O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o status em ferro (Fe) na pré-eclampsia (PE). Participaram deste estudo caso-controle 36 gestantes, sendo 18 diagnosticadas com OE e 18 sem complicações obstétricas ou sistêmicas (controle- CT). Foram incluídas no grupo PE mulheres com pressão arterial ≥ 140/90mmHg e proteinúria ≥ 0,3g/24h, e que não apresentavam: a) hipertensão arterial crônica; b) hipertensão gestacional; c) diabetes; d.) doenças cardíacas ou renais; e) e que não fizessem uso de suplemento contendo magnésio e que não fossem tabagistas. O sangue foi coletado das pacientes em jejum de 8 horas, para análise de concentrações de ferro sé rico, ferritina, ferro livre, hepcidina bem como hemograma e parâmetros de estresse oxidativo (catalase). Foi aplicado, também, um questionário quantitativo de freqüência alimentar validado para gestantes, para avaliação da ingestão dietética. Comparações entre grupos e correlações entre indicadores foram feitas por testes de Mann Whitney e Spearman, respectivamente. Foram encontradas diferenças de Fe sérico, hepcidina e ferritina, mas não de ferro livre entre os grupos. Houve maior atividade da catalase no grupo PE em comparação ao CT. Os resultados mostraram uma alteração na homeostase do ferro, como consequência da hipovolemia e maior atividade da enzima oxidante no grupo PE, uma provável tentativa do organismo de diminuir o efeito deletério do estresse oxidativo. / Preeclampsia (PE) occurs in approximately 5% of prenuncies and remais a leasing cause of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. Serum iron and ferritin levels were demonstrated to be significantly higher in PE and probably exacerbate oxidative stress. In this study we checked iron status and catalase activity in preeclamptic women and compared with healthy pregnancy. Blood samples were collected from 18 pregnant women diagnosed as preeclampsia and 18 normal pregnant women at Hospital das Clínicas and. Hospital e Maternidade Ipiranga in São Paulo, Brazil. Mean serum iron, ferritin, and catalase were significantly higher in PE group. Mean serum hepcidin were significantly lower in PE group. No significant differences were found among hemoglobina (Hb) concentration and labile iron plasma (LPI). These results suggest that high levels of serum ferritin and iron maybe are associated with: oxidative stress; unfavorable outcome. Any pregnant with higher concentrations of serum iron and ferritin should be further investigated for preeclampsia.

Objetivos: Avaliar as alterações no Doppler da artéria oftálmica nas pacientes com pré-eclâmpsia, através do Peak Ratio da artéria oftálmica materna correlacionando os achados do Doppler com marcadores de gravidade e desfechos maternos e perinatais e relacionar as alterações na artéria oftálmica com os casos graves da doença. Método: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, incluindo 58 mulheres com pré-eclâmpsia, com feto único, entre 23 e 40 semanas de gestação, sem doenças oculares ou neurológicas, não tabagistas, sem uso de medicação anticonvulsivante outra que não seja MgSO4, atendidas no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, entre abril de 2014 e setembro de 2015. O Doppler da artéria oftálmica materna foi realizado pelo mesmo observador, com a paciente em decúbito dorsal, usando um ecógrafo PHILIPS HD15, com um transdutor linear eletrônico com frequência de 7 a 10 MHz, posicionado transversalmente sobre a pálpebra fechada, com o color Doppler insonando a artéria oftálmica após esta cruzar o nervo ótico, a 15 mm de distância do disco óptico. A equipe médica