Pregnancy in a rudimentary uterine horn is an extremely rare form of ectopic pregnancy, with an incidence of 1 in 76,000-140,000 pregnancies. Given its high-risk nature, the standard of care is to terminate such pregnancies at the time of diagnosis. This is a case of a nulliparous patient at 23 5/7 weeks of gestation with a new diagnosis of a rudimentary horn pregnancy. She elected to proceed with full intervention for her fetus and was delivered at 24 0/7 weeks after administration of antenatal corticosteroid therapy. While the infant did have some adverse effects related to prematurity, she met developmental milestones and was alive and well at the age of two. Although the standard of care is to manage these cases as ectopic pregnancies, when diagnosed at a periviable gestational age, optimization of fetal status prior to delivery may be an alternative approach to immediate delivery.

Airborne exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are associated with adverse health outcomes. Because personal air measurements of PAHs are labor intensive and costly, spatial PAH exposure models are useful for epidemiological studies. However, few studies provide adequate spatial coverage to reflect intra-urban variability of ambient PAHs. In this study, we collected 39-40 weekly gas-phase PAH samples in southern California twice in summer and twice in winter, 2009, in order to characterize PAH source contributions and develop spatial models that can estimate gas-phase PAH concentrations at a high resolution. A spatial mixed regression model was constructed, including such variables as roadway, traffic, land-use, vegetation index, commercial cooking facilities, meteorology, and population density. Cross validation of the model resulted in an R2 of 0.66 for summer and 0.77 for winter. Results showed higher total PAH concentrations in winter. Pyrogenic sources, such as fossil fuels and diesel exhaust, were the most dominant contributors to total PAHs. PAH sources varied by season, with a higher fossil fuel and wood burning contribution in winter. Spatial autocorrelation accounted for a substantial amount of the variance in total PAH concentrations for both winter (56%) and summer (19%). In summer, other key variables explaining the variance included meteorological factors (9%), population density (15%), and roadway length (21%). In winter, the variance was also explained by traffic density (16%). In this study, source characterization confirmed the dominance of traffic and other fossil fuel sources to total measured gas-phase PAH concentrations while a spatial exposure model identified key predictors of PAH concentrations. Gas-phase PAH source characterization and exposure estimation is of high utility to epidemiologist and policy makers interested in understanding the health impacts of gas-phase PAHs and strategies to reduce emissions.

Objective

Independent and joint impacts of maternal race/ethnicity and obesity on adverse birth outcomes, including pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, and macrosomia, were characterized.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of all 2007 California births was conducted using vital records and claims data. Maternal race/ethnicity and maternal body mass index (BMI) were the key exposures; their independent and joint impact on outcomes using regression models was analyzed.

Results

Racial/ethnic minority women of normal weight generally had higher risk as compared with white women of normal weight (e.g., African-American women, pre-eclampsia adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48-1.74 vs. white women). However, elevated BMI did not usually confer additional risk (e.g., pre-eclampsia aOR comparing African-American women with excess weight with white women with excess weight, 1.17, 95% CI: 0.89-1.54). Obesity was a risk factor for low birth weight only among white women (excess weight aOR, 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.49 vs. white women of normal weight) and not among racial/ethnic minority women (e.g., African-American women, 0.95, 95% CI: 0.83-1.08).

Conclusions

These findings add nuance to our understanding of the interplay between maternal race/ethnicity, BMI, and perinatal outcomes. While the BMI/adverse outcome gradient appears weaker in racial/ethnic minority women, this reflects the overall risk increase in racial/ethnic minority women of all body sizes.

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and elevated glucose concentrations below the threshold for GDM diagnosis have been associated with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes. Dietary interventions initiated during pregnancy have demonstrated inconsistent beneficial effects. Limited data exist regarding the effects of periconceptional diet on gestational glycemia.

Objective

To evaluate independent associations between periconceptional diet quality with GDM frequency and glucose concentrations from GDM screening and diagnostic tests among nulliparous gravidas.

Design

This is a secondary analysis of N=7997 participants from the NuMoM2b multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study of first pregnancies. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010 was computed from food frequency questionnaires completed in early pregnancy (6-13 weeks), reporting usual dietary intake over the preceding 3 months. GDM screening was performed either by non-fasting 1-hour 50g glucose load (N=6845), followed by 3-hour 100g glucose tolerance test (GTT) for those with raised glucose concentrations (N=1116; at risk for GDM), or by a single 2-hour 75g GTT (N=569; all GDM risk levels). Logistic and linear regression were used to estimate the associations between the AHEI-2010 score with odds of GDM, having raised blood glucose on the 1-hour screening test, and continuous glucose concentrations on screening and diagnostic tests. All models were adjusted for a priori covariates: maternal age, race/ethnicity, early-pregnancy body mass index, smoking habits, rate of gestational weight gain, energy intake, nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, study site.

