OPtimal TIming of antenatal COrticosteroid administration in pregnancies complicated by early-onset fetal growth REstriction: results of a large multicenter cohort study (the OPTICORE study).

Background: Early-onset fetal growth restriction as consequence of placental insufficiency frequently requires iatrogenic preterm birth. Administration of antenatal corticosteroids reduces risks of neonatal morbidity and mortality following preterm birth and is most beneficial if the neonate is delivered within 2 weeks following treatment. International guidelines on fetal growth restriction pregnancies do not provide directives regarding the timing of antenatal corticosteroids, resulting in practice variation.

OPtimal TIming of antenatal COrticosteroid administration in pregnancies complicated by early-onset fetal growth REstriction (OPTICORE): study protocol of a multicentre, retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) requires timely, often preterm, delivery to prevent fetal hypoxia causing stillbirth or neurologic impairment. Antenatal corticosteroids (CCS) administration reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality following preterm birth, most effectively when administered within 1 week preceding delivery. Optimal timing of CCS administration is challenging in early-onset FGR, as the exact onset and course of fetal hypoxia are unpredictable.

Gastro-intestinal function and quality of life are favorable in adolescent and adult gastroschisis patients.

Background And Aims: Studies on long-term sequelae of gastroschisis are scarce. The limited data suggest increased abdominal complaints in young children. To provide proper counseling for both parents and patients, more information on long-term outcome is needed.

Ultrasound markers for prediction of complex gastroschisis and adverse outcome: longitudinal prospective nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: To identify antenatal ultrasound markers that can differentiate between simple and complex gastroschisis and assess their predictive value.

Methods: This was a prospective nationwide study of pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis that underwent serial longitudinal ultrasound examination at regular specified intervals between 20 and 37 weeks' gestation. The primary outcome was simple or complex (i.

Using three-dimensional ultrasound in predicting complex gastroschisis: A longitudinal, prospective, multicenter cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether complex gastroschisis (ie, intestinal atresia, perforation, necrosis, or volvulus) can prenatally be distinguished from simple gastroschisis by fetal stomach volume and stomach-bladder distance, using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted in the Netherlands between 2010 and 2015. Of seven university medical centers, we included the four centers that performed longitudinal 3D ultrasound measurements at a regular basis.

Reference curves for the normal fetal small bowel and colon diameters; their usefulness in fetuses with suspected dilated bowel.

To establish reference curves of normal fetal small bowel and colon diameters and to assess the clinical applicability. Serial longitudinal ultrasound examinations at 4-week intervals between 20 to 41 weeks of gestation in 39 low-risk fetuses. The largest loop of the small bowel and colon was identified.

Accuracy of diagnosis and counseling of fetal brain anomalies prior to 24 weeks of gestational age.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of prenatal neurosonography in diagnosing underlying causes of fetal ventriculomegaly, posterior fossa anomalies and microcephaly before 24 weeks' gestational age (GA) and to study the accuracy of prenatal counseling on postnatal prognosis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study based on 146 cases of these fetal brain anomalies before 24 weeks' GA. Counseling on prognosis was compared with postnatal outcome.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Absence of Maternal Cytomegalovirus-IgM Antibodies.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infections are the most prevalent intrauterine infections worldwide and are the result of maternal primary or non-primary infections. Early maternal primary infections are thought to carry the highest risk of fetal developmental abnormalities as seen by ultrasound; however, non-primary infections may prove equally detrimental.

Methods/results: This case series presents 5 cases with fetal abnormalities detected in the second and third trimester, in which cCMV infection was ruled out due to negative maternal CMV-IgM.

Functional outcome at school age of children born with gastroschisis.

Objective: We aimed to determine motor, cognitive and behavioural outcomes of school aged children born with gastroschisis compared to matched controls.

Study Design: We compared outcomes of 16 children born with gastroschisis treated at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, between 1999 and 2006 with 32 controls matched for gender, gestational age, birth weight, and corrected for small for gestational age (SGA) and parental socioeconomic status (SES). Intelligence, auditory-verbal memory, attention, response inhibition, visual perception, motor skills, visuomotor integration, problem behaviour and executive functioning were evaluated.

Outcome of isolated gastroschisis; an international study, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine outcome of children born with isolated gastroschisis (no extra-gastrointestinal congenital abnormalities).

Study Design: International cohort study and meta-analysis.

Primary Outcome: time to full enteral feeding (TFEF); secondary outcomes: Duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay (LOS), mortality and differences in outcome between simple and complex gastroschisis (complex; born with bowel atresia, volvulus, perforation or necrosis).

Fluorinated steroids do not improve outcome of isolated atrioventricular block.

Introduction: Congenital atrioventricular block (CAVB) is a rare disorder with a significant morbidity and mortality. Consensus regarding the prescription and efficacy of prenatal corticosteroids is lacking. This nationwide study was initiated to evaluate the effects of prenatal treatment with corticosteroids on the outcome of CAVB in The Netherlands.

