Diseases in and of pregnancy Flashcards
What is oligohydramnios?
Amniotic fluid less than expected for gestational age
What is polyhydramnios?
Amniotic fluid greater than expected for gestational age
What is the combination of intrauterine growth restriction and polyhydramnios suggestive of?
Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
What strain of GBS is carried by up to 20% of women vaginally?
Streptococcus agalactiae
What are 3 foetal risks of GBS?
- Preterm labour
- Rupture of membranes
- Neonatal infection
What is the nuchal translucency test?
Done during 11-14w USS
Measures the subcutaneous area between the skin and cervical spine of the foetus in the sagittal section
Nuchal translucency increases when fluid accumulates in the area e.g. in Down Syndrome
What tests are done around week 12 to screen for Down Syndrome?
Nuchal translucency (USS)
bHCG (elevated)
PAPP-A (decreased)
What is PAPP-A?
Pregnancy-associated protein A
A serum protein mainly synthesised by the placenta and therefore increases in pregnancy
Decreased in conditions involving chromosomal aberration
Why is hepatitis B screened for in pregnancy?
High rate of perinatal transmission
If an infant is infected the risk of chronic hepatitis is 90%
When in pregnancy is chorionic villus sampling (CVS) performed?
10-13 weeks
From when in pregnancy can amniocentesis be performed?
From the 15th week of pregnancy onwards
What is the risk of miscarriage with CVS?
1%
0.5% for amniocentesis
What is the definition of a spontaneous abortion/miscarriage?
Loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks’ gestation
What is the definition of a stillbirth?
Loss of pregnancy after 20 weeks’ gestation
What is a threatened abortion and is the cervical os closed or dilated?
Vaginal bleeding has occurred and the cervical os is closed, but the diagnostic criteria for spontaneous abortion has not been met
What is an inevitable abortion? Is the cervical os open or closed?
The patient has vaginal bleeding and visible/palpable products of conception
The internal cervical os is open
What is an missed abortion? Is the cervical os open or closed
Abortion in which the products of conception are not expelled spontaneously from the uterus. Symptoms of early pregnancy e.g. nausea, breast tenderness, disappear
The cervical os is closed
What is an incomplete abortion? Is the cervical os open or closed
Products of conception within the cervical canal or uterus
Open cervical os
What is a complete abortion? Is the cervical os open or closed?
Products of conception are entirely out of the uterus and cervix
The cervical os is closed, the uterus is small and well-contracted, vaginal bleeding and pain may be mild or resolved
How is a threatened abortion managed?
Expectant
(symptoms will resolve or progress to inevitable, incomplete or complete abortion)
What is a grade 1 perineal tear?
Laceration of the vaginal mucosa or perineal skin only
What is a grade 2 perineal tear?
Laceration involving the perineal muscles
What is a grade 3 perineal tear?
Laceration involving the anal sphincter muscles
What is a grade 4 perineal tear?
Laceration extending through the anal epithelium resulting in a communication of the vaginal and anal epithelium
What is the quantitiative definition of oligohydramnios?
Amniotic fluid index (AFI) < 5cm
What is the quantitiative definition of polyhydramnios?
Amniotic fluid index (AFI) > 25cm
What are 3 causes of a higher than expected hCG?
- Molar pregnancy
- Twins
- Choriocarcinoma
- Embryonic carcinoma
What are 2 causes of a lower than expected hCG?
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Threatened abortion
- Missed abortion
What is the most common cause of abnormal hCG?
Inaccurate dating
What is the intrapartum treatment for GBS positive mothers?
IV penicillin or ampicillin
When is GBS screened for in pregnancy?
35-37 weeks
GBS carriage fluctuates so colonisation is screened close to term
What is the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy?
Ursdeoxycholic acid (a bile acid; symptomatic relief and may improve foetal outcomes)
Delivery at 37 weeks
What is the major function of human chorionic somatomammotropin (human placental lactogen)?
Increases maternal insulin resistance
What is the definition of gestational hypertension?
Onset after 20 weeks gestation
SBP > 140
DBP > 90
On two separate occasions at least 4 hours apart
What is the definition of pre-eclampsia?
Gestational hypertension with
- proteinuria
- renal insufficiency
- thrombocytopenia
- evidence of liver damage
- pulmonary oedema
- cerebral oedema
What is HELLP syndrome?
A life-threatening form of pre-eclampsia
H = haemolysis
EL = elevated liver enzymes
LP = low platelets
What are 3 teratogenic effects of ACE inhibitors?
- Altered kidney development
- Neonatal renal failure
- Pulmonary hyperplasia
- Foetal growth retardation
What is alloimmunisation?
An immune response to foreign antigens after exposure to genetically different cells or tissues
e.g. pregnancy, transplant, transfusion
What condition is characterised by hyperthryoidism in the first trimester which spontaneously resolves?
hCG-mediated hyperthyroidism
hCG acts on the maternal thyroid
Which drugs are used for hyperthyroidism in pregnancy?
Propylthiouracil until 16 weeks
Carbimazole may be taken after 16 weeks
What is postpartum lymphocytic thyroiditis?
Autoimmune thyroiditis within a year of birth
Hyperthyroidism → hypothyroidism → recovery
How is hypothyroidism in pregnancy treated?
Levothyroxine
What are the adverse effects of cocaine use during pregnancy?
Vasoconstriction
→ placental abruption
→ preterm birth
→ low birth weight
→ small for gestational age
How is foetal anaemia assesed?
Blood flow through the middle cerebral artery on US
What are the sonographic features of hydrops?
Ascites, pleural and pleural effusions (rims of echolucent fluid inside the abdominal wall, chest and heart)
Skin oedema (subcutaneous tissue thickness on chest or scalp > 5mm) - late sign
May also be associated with polyhydramnios and placental oedema
When do pregnant women have an OGTT?
Weeks 26-28
What fasting plasma glucose is diagnostic of GDM?
5.1 mmol/L or greater
What 1-hour glucose following 75g oral load is diagnostic of GDM?
10.0 or greater
What 2-hour glucose following 75g oral load is diagnostic of GDM?
8.5 or greater
What is hydrops fetalis?
Abnormal fluid accumulation in two or more foetal compartments
(ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, skin oedema)
May also be associated with polyhydramnios and placenta oedema
What is the most common cause of recurrent miscarriages in the second trimester?
Bicornate uterus, resulting from incomplete fusion of the paramesonephric ducts during uterine development
Name 3 conditions that predispose a women to preeclampsia or eclampsia
- Hypertension
- Chronic renal disease
- Diabetes
What is thought to be the initial insult that leads to increased vascular tone in preeclampsia?
Poor dilation of the spiral arteries → placental insufficiency → increased vascular tone
If a foetal anomaly has caused polyhydramnios, what process is likely failing to occur?
Swallowing of amniotic fluid
Name two congenital conditions associated with polyhydramnios
Oesophageal or dueodenal atresia
Anecephaly
If a foetal anomaly has caused oligohydramnios, what process is likely failing to occur?
Decreased urine excretion
Name two congenital conditions associated with oligohydramnios
- Bilateral renal agenesis (no urinary tract)
- Posterior urethral valves (obstructed urinary excretion)
What is the Potter sequence?
Oligohydramnios → decreased amniotic fluid ingestion → pulmonary hypoplasia (severe neonatal respiratory insufficiency) → death