Results

Poorer periconceptional diet quality was observed among participants who were younger, with higher BMI, lower income levels, and of non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic ethnicity. The GDM rate was 4%. Each 1-point increase in AHEI-2010 score was associated with a 1% decrease in the odds of being diagnosed with GDM (beta=-0.015, p=0.022, OR=0.986, 95% CI 0.973 to 0.998). Diet quality was inversely associated with each post glucose load concentration on the non-fasting screening test and the 2-hour and 3-hour GTT.

Conclusion

Poor periconceptional diet quality is independently associated with an increased risk of GDM and with minor elevations in serum glucose concentrations on GDM screening and diagnostic tests, in a diverse cohort of nulliparas. Periconception intervention studies targeting diet quality are warranted.

Objective

The aim of study is to compare the performance of ultrasonographic customized and population fetal growth standards for prediction adverse perinatal outcomes.

Study design

This was a secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be, in which l data were collected at visits throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Percentiles were assigned to estimated fetal weights (EFWs) measured at 22 to 29 weeks using the Hadlock population standard and a customized standard (www.gestation.net). Areas under the curve were compared for the prediction of composite and severe composite perinatal morbidity using EFW percentile.

Results

Among 8,701 eligible study participants, the population standard diagnosed more fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR) than the customized standard (5.5 vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). Neither standard performed better than chance to predict composite perinatal morbidity. Although the customized performed better than the population standard to predict severe perinatal morbidity (areas under the curve: 0.56 vs. 0.54, p = 0.003), both were poor. Fetuses considered FGR by the population standard but normal by the customized standard had morbidity rates similar to fetuses considered normally grown by both standards.The population standard diagnosed FGR among black women and Hispanic women at nearly double the rate it did among white women (p < 0.001 for both comparisons), even though morbidity was not different across racial/ethnic groups. The customized standard diagnosed FGR at similar rates across groups. Using the population standard, 77% of FGR cases were diagnosed among female fetuses even though morbidity among females was lower (p < 0.001). The customized model diagnosed FGR at similar rates in male and female fetuses.

Conclusion

At 22 to 29 weeks' gestation, EFW percentile alone poorly predicts perinatal morbidity whether using customized or population fetal growth standards. The population standard diagnoses FGR at increased rates in subgroups not at increased risk of morbidity and at lower rates in subgroups at increased risk of morbidity, whereas the customized standard does not.

Objective

Our objective was to test the association of fetal adrenal size with perinatal morbidity among fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR; estimated fetal weight [EFW] < 10th percentile).

Study design

This was a secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) adrenal study, which measured fetal adrenal gland size at 22 to 30 weeks' gestation. We analyzed the transverse adrenal area (TAA) and fetal zone area (absolute measurements and corrected for fetal size) and the ratio of the fetal zone area to the total transverse area using a composite perinatal outcome of stillbirth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, seizure, or death. Among fetuses with FGR, adrenal measurements were compared between those that did and did not experience the composite perinatal outcome.

Results

There were 1,709 eligible neonates. Seven percent (n = 120) were diagnosed with FGR at the time of adrenal measurement, and 14.7% (n = 251) experienced perinatal morbidity. EFW-corrected and absolute adrenal measurements were similar among fetuses with and without FGR as well as among those who did and did not experience morbidity. The area under the curve for corrected TAA was 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.38-0.67).

Conclusion

In our cohort, adrenal size was not associated with risk of morbidity among fetuses with FGR.

Background

Reduced uterine artery compliance is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) and may indicate underlying maternal cardiovascular pathology. We investigated associations between second trimester uterine artery Doppler (UAD) parameters and incident maternal hypertension 2-7 years after delivery.

Methods

A cohort of 10,038 nulliparous US participants was recruited early in pregnancy. A subgroup of 3739, without baseline hypertension and with complete follow-up visits 2-7 years after delivery, were included in this analysis. We investigated UAD indicators of compliance including: 1) early diastolic notch; 2) resistance index (RI); and 3) pulsatility index (PI). We defined hypertension as systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg, diastolic ≥80 mmHg, or antihypertensive medication use. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CI) for associations between UAD parameters and hypertension, adjusting for age, obesity, race/ethnicity, insurance, smoking, and APOs.

Results

A total of 187 (5 %) participants developed hypertension after the index pregnancy. Presence of early diastolic notch on UAD was not associated with incident hypertension. Increased RI and PI correlated with higher odds of hypertension (RI: adjusted OR 1.15 [95 % CI 1.03-1.30]; PI: adjusted OR 1.03 [95%CI 1.01-1.05] for each 0.1 unit increase). Maximum RI above 0.84 or maximum PI above 2.3 more than doubled the odds of incident hypertension (RI: adjusted OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.45-4.26; PI: adjusted OR 2.36, 95%CI 1.45-3.86).