assistente não teve informação sobre o resultado do Doppler da artéria oftálmica. Os resultados da razão entre os picos de velocidade mesodiastólica /sistólica da artéria oftálmica (PR) foram classificados em três grupos: PR<0,78 (normal); PR de 0,78 a 0,98 (alterado); PR≥ 0,99 (muito alterado). Os desfechos primários avaliados foram: (1) desfechos maternos compostos adversos - comprometimento do SNC (eclâmpsia e síndrome de encefalopatia posterior reversível); síndrome HeLLP; picos hipertensivos maternos (PA sistólica ≥160 mmHg, e ou PA diastólica > 110mmHg); internação em UTI materna e morte materna - e (2) desfechos compostos perinatais adversos - peso fetal ao nascimento < percentil 10; acidemia fetal; Apgar no 5’ <7; internação em UTI neonatal de recém-nascido com peso >2500 gramas; nascimento pré-termo< 32 semanas; morte fetal e morte neonatal. Resultados: Quanto maiores os índices do PR, maior a incidência de desfechos maternos compostos adversos (p=0,004). Pacientes que apresentaram picos hipertensivos durante a internação, tiveram PR significativamente maior (p=0,004) . Desfechos compostos perinatais graves não mostraram associação com PR (p=0,73), porém no grupo de pacientes que apresentou PR muito alterado (≥0,99) a idade de interrupção da gestação foi mais precoce (p=0,008) e os recém-nascidos apresentaram mais baixo peso ao nascimento (p=0,013). Todas as pacientes do grupo com PR muito alterado (≥0,99) tiveram desfechos adversos. Conclusões: A avaliação Doppler da artéria oftálmica materna é um exame de realização simples, não invasivo, e útil, sendo que o PR da artéria oftálmica muito alterado (≥0,99) em gestante com pré-eclâmpsia, pode identificar pacientes com risco significativamente aumentado de desfechos maternos graves e interrupção precoce da gestação. / Objective: To evaluate the association of a Dopplervelocimetric measure of maternal ophthalmic artery - the Peak Ratio - with adverse pregnancy outcomes in preeclamptic women. Methods: Prospective cohort of 58 preeclamptic women were submitted to Doppler measures of ophthalmic artery (OA), performed by the same examinator, using equipment Philips HD15 with a linear transducer with color Doppler applied on the region medial to the optic nerve. The PR measures were classified as normal (PR<0.78), abnormal (PR 0.78-0.98) and highly abnormal (PR≥ 0.99). Assistant physicians were blinded to OA Doppler results. The two primary outcomes were(1) a composite of adverse maternal conditions - central nervous injury, as eclampsia or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; HeLLP syndrome; hypertensive crisis; maternal admission at intensive care unit or maternal death- and (2) a composite of adverse perinatal results – birthweight < 10th percentile for gestational age; neonatal acidemia; 5th minute Apgar score < 7; neonatal intensive care admission of babies weighing > 2500g; preterm birth <32 weeks; fetal or neonatal death. Results: The higher PR levels, the more incident were maternal adverse outcomes (p=0.004) as a composite, and hypertensive crisis after hospital admission (p=0.004) as a secondary end-point. Perinatal adverse outcomes were not associated with PR (p=0.73), but in the highly abnormal PR group (≥0.99), babies were born earlier (p=0.008) and weighing less (p=0.013). All women in the highly abnormal PR group (≥0.99) had an adverse outcome. Conclusions: Mesodiastolic/systolic velocity peak ratio of maternal ophthalmic artery ≥ 0.99 in preeclampsia can identify women at the highest risk of an adverse maternal outcomes and the pregnancies with the most preterm delivery.

