Ethnicity and other factors that may affect the prevalence of echogenic intracardiac foci in the fetus.

Purpose: To study ethnicity and other possible factors that may affect the incidence of echogenic intracardiac foci (EIF) when detected via sonographic examination.

Materials And Methods: Patients were referred to our institution for sonographic evaluation from a wide range of practice formats, including both private obstetric practices as well as community outpatient clinics. The study protocol included presence or absence of EIF, maternal age, ethnicity, gestational age during the examination, optimal versus suboptimal scans, presence of other fetal malformations and sonographic markers, and presence of chromosomal anomalies.

Characteristics of patients with abnormal glucose challenge test and normal oral glucose tolerance test results: comparison with normal and gestational diabetic patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients who had abnormal glucose challenge test results and subsequent normal oral glucose tolerance test results and to assess whether such patients are at a greater risk than normal pregnant patients for adverse perinatal outcome.

Study Design: In this retrospective cohort study that was conducted between June and December 2003, 101 pregnant women (group A) had an abnormal glucose challenge test result and a normal oral glucose tolerance test result. Data were also collected on 2 control groups: 100 pregnant women with normal glucose challenge test results (group B) and all 76 pregnant women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus during this period of time (group C).