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Background: Relationships between in-vitro fertilization (IVF), gestational hypertension, and pregnancy outcomes are demonstrated in a number of studies. However, it is still debated if IVF treatment or specific characteristics of infertile patients are responsible for worse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate maternal characteristics associated with hypertensive disorders (HD) in IVF conceived pregnancies and to assess the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. Materials and Methods: In this observational, cross-sectional study, 207 pregnant women who underwent IVF treatment were consecutively divided into two groups: a group that had no HD during pregnancy (IVF group) and a group that had HD during pregnancy (IVF+HD group). Maternal, obstetrical and neonatal data of the two groups were compared. Results: Some maternal characteristics were significantly higher in IVF+HD compared to IVF group such as: older age (p=0.0001), primiparity (p=0.038), obesity (p=0.0001), and cigarette smoking (p=0.0001). There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to obstetrical outcomes besides premature rupture of membranes time that was significantly higher in IVF+HD group compared to IVF group (p=0.036). In regard to neonatal outcomes, the only statistically significant difference was in the 5th min Apgar score, which was higher in IVF+HD group compared to IVF group without HD (p=0.002). Conclusion: With regard to significantly higher differences in maternal characteristics of IVF conceived pregnancies complicated with HD, compared to uncomplicated ones, development of a specific national prevention measure for HD of IVF conceived pregnancies in Kosovo is strongly suggested. In addition, setting up of a national registry is recommended in order to evaluate the outcomes of IVF treatments properly.

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is a common complication of pregnancy and a major cause of morbidity and mortality of mothers and babies worldwide. This study aimed to explore what the role of calcium/creatinine ratio is in urine compared with proteinuria and uric acid in predicting preeclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this prospective case-control study, 200 pregnant women who participated in the study were consecutively divided into 3 groups: a group of 59 women with preeclampsia, 61 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension, and a control group of 80 normotensive pregnant women. A 24-h urine sample was collected for estimation of calcium/creatinine ratio and proteinuria and a blood sample for estimation of uric acid at a gestational age of 24-34 weeks of pregnancy. RESULTS The study found that the sensitivity of proteinuria as a predictor of preeclampsia was 96.6% (P=0.000) and specificity was 21.3%. The sensitivity of uric acid as a predictor was 96.6% (P=0.000) and the specificity was 48.8%; whereas for the 24-h urine calcium/creatinine ratio, the sensitivity was 87.9% (P=0.000) and the specificity 40.7%, which corresponds to a value of 0.105 (cutoff). Women with a calcium/creatinine ratio

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive multisystem disorder of pregnancy that complicates up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide and is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.AIM: To evaluate maternal complications associated with severe preeclampsia.METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the UHOG “Koço Gliozheni”, in Tirana. Primary outcomes evaluated: maternal death, eclampsia, stroke, HELLP syndrome, and pulmonary edema. Secondary outcomes: renal failure, admission in ICU, caesarean section, placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage. Fisher’s exact test and Chi-squared test were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: In women with severe preeclampsia we found higher rates of complications comparing to the group with preeclampsia. Eclampsia (1.5% vs. 7.1%, P < 0.001), HELLP syndrome (2.4% vs. 11.0%; P < 0.001), stroke (0.5% vs 1.9%, P = 0.105) pulmonary edema (0.25% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.0035), renal failure (0.9% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.107), admission in ICU (19.5% vs. 71.4%, P = 0.007), caesarean section rates (55.5% vs. 77%, P = 0.508), placental abruption (4.3% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.103) and severe postpartum hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 3.9%, P = 0.628). CONCLUSION: Severe preeclampsia is associated with high rates of maternal severe morbidity and early diagnosis and timely intervention can prevent life treating complications.