Retard de croissance intra-utérin (RCIU) et prééclampsie (PE) sont des complications majeures de la grossesse humaine et sont le plus souvent due à une insuffisance de vascularisation utéro-placentaire. Notre objectif était d'évaluer l’angiographie Doppler énergie tridimensionnelle (PDA) comme nouvel outil de dépistage de la PE et du RCIU et d’étude de la fonction placentaire et du RCIU sur modèles animaux. La corrélation entre les indices Doppler 3D et l'écoulement de sang réel au sein de l'unité utéro-placentaires a d'abord été évaluée sur modèle de brebis gravide, ainsi que l'impact des réglages de la machine. Un degré de corrélation plus élevé a été observé pour VI et VFI (r = 0,86 et 0,82 respectivement, p <0,0001) que pour FI (r = 0,64, p <0,0001).L'intérêt de la technique a été ensuite démontré dans un modèle de RCIU chez le lapin (femelles traitées par du L-NAME).Troisièmement, la valeur prédictive du PDA comme test de dépistage du RCIU et de la PE a été démontrée par la réalisation d'une étude prospective multicentrique chez 70 femmes enceintes à bas risque (AUC 0,95, 100% VAN avec une spécificité de 85% pour un seuil de 36.784 FI placentaire). / Intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE) are major complications of human pregnancy & are most often due to an insufficient utero-placental vascularization. Our aim was to evaluate the three-dimensional power Doppler angiography (PDA) as a new tool for the screening IUGR & PE & for the study placental function and IUGR in animal models. The correlation between 3D Doppler indices and the real blood flow within the utero-placental unit was first evaluated in the pregnant sheep model, as well as the impact of machine settings. A higher correlation degree was observed for VI and VFI (r = 0.86 and 0.82 respectively p<0.0001) than for FI (r = 0.64; p<0.0001).The interest of the technique was secondly demonstrated in a rabbit IUGR model (females treated with L-NAME).Thirdly, the predictive value of PDA as a screening test for IUGR & PE was demonstrated by conducting a prospective multicentric study in 70 low risk pregnant women (AUC 0.95, 100% NPV with a specificity of 85% for a 36.784 placental FI threshold).

<p>The appropriateness of universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been strongly questioned, since it does not satisfy ethical principles for screening. </p><p> The aims of these studies were to determine the prevalence of GDM, expressed in terms of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), to evaluate different screening models using traditional anamnestic risk factors and repeated random B-glucose, to determine whether GDM increases risks for maternal complications such as preeclampsia, and to determine whether IGT during pregnancy, if left untreated, is associated with increased maternal or neonatal morbidity. </p><p> Of 4,918 pregnant non-diabetic women attending maternal health care, 73.5% agreed to have a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). GDM was diagnosed in 1.7%, IGT in 1.3% and DM in 0.4%. Traditional risk factor criteria were fulfilled by 15.8%. Prior GDM and a prior macrosomic infant showed the highest association with GDM. No selective or two-step universal screening model would have detected all cases of GDM. A constructed model comprising prior GDM, a prior LGA/macrosomic infant, or a cut-off random B-glucose level of 8 mmol/l as an indication for OGTT reduced the need for OGTT to 7.3% compared to the selective screening model with traditional risk factors. Such a universal two-step screening model had 100% sensitivity for DM, and 44.7% sensitivity for IGT.</p><p> The Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to evaluate GDM as risk factor for preeclampsia. GDM occurred in 0.8% and preeclampsia in 2.9% of 430,852 singleton pregnancies. There is an independent and significant association between GDM and preeclampsia. Obesity is a major confounding factor, but cannot explain the total excess risk. </p><p> In a prospective population-based case-control study 213 women with untreated IGT during pregnancy were identified. For each case, four controls were recruited from the same delivery department. The analyses confirmed that maternal and fetal morbidity were increased in the cases in terms of cesarean section rate, pre-term delivery, Erb’s palsy and admission to NICU. There was a marked, independent increase in the proportion of LGA infants (OR 7.3; 95% CI 4.1-12.7). To determine whether treatment has an effect when IGT is diagnosed during pregnancy, a randomized study is required.</p>