Conclusion

Higher resistance and pulsatility indices measured on second trimester UAD were associated with increased odds of incident hypertension 2-7 years later, and may be biomarkers of higher maternal cardiovascular risk.

To characterize sleep duration, timing and continuity measures in pregnancy and their association with key demographic variables. Multisite prospective cohort study. Women enrolled in the nuMoM2b study (nulliparous women with a singleton gestation) were recruited at the second study visit (16-21 weeks of gestation) to participate in the Sleep Duration and Continuity substudy. Women <18 years of age or with pregestational diabetes or chronic hypertension were excluded from participation. Women wore a wrist activity monitor and completed a sleep log for 7 consecutive days. Time in bed, sleep duration, fragmentation index, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep midpoint were averaged across valid primary sleep periods for each participant. Valid data were available from 782 women with mean age of 27.3 (5.5) years. Median sleep duration was 7.4 hours. Approximately 27.9% of women had a sleep duration of <7 hours; 2.6% had a sleep duration of >9 hours. In multivariable models including age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, insurance status, and recent smoking history, sleep duration was significantly associated with race/ethnicity and insurance status, while time in bed was only associated with insurance status. Sleep continuity measures and sleep midpoint were significantly associated with all covariates in the model, with the exception of age for fragmentation index and smoking for wake after sleep onset. Our results demonstrate the relationship between sleep and important demographic characteristics during pregnancy.

Objective

The objective of the Sleep Disordered Breathing substudy of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study Monitoring Mothers-to-be (nuMoM2b) is to determine whether sleep disordered breathing during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Study design

NuMoM2b is a prospective cohort study of 10,037 nulliparous women with singleton gestations that was conducted across 8 sites with a central Data Coordinating and Analysis Center. The Sleep Disordered Breathing substudy recruited 3702 women from the cohort to undergo objective, overnight in-home assessments of sleep disordered breathing. A standardized level 3 home sleep test was performed between 6(0)-15(0) weeks' gestation (visit 1) and again between 22(0)-31(0) weeks' gestation (visit 3). Scoring of tests was conducted by a central Sleep Reading Center. Participants and their health care providers were notified if test results met "urgent referral" criteria that were based on threshold levels of apnea hypopnea indices, oxygen saturation levels, or electrocardiogram abnormalities but were not notified of test results otherwise. The primary pregnancy outcomes to be analyzed in relation to maternal sleep disordered breathing are preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth.

Results

Objective data were obtained at visit 1 on 3261 women, which was 88.1% of the studies that were attempted and at visit 3 on 2511 women, which was 87.6% of the studies that were attempted. Basic characteristics of the substudy cohort are reported in this methods article.

Conclusion

The substudy was designed to address important questions regarding the relationship of sleep-disordered breathing on the risk of preeclampsia and other outcomes of relevance to maternal and child health.

Objective

To estimate whether sleep-disordered breathing during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, nulliparous women underwent in-home sleep-disordered breathing assessments in early (6-15 weeks of gestation) and midpregnancy (22-31 weeks of gestation). Participants and health care providers were blinded to the sleep test results. An apnea-hypopnea index of 5 or greater was used to define sleep-disordered breathing. Exposure-response relationships were examined, grouping participants into four apnea-hypopnea index groups: 0, greater than 0 to less than 5, 5 to less than 15, and 15 or greater. The study was powered to test the primary hypothesis that sleep-disordered breathing occurring in pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes were rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, defined as preeclampsia and antepartum gestational hypertension, and GDM. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated from univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

Three thousand seven hundred five women were enrolled. Apnea-hypopnea index data were available for 3,132 (84.5%) and 2,474 (66.8%) women in early and midpregnancy, respectively. The corresponding prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing was 3.6% and 8.3%. The prevalence of preeclampsia was 6.0%, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 13.1%, and GDM 4.1%. In early and midpregnancy the adjusted odds ratios for preeclampsia when sleep-disordered breathing was present were 1.94 (95% CI 1.07-3.51) and 1.95 (95% CI 1.18-3.23), respectively; hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 1.46 (95% CI 0.91-2.32) and 1.73 (95% CI 1.19-2.52); and GDM 3.47 (95% CI 1.95-6.19) and 2.79 (95% CI 1.63-4.77). Increasing exposure-response relationships were observed between apnea-hypopnea index and both hypertensive disorders and GDM.

Conclusion

There is an independent association between sleep-disordered breathing and preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and GDM.