Comparison of clinic and home blood pressure readings in higher risk pregnancies - Secondary analysis of the BUMP 1 trial.

Objective: To compare clinic and home blood pressure readings in higher risk pregnancies in the antenatal period from 20 weeks gestation, and to evaluate differences between the two modalities.

Study Design: A cohort study comprising a secondary analysis of a large randomised controlled trial (BUMP 1).

Population: Normotensive women at higher risk of pregnancy hypertension randomised to self-monitoring of blood pressure.

Motivation towards first trimester screening for preeclampsia among pregnant women in Denmark: A cross-sectional questionnaire study.

Introduction: The aim of this cross-sectional questionnaire study was to investigate motivation to participate in a possible new screening for preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy among Danish pregnant women through a questionnaire based on Theory of Planned Behavior developed for this specific purpose. The new screening combines maternal characteristics with mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index and biochemical markers to predict the risk of preeclampsia, whereas the current Danish screening uses maternal characteristics alone.

Material And Methods: Participation was offered to a proportion of women attending a first or a second trimester screening scan at two University Hospitals in Copenhagen.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in isolated single umbilical artery diagnosed at the mid-trimester anomaly scan: a large Danish retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the association of isolated single umbilical artery (iSUA) confirmed at the mid-trimester anomaly scan and adverse pregnancy outcome and congenital malformations with up to 10 years postnatal follow up.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 116,501 singleton pregnancies consecutively enrolled in first trimester screening for aneuploidies and mid-trimester anomaly scan at three University Hospitals in the Capital Region of Copenhagen, Denmark.Data from the Danish Fetal Medicine Database (2008-2017) were verified by manually scrutinizing pre- and postnatal records.

Cohort profile: The PreEclampsia, Angiogenesis, Cardiac dysfunction and Hypertension (PEACH) Study.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, with implications for maternal and neonatal well-being in the short term and for long-term maternal cardiovascular health. Although the mechanisms behind HDP remain incompletely understood, evidence suggests that preeclampsia in particular is a syndrome with more than one distinct subtype.

Objectives: The PEACH (PreEclampsia, Angiogenesis, Cardiac dysfunction, Hypertension) Study was established to identify new HDP subtyping systems reflecting aetiology and prognosis and to find markers of later cardiovascular disease risk associated with preeclampsia.

First-trimester biomarkers and the risk of cerebral palsy.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common severe motor disability and a manifestation of early brain damage.

Aims: To analyze if abnormal levels of first-trimester biomarkers were associated with CP. Furthermore, to investigate their clinical applicability in early predicting of CP.

Prediction of Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women according to First Trimester Maternal Factors and Serum Markers.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of maternal risk factors (BMI and mean arterial pressure [MAP]) and first-trimester maternal serum markers in the early prediction of preeclampsia (PE) in nulliparous women.

Material And Methods: This was a case-cohort study based on a cohort of 14,207 nulliparous women. A total of 213 cases with term PE (from 37 weeks + 0 days) and 55 cases with preterm PE (before 37 weeks + 0 days) were identified and validated.

Spontaneous Septostomy in a Twin Pregnancy Causing Fatal Amniotic Band Syndrome.

Complications due to spontaneous septostomy of the dividing membrane in monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies are rarely described. Herein, we report the case of a preterm female neonate from a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy delivered by caesarean section at 32 weeks of gestation. She was born with a broad band of a transparent membrane-like material firmly attached to her lower abdomen.

Formation of high-molecular-weight angiotensinogen during pregnancy is a result of competing redox reactions with the proform of eosinophil major basic protein.

The plasma concentration of the placentally derived proMBP (proform of eosinophil major basic protein) increases in pregnancy, and three different complexes containing proMBP have been isolated from pregnancy plasma and serum: a 2:2 complex with the metalloproteinase, PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A), a 2:2 complex with AGT (angiotensinogen) and a 2:2:2 complex with AGT and complement C3dg. In the present study we show that during human pregnancy, all of the circulating proMBP exists in covalent complexes, bound to either PAPP-A or AGT. We also show that the proMBP-AGT complex constitutes the major fraction of circulating HMW (high-molecular weight) AGT in late pregnancy, and that this complex is able to further associate with complement C3 derivatives post-sampling.

ADAM 12 may be used to reduce the false positive rate of first trimester combined screening for Down syndrome.

Background: ADAM12 has been shown to be an efficient maternal serum marker for Down syndrome (DS) in the first trimester; but recent studies, using a second generation assay, have not confirmed these findings. We examined the efficiency of a second generation assay for ADAM12.

Materials And Methods: ADAM12 concentrations were determined in 28 first trimester DS and 503 control pregnancies using a novel Research Delfia ADAM12 kit.

First trimester maternal serum pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1) as a marker of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To establish the first trimester levels of pregnancy-specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1) in pregnancies with adverse outcome. Furthermore, to determine the screening performance for adverse outcome using SP1 alone and in combination with other first trimester markers including proMBP and PAPP-A.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in a primary hospital setting.

The proform of eosinophil major basic protein: a new maternal serum marker for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To establish the first trimester serum levels of the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP) in pregnancies with adverse outcome. Furthermore, to determine the screening performance using proMBP alone and in combination with other first trimester markers.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in a primary hospital setting.

Leptin in first trimester pregnancy serum: no reduction associated with small-for-gestational-age infants.

Leptin is an adipocytokine that is also synthesized by the placenta. Leptin and its receptor, which is also expressed by the placenta, are believed to play an auto- and paracrine role in trophoblast invasion and placental development. The leptin concentration in first trimester maternal serum and its relation to fetal growth disturbances were examined in this study.

First trimester maternal serum PAPP-A, beta-hCG and ADAM12 in prediction of small-for-gestational-age fetuses.

Objective: To examine the ability of predicting fetuses being small-for-gestational-age (SGA) at delivery with the maternal serum markers pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) and A disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 (ADAM12) in first trimester.

Methods: In all,36 cases being SGA (birth weight < 5th centile) and 108 controls being non-SGA were matched on ethnicity (only Caucasians), smoking status (only nonsmokers), body mass index (BMI), age and parity. Stored blood samples from PAPP-A and beta-hCG testing obtained at gestational age (GA) of 8 weeks to 13 weeks and 6 days were analyzed for ADAM12.

[Quality control of prenatal screening].

Introduction: In 2004 the Danish National Board of Health (DNBH) published new guidelines for the prenatal risk assessment and diagnostic service. The new guidelines are nationally implemented. DNBH has pointed out the importance of quality control, but has not given any specific guidelines concerning this.

First-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome: prediction of low birth weight, small for gestational age and pre-term delivery in a cohort of non-selected women.

Objective: To establish the relationship between the first-trimester screening markers [pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta (beta-hCG), nuchal translucency (NT)], the Down syndrome (DS) risk estimate, and the adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and pre-term delivery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study including 1,734 non-selected singleton pregnancies consecutively enrolled into the programme of first-trimester combined screening for DS in a 12-month period at a single centre. Data from the Prenatal Patient Registry in ASTRAIA were combined with the Danish National Newborn Screening Registry and Danish Birth Registry.