Perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with severe COVID-19 requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a case series and literature review.

Purpose: Pregnant women with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have a higher risk of hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive ventilation, and of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In case of ARDS and critical severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is recommended when other respiratory support strategies (oxygen insufflation, non-invasive ventilation [NIV], invasive ventilation through an endotracheal tube) are insufficient. However, available data on ECMO in pregnant and postpartum women with critical COVID-19 are very limited.

Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease in Pregnancy: A Topic Yet to be Explored.

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is characterized by signs and symptoms suggestive of a connective tissue disease (CTD), but not fulfilling criteria for a specific CTD. Although UCTD is probably the most common rheumatic disease diagnosed in pregnant women, data about disease course during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes are very limited. Compared to other CTDs, UCTD seems to have milder clinical manifestations in pregnancy.

Maternal hemodynamic changes in gestational diabetes: a prospective case-control study.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to compare maternal hemodynamic adaptations in gestational diabetes (GDM) versus healthy pregnancies.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted, comparing 69 singleton pregnancies with GDM and 128 controls, recruited between September 2018 and April 2019 in Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. Hemodynamic assessment by UltraSonic Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM) was performed in both groups in four gestational age intervals: 17-20 weeks (only in early GDM cases), 26-30 weeks, 32-35 weeks and 36-39 weeks.

Different Gestational Diabetes Phenotypes: Which Insulin Regimen Fits Better?

Objective: Maternal characteristics and OGTT values of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were evaluated according to treatment strategies. The goal was to identify different maternal phenotypes in order to predict the appropriate treatment strategy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among 1,974 pregnant women followed up for GDM in a tertiary referral hospital for high-risk pregnancies (Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy) from 2013 to 2018.

Fetal nondiabetic-macrosomia: risk factors for pregnancy adverse outcome and comparison of two growth curves in the prediction of cesarean section.

Background: Randomized trials reported no difference whether induction or expectant management is performed in non-diabetic women with large for gestational age babies but no tool has been validated for the prediction of high risk cases.

Aim: Assessing the performance of different growth curves in the prediction of complications.

Methods: Data from 1066 consecutive non-diabetic women who delivered babies ≥4000 g were collected.

Immunomodulation and preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is an enigmatic syndrome, still with unknown aetiology and multi-factorial pathogenesis. Our understanding of the role of the immune system in PE development has undergone a transformation over the years. From a model based on the alterations in cell-mediated immunity, research moved on to a vision centred on the alteration of the humoural immunity and on the systemic involvement of the inflammatory system.

Correction: Stillbirths at Term: Case Control Study of Risk Factors, Growth Status and Placental Histology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 positivity in women with history of stillbirth.

Problem: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes, two common polymorphisms associate with celiac disease (CD), in women with previous stillbirth, but not affected by CD.

Method Of Study: Women with history of unexplained term stillbirth referred to our Center for High-Risk Pregnancies for a preconception counseling, and women with previous uncomplicated pregnancies, were enrolled as cases and controls. Celiac women were excluded from the study.

Preeclampsia in pregnancies complicated by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis: prophylactic treatment with multidisciplinary approach are important keys to prevent adverse obstetric outcomes.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly affects women of childbearing age. Hypertension, antiphospholipid syndrome, and lupus nephritis are risk factors for adverse maternal/fetal outcome. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to compare pregnancy outcomes in patients with and without SLE nephritis, using a multidisciplinary approach and a broad prophylaxis protocol.

Stillbirths at Term: Case Control Study of Risk Factors, Growth Status and Placental Histology.

Objective: To investigate the proportion of stillbirths at term associated with abnormal growth using customized birth weight percentiles and to compare histological placental findings both in underweight stillborn fetuses and in live births.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study of 150 singleton term stillbirths. The livebirth control groups included 586 cases of low-risk pregnancies and 153 late fetal growth restriction fetuses.

Doppler velocimetry and adverse outcome in labor induction for late IUGR.

Background: Late onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) represents one of the main causes of perinatal morbidity/mortality. No guidelines are available on labor induction in IUGRs, even if delivery at 37/38 weeks is suggested. This study aims to assess maternal-fetal variables related to adverse outcome in labor induction for late IUGR.

Inherited and acquired thrombophilias.

Thrombophilias represent an evolving story that continues to stir controversy for care providers and obstetrical patients. The predominant thrombophilic mutations include the factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin gene mutation G20210A, methylene tetrahydrafolate reductase C667T, and deficiencies of the natural anticoagulants proteins C and S, and antithrombin. Prospective cohort studies have provided an accurate assessment of the risk of placenta-mediated complications posed by common inherited thrombophilic conditions.