Fetal Distribution of Feto-placental Blood Flow Related to Placental Nutrient Transport and Maternal...
Fetal Growth RestrictionAims The primary aim is to examine the relation between maternal nutrition, placental transport of nutritional substances, and fetal blood flow distribution in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by altered fetal growth. Specific aims: Examine the relation between fetal glucose, amino acid and lipid consumption, and ultrasound Doppler measures of fetal cerebral vascular resistance. Examine the influence of extended fasting for two hours compared to a standard meal in a group with appropriate fetal group on fetal liver blood flow and fetal cerebral vascular resistance. The examinations will be performed at approximately 36 weeks gestation. Examine the influence of a standard maternal meal on fetal liver blood flow and fetal cerebral vascular resistance in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Study 1: Investigator will use the 130 fetal-maternal pairs from the "placental 4 vessel sampling method" (see below) which includes measures on fetal blood flow distribution. Some calculations will be performed on the restricted cohort of 70 pregnancies who also includes maternal blood flow measures. Study 2: A limitation of investigators previous studies on the influence of glucose intake or a regular maternal meal on fetal blood flow distribution in healthy pregnancies with appropriate fetal growth is the lack of a control group without food intake (extended fasting for two hours). To serve as participants own control the included participants will meet for examinations at two different days (one with food intake and one with extended fasting) within a few days interval. Participants will be examined in the morning and two hours after food intake or after two hours extended fasting. The study will include 25 pregnancies with gestational age about 36 weeks Study 3: Investigator will include approximately 55 women (see power calculation below) with pregnancies complicated by FGR defined as estimated birth weight (EFW) below the 3rd percentile and/or EFW below the 10th percentile and sign of fetal Doppler blood flow redistribution representing possible fetal compromise . Investigator hypothesize that there will be no reduction in fetal cerebral vascular resistance (measured as change in MCA-PI from before to after food intake). Fetal liver blood flow will also be measured. Methods The "Placental 4 vessel sampling method" This method has recently been developed by investigators research group and described in recent publications. In brief, blood samples are obtained from incoming (arterial) and outgoing (venous) vessels both at the maternal and fetal side of the placenta simultaneously during cesarean section. Samples have been taken from women with normal pregnancies but with a range of BMI and metabolic profiles: the physiological range group (undergoing cesarean delivery on own request). Investigators have a complete dataset including blood sampling and fetal blood flow measurements in the UV, DV and MCA-PI in 130 women. Further, investigators have maternal blood flow measures in 70 of these pregnancies. Doppler blood flow measurements Doppler blood flow measurements will be performed in the morning immediately before (fasting state) and after a standard breakfast meal (SBM) (approximately120 min). Internal vessel diameter (D) and time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMX) will be measured in the straight portion of the intra-abdominal UV and at the inlet of DV, respectively. In the MCA Doppler velocity waveforms are sampled from the proximal part emerging from the circle of Willis . MCA in the hemisphere near the transducer will be used unless there are better insonation properties in the opposite hemisphere. Umbilical artery Doppler traces will be sampled in a free-floating loop. The Doppler tracings will be used to measure fetal heart rate (FHR). All measurements will be performed during periods of fetal quiescence.
Determinant of Fetal Growth Retardation After Sleeve Gastrectomy: Involvement of Ghrelin
In Utero Growth RetardationSleeve Gastrectomy1 moreThe aim of the study is to determine, in pregnant women who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy (SG), whether ghrelin changes could be involved in in utero growth restriction (IUGR) and whether therefore a correlation between maternal ghrelin levels and birth weight is observed.
Prostaglandins Versus Trans-cervical Balloon for Induction of Labor in Fetal Growth Restriction...
Fetal Growth RestrictionThe goal of this randomized trial is to compare two methods of induction in a fetal growth restriction population. The main question it aims to answer is: • Is trans-cervical balloon superior to prostaglandins in reducing the cesarean section rate, without increasing neonatal morbidity? Participants will have an induction of labour by cervical ripening with trans-cervical balloon in the trans-cervical balloon catheter arm and with Prostaglandins in the Misoprostol arm. Researchers will compare two methods of induction: trans-cervical balloon and prostaglandins to see if trans-cervical balloon is associated with a lower risk of cesarean delivery.
Prostaglandins Versus Trans-cervical Balloon for Induction of Labor in Fetal Growth Restriction...
Fetal Growth RestrictionThe goal of this randomized trial is to compare two methods of induction in a fetal growth restriction population. The main question it aims to answer is: • Is trans-cervical balloon superior to prostaglandins in reducing the cesarean section rate, without increasing neonatal morbidity? Participants will have an induction of labour by cervical ripening with trans-cervical balloon in the trans-cervical balloon catheter arm and with Prostaglandins in the Misoprostol arm. Researchers will compare two methods of induction: trans-cervical balloon and prostaglandins to see if trans-cervical balloon is associated with a lower risk of cesarean delivery.
