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Objective: To investigate the relationship between preeclampsia and SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women between March and October 2020. Pregnant patients admitted to 14 obstetrical centers in Michigan, USA formed the study population. Of the N = 1458 participants, 369 had SARS-CoV-2 infection (cases). Controls were uninfected pregnancies that were delivered in the same obstetric unit within 30 days of the index case. Robust Poisson regression was used to estimate relative risk (RR) of preterm and term preeclampsia and preeclampsia involving placental lesions. The analysis included adjustment for relevant clinical and demographic risk factors.Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy increased the risk of preeclampsia [adjusted aRR = 1.69 (1.26–2.26)], preeclampsia involving placental lesions [aRR = 1.97(1.14–3.4)] and preterm preeclampsia 2.48(1.48–4.17). Although the highest rate of preeclampsia was observed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were symptomatic (18.4%), there was increased risk even in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (14.2%) relative to non-infected controls (8.7%) (p < 0.05). This association with symptomatology was also noted with preterm preeclampsia for which the rate doubled from 2.7% in controls to 5.2% in asymptomatic cases and reached 11.8% among symptomatic cases (p < 0.05). The rate of preterm preeclampsia among cases of pregnant people self-identified as Black reached 10.1% and was almost double the rate of the reminder of the group of infected pregnancies (5.3%), although the rate among uninfected was almost the same (2.7%) for both Black and non-Black groups (interaction p = 0.05).Conclusions: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of preeclampsia even in the absence of symptoms, although symptomatic persons are at even higher risk. Racial disparities in the development of preterm preeclampsia after SARS-CoV-2 infection may explain discrepancies in prematurity between different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In critically ill patients with COVID-19, established therapies in the setting of respiratory failure include invasive mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This case report describes a pregnant woman in her 30s who was hospitalised at 35 weeks gestation with moderate COVID-19 disease. Her condition worsened following delivery, and she required intubation, maximum ventilatory support and ECMO. Because of the severe and irreversible nature of her lung disease, she ultimately underwent bilateral lung transplantation. This case showcases lung transplantation as an alternative life-saving option for patients with severe COVID-19 associated respiratory failure refractory to ECMO and mechanical ventilation. Further studies are needed to develop a multidisciplinary approach for patient selection for transplantation within the context of COVID-19 and to assess long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Evans syndrome (ES) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia along with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Few case reports of ES in pregnancy have been published, and ES may be difficult to distinguish from other diagnoses more common in pregnancy. Guidelines for treatment of ES are not well-defined. Case. A 23-year-old multigravid woman in active labor was found to have severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. She was diagnosed with ES and started on immunosuppressive treatments for persistent immune thrombocytopenic purpura. In the postpartum period, she was found to have coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and acute pulmonary embolism. Conclusion. Evans syndrome is a challenge to diagnose in pregnancy and poses important considerations for intrapartum and postpartum management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that children with neurofibromatosis type 1 are shorter than their unaffected counterparts as an effect of a germline NF1 gene mutation. The pathophysiology of this effect is still uncertain. The purpose of this study was to characterize longitudinal growth in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 in order to assess growth velocity and its influence on stature. Longitudinal height data were collected for 188 patients with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1. Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 had population mean heights statistically different from the general population, with a reduced peak height velocity during pubertal growth. In addition, there were no significant differences in the timing of peak height velocity during puberty between the general population and those with neurofibromatosis type 1. These data demonstrate that short stature in neurofibromatosis type 1 is due in part to subnormal height acquisition during puberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Following the 2020 Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine guideline on management of fetal growth restriction (FGR), our institution began initiating antenatal surveillance at time of FGR diagnosis instead of at 32 weeks of gestation. METHODS: This institutional review board‒approved retrospective cohort study included patients with FGR, without absent or reversed end diastolic velocity in umbilical artery Dopplers, from the 12-month periods preceding and following this change in surveillance. Previously, twice-weekly non-stress testing (NST) was initiated at 32 weeks of gestation. Subsequently, surveillance was initiated at time of FGR diagnosis, with weekly biophysical profile (BPP) starting at 26 weeks and additional weekly NST at 32 weeks. The primary outcome was a composite of neonatal intubation, respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, and perinatal death. Secondary outcomes were rates of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, preterm delivery, surveillance visit attendance, and referral for further monitoring. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were studied: 73 with antenatal testing initiated after 32 weeks and 77 with testing starting at time of diagnosis. There was no difference in primary neonatal composite outcome (6.8% versus 9.1%, P =.766), rates of NICU admission (19.2% versus 18.2%, P =.876), preterm delivery (16.4% versus 16.9%, P =.942), surveillance visit attendance (91.7% versus 88.9%, P =.697), or overall referral rate for further monitoring (8.0% versus 8.2%, P =.894). With initiation of surveillance at time of diagnosis, 7.5% of referrals occurred prior to 32 weeks. CONCLUSION: In the setting of FGR with normal Dopplers, initiating antenatal surveillance at time of diagnosis led to increased referrals for further monitoring at earlier gestational ages without improvement in neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subgaleal hemorrhages (SH) involve bleeding in the expansive compartment between the periosteum of the skull and the galea aponeurotica. The potentially rapid accumulation of blood in this space is responsible for the clinical severity, as neonates with SH can present with acute hypovolemia, shock and multiorgan failure. SH is associated with instrumented delivery, especially with use of vacuum extraction. Although infrequent, the incidence of SH has not decreased over the past several decades, despite improvements in obstetrical care. Management of severe SH is complex and requires cardiovascular support, management of co-existent encephalopathy, and most importantly correction of coagulopathy and anemia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

Objective: COVID-19 has been reported to increase the risk of prematurity, however, due to the frequent absence of unaffected controls as well as inadequate accounting for confounders in many studies, the question requires further investigation. We sought to determine the impact of COVID-19 disease on preterm birth (PTB) overall, as well as related subcategories such as early prematurity, spontaneous, medically indicated preterm birth, and preterm labor (PTL). We assessed the impact of confounders such as COVID-19 risk factors, a-priori risk factors for PTB, symptomatology, and disease severity on rates of prematurity., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women from March 2020 till October 1st, 2020. The study included patients from 14 obstetric centers in Michigan, USA. Cases were defined as women diagnosed with COVID-19 at any point during their pregnancy. Cases were matched with uninfected women who delivered in the same unit, within 30 d of the delivery of the index case. Outcomes of interest were frequencies of prematurity overall and subcategories of preterm birth (early, spontaneous/medically indicated, preterm labor, and premature preterm rupture of membranes) in cases compared to controls. The impact of modifiers of these outcomes was documented with extensive control for potential confounders. A p value <.05 was used to infer significance., Results: The rate of prematurity was 8.9% in controls, 9.4% in asymptomatic cases, 26.5% in symptomatic COVID-19 cases, and 58.8% among cases admitted to the ICU. Gestational age at delivery was noted to decrease with disease severity. Cases were at an increased risk of prematurity overall [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 1.62 (1.2-2.18)] and of early prematurity (<34 weeks) [aRR = 1.8 (1.02-3.16)] when compared to controls. Medically indicated prematurity related to preeclampsia [aRR = 2.46 (1.47-4.12)] or other indications [aRR = 2.32 (1.12-4.79)], were the primary drivers of overall prematurity risk. Symptomatic cases were at an increased risk of preterm labor [aRR = 1.74 (1.04-2.8)] and spontaneous preterm birth due to premature preterm rupture of membranes [aRR = 2.2(1.05-4.55)] when compared to controls and asymptomatic cases combined. The gestational age at delivery followed a dose-response relation with disease severity, as more severe cases tended to deliver earlier (Wilcoxon p < .05)., Conclusions: COVID-19 is an independent risk factor for preterm birth. The increased preterm birth rate in COVID-19 was primarily driven by medically indicated delivery, with preeclampsia as the principal risk factor. Symptomatic status and disease severity were significant drivers of preterm birth.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare vascular disorder characterized by recurrent, multifocal venous malformations throughout the skin, soft tissue, and numerous internal organs. Pregnant women with BRBNS are at high risk of morbidity and mortality, and thus their care requires careful planning and surveillance. This report highlights the case of a 21-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 0, with BRBNS who was cared for by a multidisciplinary team of providers in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, obstetric anesthesia, hematology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and otorhinolaryngology. The report provides a comprehensive guide to the multidisciplinary management of pregnancy and delivery for patients with BRBNS.