Spain and Sri Lanka. All fetuses underwent biometry and Doppler examinations within 2 weeks of delivery. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2018 Mar 9;222:52-56. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address:

Objective: To compare neonatal outcome and placental pathology in cases of small for gestational age (SGA) according to umbilical artery (UA) Doppler flow.

Study Design: Pregnancy and placental reports of SGA neonates (birth-weight <10th), born between 2008 and 2017 were compared between cases with normal and abnormal UA Doppler indices. Placental lesions were classified to malperfusion lesions and inflammatory responses. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 May 5;44(5):951-954. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.

We report a rare case of placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) with fetal growth restriction (FGR) in one placenta of a dichorionic diamniotic (DD) twin pregnancy. A 24-year-old woman was referred to our hospital at 24 weeks' gestation due to FGR and ipsilateral placental abnormality in DD twins. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed one placenta of the FGR fetus was bulky and had multiple cysts, while the other fetus placenta appeared normal. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018 May 1;44(5):861-872. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

The University of Sydney, Westmead Clinical School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Aim: To localize, quantify and compare angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), as well as their receptors fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor (Flt-1) and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) in the placentas of normal pregnancy and complications of preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) and PE + IUGR.

Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional case-control study, 30 pregnant women between 24-40 weeks of gestation, were recruited into four clinical groups. Representative placental samples were stained for VEGF, PlGF, Flt-1 and KDR. Read More

Hum Genomics 2018 01 25;12(1). Epub 2018 Jan 25.

UMR1078 "Génétique, Génomique Fonctionnelle et Biotechnologies", INSERM, EFS - Bretagne, Université de Brest, CHRU Brest, Brest, France.

Background: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) over the last few years has been increasingly employed for clinical diagnosis. However, one caveat with its use is that it inevitably fails to detect disease-causative variants that occur within noncoding RNA genes. Our experience in identifying pathogenic variants in the noncoding RNU4ATAC gene, in a Chinese family where two successive foetuses had been affected by severe microcephaly, is a case in point. Read More

Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019 Jan;53(1):47-54

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Objectives: Twin pregnancy complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) is associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Inconsistencies in the diagnostic criteria for sFGR employed in existing studies hinder the ability to compare or combine their findings. It is therefore challenging to establish robust evidence-based management or monitoring pathways for these pregnancies. Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2018 03 9;44(3):532-543. Epub 2018 Jan 9.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address:

Intrauterine growth restriction is a prevalent disease in pregnancy in which placental insufficiency leads to 5 to 10 times higher mortality and lifelong morbidities. The current detection rate is poor, and recently, ultrasound strain elastography (USEL) was proposed as a new diagnostic technique. Currently, placental USEL uses maternal subcutaneous fat as the reference layer, but this is not ideal as fat tissue stiffness can vary widely between subjects. Read More