Pregnancy Associated Disorders Flashcards
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
lower than normal fetal growth characterized by an estimated fetal weight below the 10th percentile for a given gestational age.
two types of IUGR: asymmetrical and symmetrical
asymmetrical IUGR
- caused by extrinsic factors which affect the fetus in the later stages of gestation (i.e. 3rd)
- most common manifestation of IUGR (∼ 70%), has a late onset,
- usually due to maternal systemic disease (e.g., hypertension) that results in placental insufficiency
symemetrical IUGR
- Caused by intrinsic factors which affect the fetus in the early stages of gestation.
- less common (∼ 30%)
- usually due to a genetic disorder (e.g., aneuploidy), congenital heart disease, or early intrauterine TORCH infection that affects the fetus early in gestation.
Maternal Etiologies of IUGR
- Substance use (e.g., alcohol, cigarettes, cocaine, heroin)
- Teratogenic drugs: ACE inhibitors, carbamazepine, phenytoin, warfarin
- Systemic diseases resulting in placental insufficiency
Uteroplacental causes of IUGR
- Placental insufficiency
- Placenta Previa
- Multiple Gestations
- placental abruption
- Umbilical artery thrombosis/ extensive infarction
- Uterine malformations (fibroids)
Placental insufficiency
A disorder of the fetomaternal circulation that causes inadequate blood flow to the placenta and impaired substance exchange (e.g., oxygen) between the mother and fetus, leading to metabolic compromise of the fetus.
Risk factors for placental insufficiency
smoking; diabetes mellitus; chronic hypertension; anemia; SLE;
Pregnancy-related conditions (preeclampsia, Rh incompatibility)
Fetal factors for IUGR
- Genetic abnormalities in the fetus (e.g., aneuploidy)
- Cyanotic congenital heart defects
- Early intrauterine infections (TORCH)
Pathophysiology of asymmetric IUGR
- insufficient transplacental delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and impaired return of carbon dioxide and fetal metabolic waste products from the fetus to the mother’s circulation
- Fetal hypoxia and hypoglycemia → shunting of blood flow to vital fetal organs (brain, heart, and adrenal glands) bypassing other organs (e.g., liver, muscle, fat tissue)
Fetal signs of IGUR
- Small for gestational age (or with a birth weight below 10th percentile)
- Decreased or absent fetal movements
- Asymmetrical IUGR: disproportionate growth restriction
- head are normal while the body and limbs are thin and small
- Symmetrical IUGR: global growth restriction
- circumference of the head is proportional
IGUR Diagnostics
- Serial ultrasonography
- Decreased fetal growth; fetal weight below the 10th percentile
- Oligohydramnios
- Doppler velocimetry of umbilical artery: reduced or reversed diastolic flow
- Nonstress test: late decelerations of the fetal heartbeat
- Biophysical profile
Biophysical Profile in IUGR
- Oligohydramnios; AFI < 5 (N=8-18)
- Absent fetal breathing movements
- Decreased fetal movement and tone
- A score ≤ 4 indicates fetal hypoxia and/or placental insufficiency.; labor should be induced.
Tx IGUR
- Treatment of the underlying condition
- Close monitoring; (NST, CST, BPP)
- If the infant is close to term, administer steroids and induce labor after 48 hours.
- If there are signs of nonreassuring fetal status; induce labor or perform immediate cesarean delivery.
IUGR Complications
- stillbirth
- preterm labor
Hypertensive Preganancy Disorders
- Gestational hypertension (most common, least severe)
- Chronic Hypertension
- Preeclampia
- Superimposed preeclampsia
- HELLP syndrome
- Eclampsia
Gestational hypertension
- pregnancy-induced hypertension with onset after 20 weeks gestation
- Defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg on 2 separate measurements at least 4 hours apart
- can only be diagnosed if the patient was normotensive prior to 20 weeks gestation
Chronic hypertension
hypertension diagnosed < 20 wks gestation or before pregnancy
Preeclampsia
- gestational hypertension with proteinuria, renal insufficiency, thrombocytopenia, evidence or liver damage, pulmonary edema, and or cerebral edemas
- Superimposed: preeclamsia that occurs in a patient with chronic hypertension
- HELLP syndrome: a life threatening form of preeclampsia
HELLP
H= hemolysis
EL= elevated liver enzymes
LP= low platelets
Eclampsia
severe form of preeclampia with convultive seizures and/ or coma
Risk factors for hypertensive preganancy disorders
- Age < 20 or > 40 years
- African-American race
- Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes
- Chronic hypertension
- Chronic renal disease (e.g., SLE)
Pregnancy-related risk factors
- Nulliparity
- Previous preeclampsia
- Multiple gestation (twins)
- Hydatidiform moles
Clinical Features: Gestational hypertension
- Asymptomatic hypertension
- Nonspecific symptoms (e.g., morning headaches, fatigue, dizziness)
clinical features: preeclampsia
without severe features
- Usually asymptomatic
- Nonspecific symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- RUQ or epigastric pain
- Rapid development of edema
- Hypertension
- Proteinuria
clinical features: preeclampia
with severe features
- Severe hypertension (systolic ≥ 160 or diastolic BP ≥ 110)
- Proteinuria, oliguria
- Headache
- Visual disturbances (e.g., blurred vision
- RUQ or epigastric pain
- Pulmonary edema
- altered mental state
