Evaluation of low-dose aspirin in the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm labour (the APRIL study): A multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The recurrence rate of spontaneous preterm birth is high, and additional preventive measures are required. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin compared to placebo in the prevention of preterm birth in women with a previous spontaneous preterm birth.

Maternal allopurinol administration during suspected fetal hypoxia: a novel neuroprotective intervention? A multicentre randomised placebo controlled trial.

Objective: To determine whether maternal allopurinol treatment during suspected fetal hypoxia would reduce the release of biomarkers associated with neonatal brain damage.

Design: A randomised double-blind placebo controlled multicentre trial.

Patients: We studied women in labour at term with clinical indices of fetal hypoxia, prompting immediate delivery.

Evaluation of strategies regarding management of imminent preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation: a regional cohort study among 1375 women in the Netherlands.

Objective: To evaluate the management of imminent preterm delivery with respect to prescription of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) and referral to a tertiary center.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study existing of 1 perinatal center and 9 referring hospitals. All women who received their first dose of ACS in 1 of the 10 hospitals between 24+0 and 32+0 weeks of gestation and/or delivered before 32 weeks of gestation from 2005 until 2010.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: maternal and fetal outcomes associated with elevated bile acid levels.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between pregnancy outcome and bile acid (BA) levels in pregnancies that were affected by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). In addition, correlations between maternal and fetal BA levels were explored.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective study that included women with pruritus and BA levels ≥10 μmol/L between January 2005 and August 2012 in 3 large hospitals in the Netherlands.

Substandard care in delivery-related asphyxia among term infants: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess substandard care factors in the case of delivery-related asphyxia.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Catchment area of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the University Medical Center Utrecht; a region in the middle of the Netherlands covering 13% of the Dutch population.

Substandard care in antepartum term stillbirths: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To assess substandard care factors in antepartum stillbirths at term. Design. Prospective cohort study.

Perinatal mortality and severe morbidity in low and high risk term pregnancies in the Netherlands: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare incidences of perinatal mortality and severe perinatal morbidity between low risk term pregnancies supervised in primary care by a midwife and high risk pregnancies supervised in secondary care by an obstetrician.

Design: Prospective cohort study using aggregated data from a national perinatal register.

Setting: Catchment area of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the University Medical Center in Utrecht, a region in the centre of the Netherlands covering 13% of the Dutch population.

Antenatal allopurinol for reduction of birth asphyxia induced brain damage (ALLO-Trial); a randomized double blind placebo controlled multicenter study.

Background: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy is associated with development of cerebral palsy and cognitive disability later in life and is therefore one of the fundamental problems in perinatal medicine. The xanthine-oxidase inhibitor allopurinol reduces the formation of free radicals, thereby limiting the amount of hypoxia-reperfusion damage. In case of suspected intra-uterine hypoxia, both animal and human studies suggest that maternal administration of allopurinol immediately prior to delivery reduces hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

Continuous intrauterine compared with cyclic oral progestin administration in perimenopausal HRT.

Objectives: Two hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimens of combined oral estradiol with either continuous intrauterine or cyclic oral progestin were compared for 2 years.

Methods: 200 perimenopausal women randomly received an intrauterine system with continuous levonorgestrel release (20 microg/24 h) combined with oral estradiol (2 mg daily), or a cyclic oral regimen of norethisterone acetate (1 mg on day 13-22) and estradiol (days 1-21; 2 mg, days 22-28; 1 mg). Efficacy on endometrial protection, vaginal bleeding patterns, blood loss and practical use were compared during 26 cycles.