<p>These studies were undertaken to investigate risks of maternal and perinatal complications in pregnant women with chronic hypertensive disease, and to investigate future risk of preeclampsia in women born small for gestational age (SGA). Population based cohort studies using the Swedish Medical Birth Register from different years were performed.</p><p>The maternal complications mild and severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and abruptio placenta were studied in a population of 681 515 women, with a prevalence of 0,5% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics as age, parity, BMI, ethnicity and smoking habits. Chronic hypertensive women wore found to have significantly increased risks of all complications. </p><p>The perinatal complication SGA was studied in a population of 560 188, with a prevalence of 0,5% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics and for the secondary complications mild and severe preeclampsia. Chronic hypertensive women were found to suffer a significantly increased risk of giving birth to an offspring that is SGA. </p><p>The perinatal complication fetal/infant mortality was studied in a population of 1 222 952 with a prevalence of 0,6% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics and for the complications mild and severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, abruptio placenta and offspring being SGA In the analysis an effect modification by gender was included. Chronic hypertensive women were found to have a significantly increased risk for stillbirth and neonatal death in male, but not in female, offspring. Thus a clear gender difference in mortality was revealed. The risk of mortality of offspring was mediated by severe preeclampsia, abruptio placenta and offspring being SGA. Mild preeclampsia and gestational diabetes did not affect the risk. No increased risk of post neonatal mortality was found.</p><p>A generation study was performed in 118 634 girls of which 5.8% were born SGA. Their future risk for mild and severe preeclampsia in first pregnancy was analysed. Risk estimates were adjusted for age, smoking, BMI and for preeclampsia in the mothers while pregnant with the study population. Women who were born SGA were shown to have a significantly increased risk for severe preeclampsia, but not for mild preeclampsia. </p>

The appropriateness of universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been strongly questioned, since it does not satisfy ethical principles for screening. The aims of these studies were to determine the prevalence of GDM, expressed in terms of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), to evaluate different screening models using traditional anamnestic risk factors and repeated random B-glucose, to determine whether GDM increases risks for maternal complications such as preeclampsia, and to determine whether IGT during pregnancy, if left untreated, is associated with increased maternal or neonatal morbidity. Of 4,918 pregnant non-diabetic women attending maternal health care, 73.5% agreed to have a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). GDM was diagnosed in 1.7%, IGT in 1.3% and DM in 0.4%. Traditional risk factor criteria were fulfilled by 15.8%. Prior GDM and a prior macrosomic infant showed the highest association with GDM. No selective or two-step universal screening model would have detected all cases of GDM. A constructed model comprising prior GDM, a prior LGA/macrosomic infant, or a cut-off random B-glucose level of 8 mmol/l as an indication for OGTT reduced the need for OGTT to 7.3% compared to the selective screening model with traditional risk factors. Such a universal two-step screening model had 100% sensitivity for DM, and 44.7% sensitivity for IGT. The Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to evaluate GDM as risk factor for preeclampsia. GDM occurred in 0.8% and preeclampsia in 2.9% of 430,852 singleton pregnancies. There is an independent and significant association between GDM and preeclampsia. Obesity is a major confounding factor, but cannot explain the total excess risk. In a prospective population-based case-control study 213 women with untreated IGT during pregnancy were identified. For each case, four controls were recruited from the same delivery department. The analyses confirmed that maternal and fetal morbidity were increased in the cases in terms of cesarean section rate, pre-term delivery, Erb’s palsy and admission to NICU. There was a marked, independent increase in the proportion of LGA infants (OR 7.3; 95% CI 4.1-12.7). To determine whether treatment has an effect when IGT is diagnosed during pregnancy, a randomized study is required.

