Antenatal Therapies Flashcards
What percentage of babies in Australia is born preterm?
8.6%
For how long do glucocorticoids need to be in the system to be effective?
48 hours
What percentage of twin-twin transfusion cases survive if treated with foetoscopic laser surgery?
86%
What proportion of children with cerebral palsy have intellectual impairment?
1/2
What portion of children with cerebral palsy cannot talk, have epilepsy and are incontinent?
1/4
Is the cerebral-causing lesion in the white matter of the brain progressive?
No
What period of gestation does IUGR affect?
20 weeks- term
What period of gestation does intrauterine infection affect?
22-32 weeks
What period of development does birth asphyxia affect?
Term
When in gestation does neurogenesis occur?
5-20 weeks
When in gestation does neural migration occur?
10 weeks- near term
When in gestation are premyelinating oligodendrocytes formed?
14-37 weeks
When in gestation are myelinating oligodendrocytes formed?
30 weeks- postnatally (3 months)
When does synaptogenesis occur?
20 weeks- 6 years
When does brain vascularisation occur?
3 weeks- 6 months postnatally
When does apoptosis in the brain occur?
18 weeks- 5.5 years
What are tocolytic drugs?
Anti-contractile drugs
List three types of tocolytic drugs.
Prostaglandin inhibitors. magnesium sulfate, Ca2+ channel blockers
Does tocolytic drugs improve neonatal outcome on their own?
No, they delay birth for glucocorticoids to work.
Why is it difficult to study the effects of preterm birth on cerebral palsy in humans?
Confounders: IUGR and infection.
What is the effect of antibiotics such as endomycin on birth immediately after and 7 years later?
Immediately: prolonged gestation, mature lungs
7 years later: increased cerebral palsy incidence
How is IUGR characterised?
Foetal weight below the 10th percentile and abnormal placental Doppler (blood flow)
What is the effect of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on IUGR?
Treats IUGR by dilating placental arteries and decreases brain sparing if given early enough.
Describe the effects of IUGR of oligodendrocyte number, myelination and oxidative stress
Correct oligodendrocyte number, impaired myelination, increased oxidative stress.
What are the effects of melatonin on IUGR?
Improved placental blood flow, decreased oxidative stress, no overt brain injury, improved cardiovascular outcome.
Does melatonin prolong pregnancy?
No
