Effect of antioxidants on the occurrence of pre-eclampsia in women at increased risk: a randomised trial.

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. This randomised controlled trial investigated the effect of supplementation with vitamins C and E in women at increased risk of the disorder on plasma markers of vascular endothelial activation and placental insufficiency and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia.

Methods: 283 women were identified as being at increased risk of pre-eclampsia by abnormal two-stage uterine-artery doppler analysis or a previous history of the disorder and were randomly assigned vitamin C (1000 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) or placebo at 16-22 weeks' gestation.

'Near-miss' obstetric enquiry.

A near-miss maternal mortality enquiry was performed at University College Obstetric Hospital, London, by reviewing retrospectively all 30 obstetric admissions to the intensive care unit (ITU) over a two-year period. The obstetric admission rate to ITU was 0.5 (95% CI 0.

Analysis of fetal and neonatal urine using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Aim: To use high field proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) to characterise the low molecular weight metabolite composition of neonatal and fetal urine in relation to gestational age and perinatal outcome.

Methods: The first urine passed by two neonatal groups, six full term and five preterm infants with normal renal function, was analysed by 1H NMR and compared with fetal urine from 14 cases with obstructive uropathy.

Results: The mean ratios of taurine, myo-inositol, and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) to creatinine were 4.

First trimester fetal nuchal translucency: problems with screening the general population. 2.

Objective: To investigate first trimester nuchal translucency > or = 3 mm as a screening test for aneuploidy in the normal pregnant population.

Design: A pilot observational study.

Setting: University College Hospital, London.

First trimester fetal nuchal translucency: problems with screening the general population. 1.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of measuring first trimester nuchal translucency in an unselected population, to assess the relationship with gestation and maternal age and to measure reproducibility.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: University College Hospital, London.