These studies were undertaken to investigate risks of maternal and perinatal complications in pregnant women with chronic hypertensive disease, and to investigate future risk of preeclampsia in women born small for gestational age (SGA). Population based cohort studies using the Swedish Medical Birth Register from different years were performed. The maternal complications mild and severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and abruptio placenta were studied in a population of 681 515 women, with a prevalence of 0,5% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics as age, parity, BMI, ethnicity and smoking habits. Chronic hypertensive women wore found to have significantly increased risks of all complications. The perinatal complication SGA was studied in a population of 560 188, with a prevalence of 0,5% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics and for the secondary complications mild and severe preeclampsia. Chronic hypertensive women were found to suffer a significantly increased risk of giving birth to an offspring that is SGA. The perinatal complication fetal/infant mortality was studied in a population of 1 222 952 with a prevalence of 0,6% for chronic hypertension. Risk estimates were adjusted for differences in maternal characteristics and for the complications mild and severe preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, abruptio placenta and offspring being SGA In the analysis an effect modification by gender was included. Chronic hypertensive women were found to have a significantly increased risk for stillbirth and neonatal death in male, but not in female, offspring. Thus a clear gender difference in mortality was revealed. The risk of mortality of offspring was mediated by severe preeclampsia, abruptio placenta and offspring being SGA. Mild preeclampsia and gestational diabetes did not affect the risk. No increased risk of post neonatal mortality was found. A generation study was performed in 118 634 girls of which 5.8% were born SGA. Their future risk for mild and severe preeclampsia in first pregnancy was analysed. Risk estimates were adjusted for age, smoking, BMI and for preeclampsia in the mothers while pregnant with the study population. Women who were born SGA were shown to have a significantly increased risk for severe preeclampsia, but not for mild preeclampsia.

It has been proved from several studies that the genetic influence has been the most significant factor for having preeclampsia (PE). Still there are many uncertainties about origin and magnitude of the genetic effects as no specific inheritance patterns have been established. In this study, heritage risk of PE is in both the woman’s family and her partner’s family to her risk of PE is examined, along women and men own history with same and different partners. Moreover it is also examined whether timing of onset of PE is also has any impact on familial clustering of PE. Here, we used the population based Danish birth and multi generation registers to identify a cohort of women who have given birth during 1978 to 2008; which consisted of 1,79,69,28 singleton deliveries. This information is linked with pedigree information from the Danish Family Relation Database to define both maternal and paternal relationships. Risk ratios were estimated comparing women with and without various PE histories. It is found that the recurrence risk of a woman suffering from PE is 12.4 with 95% confidence limits (11.9, 12.8). Woman's recurrence risk diminishes only slightly when she changes partner means that particularly maternal genetic factors play the largest role, compared to male partner whose recurrence risk almost diminishes if he changes his female partner. Women and men from families with PE contribute to risk of PE in pregnancies they are involved in. The woman’s family history is still more important compared to man family history of PE; except for increased rick in pregnancies fathered by men who were born to preeclamptic mothers.  The recurrence risk of a women suffering from PE, if she already has suffered from this condition before 34 weeks is found to be very high (RR=25.4 with 95% confidence limits (21.8, 29.1)) with same male partner. It is found that early-onset PE and later-onset varieties have a clear genetic component but the intensity of early onset is stronger than late onset varieties. There are both maternal and paternal genetic contributions to early-onset PE, with the maternal ones seeming to be stronger.