Interhemispheric Lipoma, Callosal Anomaly, and Malformations of Cortical Development: A Case Series.

Intracranial lipomas are rare congenital malformations. The most common type of intracranial lipoma is the interhemispheric lipoma, which is frequently associated with callosal anomalies such as hypogenesis or agenesis of the corpus callosum. In contrast, interhemispheric lipomas are less often accompanied with malformations of cortical development (MCD).

Outcome of Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction in Women with a Dichorionic Triamniotic Triplet Pregnancy to a Singleton Pregnancy: A Retrospective Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: To study the pregnancy outcomes of women with a dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy that was reduced to a singleton pregnancy and to review the literature.

Methods: We performed a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We compared time to delivery and perinatal mortality in dichorionic triplet pregnancies reduced to singletons with ongoing dichorionic triplet pregnancies and primary singleton pregnancies.

Unexplained False Negative Results in Noninvasive Prenatal Testing: Two Cases Involving Trisomies 13 and 18.

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) validation studies show high sensitivity and specificity for detection of trisomies 13, 18, and 21. False negative cases have rarely been reported. We describe a false negative case of trisomy 13 and another of trisomy 18 in which NIPT was commercially marketed directly to the clinician.

A practical prenatal ultrasound classification system for common oral clefts.

Objective: Our aim is to introduce and validate a new oral cleft classification system based on prenatal ultrasound for use by professionals in daily practice.

Methods: During a 3-year period (2011-2014), all cases of prenatal oral cleft diagnosed by ultrasound were retrospectively reviewed. A new prenatal ultrasound classification system was introduced.

Pregnancy outcome after fetal reduction in women with a dichorionic twin pregnancy.

Study Question: What are the pregnancy outcomes for women with a twin pregnancy that is reduced to a singleton pregnancy?

Summary Answer: Fetal reduction of a twin pregnancy significantly improves gestational age at birth and neonatal birthweight, however at an increased risk of pregnancy loss and preterm delivery.

What Is Known Already: Women with a multiple pregnancy are at increased risk for preterm delivery. Fetal reduction can be considered in these women.

Detection of fetal chromosomal anomalies: does nuchal translucency measurement have added value in the era of non-invasive prenatal testing?

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine what percentage of fetal chromosomal anomalies remains undetected when first trimester combined testing is replaced by non-invasive prenatal testing for trisomies 13, 18, and 21. We focused on the added clinical value of nuchal translucency (NT) measurement.

Methods: Data on fetal karyotype, ultrasound findings, and pregnancy outcome of all pregnancies with an NT measurement ≥3.

The accuracy of prenatal ultrasound in determining the type of orofacial cleft.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of prenatal transabdominal ultrasound in determining the oral cleft type.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on all consecutive cases of orofacial cleft diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound examination in the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital, between January 2002 and December 2012. Prenatal findings were compared with postnatal diagnoses.

Facial profile markers in second- and third-trimester fetuses with trisomy 18.

Objectives: To evaluate nasal bone length (NBL), maxilla-nasion-mandible (MNM) angle, fetal profile (FP) line, prenasal thickness (PT), prenasal thickness to nasal bone length (PT:NBL) ratio and prefrontal space ratio (PFSR) as markers of trisomy 18 in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods: The NBL, MNM angle, FP line, PT, PT:NBL ratio and PFSR were measured retrospectively from stored two-dimensional images or three-dimensional volumes of trisomy-18 fetuses, and were compared with our previously reported normal ranges for euploid fetuses. Additional ultrasound findings were noted at initial routine second-trimester scan and at subsequent advanced ultrasound examination performed after referral for karyotyping.

The effectiveness of multifetal pregnancy reduction in trichorionic triplet gestation.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess in trichorionic triplet pregnancies the effectiveness of elective reduction to twins.

Study Design: This was a nationwide retrospective cohort study. We compared the time to delivery and perinatal mortality in trichorionic triplet pregnancies electively reduced to twins with ongoing trichorionic triplets and primary dichorionic twins.

Fetal heart disease: severity, associated anomalies and parental decision.

Objective: This study describes the association between the complexity of congenital cardiac and extracardiac malformations, and the parental decision of pregnancy continuation or termination.

Methods: Congenital heart defects (CHD) was diagnosed by ultrasound in 251 fetuses before the 24th week (23 + 6 weeks) of gestation during the four year period from 2007 to 2010. All fetuses from the Utrecht region were referred to our center due to a strict referral pattern.

Isolated abdominal wall defect with complete liver herniation without a covering or remnant membrane: an ominous sign: case report and review of literature.

Complete liver herniation in abdominal wall defects without a membrane is rare and its prognosis is not well documented. We present a case diagnosed at 12 weeks of gestation. At 27 weeks, a C-section was performed for fetal distress.