Prenatal ultrasound abnormalities in a patient with generalized neurofibromatosis type 1.

We describe a patient with an unusual neonatal disseminated form of neurofibromatosis (NF1). Prenatal ultrasound studies, at 35 weeks of gestation, revealed ambiguous external genitalia, an increased biparietal diameter and a decreased growth of long bones. Postnatal examination displayed generalized neurofibromatosis, with perineal, thoracic and spinal cord invasion by tumors.

[The value of early morphologic ultrasonography for the detection of chromosome anomalies].

Objectives: To demonstrate the benefit, in terms of improved antenatal screening, in particular for 21-trisomy, to be expected from the introduction of routine vaginal morphologic echography during the first trimester of pregnancy. This work was conducted by the Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics of the French Red Cross Teaching Hospital in Bois-Guillaume, France.

Subject: Over a 20 month period, 307 consultating women underwent routine endovaginal echography between the 10th and 13th week of amenorrhoea.

[Doppler and reduction of perinatal mortality].

The authors think that perinatal mortality can be substantially reduced by accurate evaluation of chronic fetal distress by means of ultrasonic biometry routinely applied to pregnant women at each consultation and a Doppler examination carried out whenever retardation is detected or in any abnormal situations which could lead to such retardation. The authors present their experience in 353 women followed-up in their Service.

[Treatment of arterial hypertension in the pregnant woman with labetalol. A propos of 24 cases].

Beta blockers are now widely used to treat hypertension during pregnancy. The authors give their experience of 24 cases with Labetalol which is an alpha and beta blocker. A comparative study of the results obtained in mother and child, with other publications using beta-blockers or Labetalol, was carried out.

[Polysyndactyly with complex cardiopathy. Apropos of 3 cases in the same family].

This study deals with a family where three successive children presenting with a complicated polymalformative syndrome, died. The first child, a boy, had atrial and ventricular septal defect. The second and third children, both females, had cardiac abnormalities with a single ventricle with common auriculo-ventricular valve.

Beta blocker therapy in 125 cases of hypertension during pregnancy.

Over a period of 4 years, a team of obstetricians and nephrologists have used beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension in high risk pregnancies. One hundred and twenty one patients (125 pregnancies) were treated with this new therapeutic approach: Acebutolol (56 cases), Pindolol (38 cases) and Atenolol (31 cases) were used. In our group of patients, 56% (70/121) had a previous record of hypertension.

[Treatment of hypertension in pregnant women with beta-blockers. 60 cases (author's transl)].

Fifty-nine hypertensive women were treated with beta-blockers during 60 pregnancies. Acebutolol was used in 28 cases, pindolol in 21, atenolol in 10 and propanolol in one. Concomitant administration of dihydralazine was required in 6 cases.