Physical activity has versatile impact on female body and strengthens it in addition to improved physiological powers, more active performance of all systems and guaranteed normal course of pregnancy period. As a result, the cardiovascular condition is improved; placental circulation is more active, oxygen transopration and metabolism of the foetus is improved. The death-rate in pregnant women resulting from hypertension is the second after embolism. Preeclampsia is one of the hypertension-related failures, which affects 3 to 5 % of the pregnant women. The present research was targeted to women suffering from preeclampsia. The aim of the research was to investigate the impact of physical activity on manifestation of preeclampsia in pregnant women within 20-35 week of pregnancy. Tasks: 1. to assess arterial blood pressure (ABP) fluctuation of both groups of women (physically passive and physically active within 20-35 weeks of pregnancy; 2. to assess body weight index fluctuation of both groups of women (physically passive and physically active within 20-35 weeks of pregnancy; 3. to assess fluctuation of protein content in urine of both groups of women (physically passive and physically active within 20-35 weeks of pregnancy; 4. to assess life quality (sleep, headache, sight, right underrib pains, physical and physiological fatigue) of both groups of women (physically passive and physically active within 20-35 weeks of pregnancy. Hypothesis. Physical activity in pregnant women... [to full text]

OBJECTIF: Évaluer le rôle de l’endostatine, un nouveau marqueur anti-angiogénique, pour prédire le risque de prééclampsie (PE). METHODES: Il s’agit d’une étude cas témoins nichée dans deux cohortes prospectives. Les échantillons sanguins étaient collectés entre 11 et 17 semaines puis entre 18 et 26 semaines d’aménorrhée. L’hypertension gestationnelle était définie par une tension artérielle supérieure ou égale à 140/90mmHg à 2 reprises. Les cas de prééclampsie étaient définis par une hypertension gestationnelle associée à une protéinurie supérieure ou égale à 0.3 g /24h après 20 semaines de grossesse. La concentration d’endostatine était mesurée par une technique d’ELISA. Les résultats étaient exprimés en multiples de la médiane (MoM) et ajustés pour l’âge maternel, l’âge gestationnel, l’ethnie, et la cohorte d’origine. Une régression logistique était utilisée pour calculer des odds ratios (OR) ajustés et prédire le risque de PE. RESULTATS: Au total nous avons étudié 77 PE et 150 témoins chez des grossesses uniques. Parmi les PE 21 étaient de survenue précoce, avec un diagnostic avant 34 semaines et 41 étaient des PE sévères. Les cas avaient un IMC plus élevé que les témoins et étaient plus souvent Africaines. Les taux médians d’endostatine étaient significativement plus élevés chez les PE que chez les témoins au 1er trimestre (94.2 versus 90.7 ng/ml, p=0.004) et 2ème trimestre (105.8 versus 99.3 ng/ml p=0.002). Le taux d’endostatine entre 18 et 26 semaines était même plus élevé chez les patientes qui développaient une PE précoce. Lorsque l’endostatine était supérieure au 75èmepercentile (exprimée en MoM), le OR ajusté était de 1.33 95IC [0.68-2.58] à 11-17 semaines et 1.77 [0.94-3.34] à 18-26 semaines. L’OR ajusté pour les PE précoces était 3.51 [1.18-10.43] entre 11-17 semaines et 2.17 [0.67-7.06] entre 18-26 semaines. CONCLUSIONS: Un taux élevé d’endostatine dès le 1er trimestre est associé à une augmentation du risque de PE et surtout d’un risque de prééclampsie précoce. Toutefois l’endostatine seule a une trop faible valeur prédictive pour avoir une utilité clinique. / OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a new anti-angiogenic factor, endostatin, in relation to the risk of preeclampsia (PE). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a case control study nested in two separate prospective cohorts. Serum samples were collected at 11-17 weeks and 18-26 weeks of gestation. Maternal endostatin levels were measured by ELISA. Results were expressed as multiples of the median (MoM) adjusted for maternal age, gestational age, ethnicity, and cohort of origin. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of PE. RESULTS: A total of 77 PE and 150 controls of singleton pregnancies were studied, including 21 early-onset PE (diagnosis before 34 weeks) and 41 severe PE. Cases had a higher pre-pregnancy BMI and were more likely of African ethnicity than controls. Endostatin levels were significantly higher in women with PE compared to controls at both the first and second trimester (median 94.2 vs. 90.7 ng/ml p=0.004 and 105.8 vs. 99.3 ng/ml p= 0.002 respectively). Endostatin levels were even higher in women with early-onset PE. At a cut-off level of 75th percentile of endostatin MoMs, the adjusted ORs for PE were 1.33, 95CI [0.68-2.58] at 11-17 weeks and 1.77 [0.94-3.34] at 18-26 weeks. The aORs for early-onset PE were 3.51 [1.18-10.43] at 11-17 weeks and 2.17 [0.67-7.06] at 18-26 weeks, respectively. CONCLUSION: Higher endostatin levels as early as in the first trimester may indicate an increased risk of subsequent PE, especially early onset PE. However endostatin alone has a poor predictive value for clinical usefulness.