Aims: To evaluate the incidence of severe preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in a tertiary Hospital Centre of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and to identify the impact of risk factors associated with severe preeclampsia. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology “Koco Gliozheni”, Tirana, Albania between January 2009 and December 2013. Methodology: To collect the data for this study we used the medical records of births of a period of five years. The standard inclusion criteria in the study were pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia that had delivered in this hospital after 24 weeks’ gestation despite the number of the babies, fetal presentation and mode of delivery. The exclusion criteria in this study were: pregnancies with confirmed fetal anomalies non-viable, pregnancies with missing data, and pregnancies with unknown gestational age. The maternal variables collected from the medical Original Research Article Ndoni et al.; BJMMR, 13(12): 1-7, 2016; Article no.BJMMR.24143 2 records were: maternal age, parity, gestational age at delivery, multiple pregnancy, pre-existing (chronic) hypertension, pre-existing diabetes mellitus, renal diseases and preeclampsia in previous pregnancy. The data collected for the variables were compared with the statistical data for all the deliveries during the study period. Fisher’s exact test, Chi-squared test and SPSS program were used as statistical methods. Results: The study found differences between the severe preeclampsia group and the general population for the maternal risk factors: severe preeclampsia was evaluated 16.8% vs. 3.5% (P< 0.01), pre-existing hypertension 7.8% vs. 2.3% (P = 0.02), renal diseases 1.9% vs. 1.1%, diabetes mellitus 5.8% vs. 4.6% and multiple pregnancies 7.1% vs. 2.7% respectively. Conclusion: Identification of these risk factors is very important for the calculation of risk for preeclampsia in early pregnancy and early treatment to prevent the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality from this disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess long-term effects for women following the use of magnesium sulphate for pre-eclampsia. Design: Assessment at 2-3 years after delivery for women recruited to the Magpie Trial (recruitment in 1998-2001, ISRCTN 86938761), which compared magnesium sulphate with placebo for pre-eclampsia. Setting: Follow up after discharge from hospital at 125 centres in 19 countries across five continents. Population: A total of 7927 women were randomised at the follow-up centres. Of these women, 2544 were not included for logistic reasons and 601 excluded (109 at a centre where

Various studies show that a low economic level of pregnant women is a risk factor for preterm birth. This can be explained by the fact that low economic level is associated with lack of access to health care, malnutrition, a low level of education and other factors that are so viciously related to the fact of lack of financial resources. Aim To identify the impact of the low economic …

Aims: To examine the correlation of S-100B to cranial computerized tomography (CCT) scan results in children after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Methods: One hundred and nine paediatric patients (0–18 years) with MTBI were included in this prospective single-centre study. Serum was collected within 6 h of trauma for determination of serum S-100B. The upper reference of S-100B was set to 0.16 μg/L. A CCT scan was performed in all patients and the results were correlated to the S-100B values. Results: Computerized tomography was abnormal in 36 patients showing intracerebral haemorrhages and/or skull fractures. Serum S-100B level was significantly higher in patients with a pathological condition as shown in CT scan results (p = 0.003). There were no false negative, but 42 false positive test results for S-100B. This resulted in a sensitivity of 1.00, specificity of 0.42, positive predictive value of 0.46 and negative predictive value of 1.00. An area under the receiver operating curve of 0.68 was calculated. Conclusion: S-100B is a valuable tool to rule out patients with pathological CCT findings in a collective of paediatric patients with MTBI. Elevations of S-100B do not necessarily lead to a pathological finding in the CT scan, but values below the cut-off safely rule out the evidence of intracranial lesions.

Background Relatively little is known about current practice during the third stage of labour in low and middle income countries. We conducted a survey of attitudes and an audit of practice in a large maternity hospital in Albania. Methods Survey of 35 obstetricians and audit of practice during the third stage was conducted in July 2008 at a tertiary referral hospital in Tirana. The survey questionnaire was self completed. Responses were anonymous. For the audit, information collected included time of administration of the uterotonic drug, gestation at birth, position of the baby before cord clamping, cord traction, and need for resuscitation. Results 77% (27/35) of obstetricians completed the questionnaire, of whom 78% (21/27) reported always or usually using active management, and 22% (6/27) always or usually using physiological care. When using active management: 56% (15/27) gave the uterotonic after cord clamping; intravenous oxytocin was almost always the drug used; and 71% (19/27) clamped the cord within one minute. For physiological care: 42% (8/19) clamped the cord within 20 seconds, and 96% (18/19) within one minute. 93% would randomise women to a trial of early versus late cord clamping. Practice was observed for 156 consecutive births, of which 26% (42/156) were by caesarean section. A prophylactic uterotonic was used for 87% (137/156): this was given after cord clamping for 55% (75/137), although timing of administration was not recorded for 21% (29/137). For 85% of births (132/156) cord clamping was within 20 seconds, and for all babies it was within 50 seconds. Controlled cord traction was used for 49% (76/156) of births. Conclusions Most obstetricians reported always or usually using active management for the third stage of labour. For timing and choice of the uterotonic drug, reported practice was similar to actual practice. Although some obstetricians reported they waited longer than one minute before clamping the cord, this was not observed in practice. Controlled cord traction was used for half the births.

Objective To assess the long-term effects of in utero exposure to magnesium sulphate for children whose mothers had pre-eclampsia. Design Assessment at 18 months of age for children whose mothers were recruited to the Magpie Trial (recruitment 1998–2001 ISRCTN 86938761), which compared magnesium sulphate with placebo. Setting Follow-up of children born at 125 centres in 19 countries across five continents. Population A total of 6922 children were born to women randomised before delivery at follow-up centres. Of these, 2271 were not included for logistic reasons and 168 were excluded (101 at a centre where