Mitral valve endocarditis due to Abiotrophia defectiva in a 14th week pregnant woman.

Infective endocarditis during pregnancy carries a high mortality risk, both for the mother and for the foetus and requires a multidisciplinary team in the management of complicated cases. We report our experience with a 39-year old patient, affected by an acute active mitral endocarditis due to Abiotrophia defectiva at the 14th gestational week, strongly motivated to continue the pregnancy. Our patient successfully underwent mitral valve replacement with a normothermic high-flow cardiopulmonary bypass under continuous intraoperative foetal monitoring.

Evaluating the therapeutic approach in pregnancies complicated by borderline glucose intolerance: a randomized clinical trial.

Aims: Most studies relating minor gestational metabolic alterations to macrosomia refer to glucose intolerance classified on the basis of the National Diabetes Data Group or previous World Health Organization diagnostic thresholds. Our aim was to evaluate the consequences of very mild forms of gestational glucose intolerance, defined by an elevated 50-g glucose challenge test followed by a normal oral glucose tolerance test, using the more restrictive Carpenter and Coustan's criteria (Borderline Gestational Glucose Intolerance, BGGI).

Methods: Three hundred BGGI women were randomly assigned to: Group A (standard management), Group B (dietary treatment and regular monitoring).

Progesterone supplement in pregnancy: an immunologic therapy?

One of the most interesting functions of the placenta is the regulation of the maternal immune response such that the fetal semi-allograft is tolerated during pregnancy. Trophoblasts are presumed to be essential to this phenomenon because they lie at the maternal-fetal interface, where they are in direct contact with cells of the maternal immune system. Trophoblasts do not express classic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules.

Efficacy of external cephalic version performed at term.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and complications of external cephalic version in term (37 or more weeks) gestation.

Study Design: A case series from February 1990 until December 1994 studied 160 patients with term singleton breech presentation. External cephalic version (ECV) with prophylactic tocolysis was the method used.

Prevalence of fetal left ventricular hyperechogenic foci in a low risk population.

Objective: To ascertain the prevalence and clinical significance of small hyperechogenic foci detected in the fetal left ventricle in routine ultrasound screening of pregnant women attending our hospital.

Population And Methods: From April 1994 to April 1995, 1135 consecutive pregnant women examined at the obstetric ultrasound unit of our hospital were studied prospectively. A postnatal cardiologic examination was performed when signs of cardiopathy were observed at the prenatal ultrasound investigation or the neonatal examination.