Inter- and Multidisciplinary, Cross-sectoral Feto-neonatal Pathway
Pre-EclampsiaIntrauterine Growth Restriction1 moreDue to the fetoneonatal pathway it is possible to identify pregnant women with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction or pre-eclampsia in early stages (from 10th week of pregnancy). Women whose pregnancy is considered high-risk receives risk-adapted prenatal treatment as well as certain treatments for their newborn and infant until 1 year of age. The tasks of all involved persons are defined by standard operating procedures (SOP)
L-ArGinine to pRevent advErse prEgnancy Outcomes (AGREE)
PregnancyMalaria4 moreThere are few safe, effective, and affordable interventions to improve pregnancy outcomes in low resource settings where the highest rates of poor birth outcomes occur. L-citrulline is naturally found in many foods and is changed into another important amino acid, L-arginine, in the body. L-arginine is important for the growth of a healthy placenta and healthy baby. Adding L-citrulline to the diets of pregnant women may be an effective and affordable way to improve the health of their babies.The goal of the AGREE trial is to test whether a dietary supplement containing a common food component, an amino acid called L-citrulline, can help pregnant Kenyan women at risk of malaria have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. 2,960 pregnant Kenyan women will be enrolled and randomly assigned to take either a twice daily dietary supplement containing L-citrulline or a placebo supplement without additional L-citrulline. Maternal participants will be seen every month until delivery and at weeks 1 and 6 after birth. Infants will also be followed up at ages 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The primary outcome of the study is 'adverse pregnancy outcome', a composite of foetal loss (miscarriage or still birth), preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age or neonatal mortality. The results of the AGREE trial could help to guide obstetric and public health policy and provide a sustainable solution that could be implemented at the community level.
Dilapan-S®: A Multicenter US E-registry
Post Term PregnancyPremature Rupture of Membrane4 moreObjective of this registry is to collect a representative set of real world data on the use of Dilapan-S® for pre-induction cervical ripening in daily clinical practice. Upon completion of the registry, relevant collected data will be analyzed and published.
Selective Fetal Growth Restriction in Monochorionic Twins - an International Investigation
Twin; PregnancyAffecting Fetus or Newborn3 moreOptimal diagnostic management and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies have not been fully clarified. The current diagnostic classification system based on three different umbilical artery flow patterns has no increasing scale of severity and the predictive value is limited. Since there is no treatment available for sFGR, predicting fetal deterioration is key in preventing single or double fetal demise. Outcome prediction is furthermore important in the selection of cases that will be offered selective reduction (to provide the larger twin with better prospects), as well as determining monitor frequency and possible hospital admission. As outcome prediction is clinically challenging, patient counselling is too, and parents often encounter a great deal of uncertainty during the pregnancy. Furthermore, little is known about the brain development of sFGR children (both during pregnancy and after birth). Moreover, the psychological impact of an sFGR pregnancy of the future parent)s) has not been studied before. The impact of these factors should be taken into account during patient counseling, which is currently not the case. By our knowledge, this is the first international, multicenter, prospective cohort study on that will address the abovementioned questions and knowledge gaps in MCDA pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction.
Expanded NIPT for Pregnancy Complications
Fetal Growth RestrictionPreeclampsia SevereThis study evaluates the utility of expanded panel non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in detecting confined placental mosaicism of rare autosomal trisomies among pregnancies with placentally-mediated complications, including fetal growth restriction and severe preeclampsia.
MRI Angiography of Physiological and Pathological Pregnancy Placentas Ex-vivo
Pre-EclampsiaFetal Growth RetardationIntroduction: The placenta is the organ that permits the maternal-fetal exchange of the oxygen and nutrients. The development of its vascular network occurs in the first trimester. Any deficit during this important angiogenesis procedure can lead to the dysfunction of the placental vasculature, which can potentially cause pathologies including preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). PE concerns 3% of the pregnancy in France. It can occur at any gestational age and leads to serious complications such as eclampsia, the HELLP syndrome or the retro-placental hematoma. IUGR does not only lead to the morbidity and fetal and neonatal mortality, but also has a predisposition for certain pathologies in the adulthood. Many groups have studied the placenta vasculature at the microscopic (histological) scale. However, recent studies show that in addition to the damage at the microvasculature level, the macroscopic placental vessel architecture is also altered. Nonetheless, the origin and the etiology of this phenomenon remains unknown. Since it is difficult to apply in-vivo imaging techniques on pregnant women due to the restriction of usage of contrast agent. Alternatively, ex-vivo MR angiography (MRA) techniques have been developed by our team and others to visualize the entire placental vasculature in a faster way (as compared to corrosion casting). Up to now, only the study of the healthy placenta is done and published. The analysis of the pathological placental vasculature (i.e. PE and IUGR cases) at different gestational age and its comparison to the physiological ones have not been conducted, which will potentially enable a better understanding of the placental vasculature pathology. Objectives: the main objective of this study is to compare the vasculature architecture of the normal and pathological placentas (with possible alteration in the placental vasculature). Methods and analysis: This is a monocentric, prospective, controlled but not randomized study. The investigators expect to include 110 women in Nancy. The pregnant women will be recruited when they arrived at the maternity hospital for delivery, for both the physiological and potential pathological cases. The notice of this study will be given. If no opposition is given by the subject, the placenta may be collected. This study will not collect the patient consent but only the opposition declaration will be collected.