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Biomedical subjects

A S Valat

Publications and source records attributed to A S Valat.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Triploidies].

Triploidies are pregnancies that show a 69 chromosome karyotype. This chromosomal abnormality gives rise to early abortion in most cases. Triploid pregnancies, after the first three months, become molar pregnancies (molar changes inside the placenta with identifiable embryonic structures and a preeclampsia) or non molar pregnancies (isolated intauterin growth retardation). Several possibilities concerning the origin of the additional set of chromosomes exist: dispermy (the most common), diandry and digyny. The maternal and fetal clinical manifestations of this chromosomal abnormality are very diverse, which explains the difficulty of finding and recognizing this pathology. Mac Fadden's classification does not explain all the phenotypic triploid physiopathology. Formal diagnosis of triploidy depends on the fetal karyotype. The better the maternal prognosis is, the worst the fetal prognosis is. Postnatal life expectancy is not more than a few weeks. In most cases, maternal associated complications disappear with the molar evacuation. The risk of post molar tumor is discussed. However, good management of triploidy is based on an early diagnosis, before birth if that is possible.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

[Choroid plexus cysts and risks of chromosome anomalies. Review of the literature and proposed management].

OBJECTIVE: We propose to specify the different criteria of estimation and management in presence of a ultrasound discovery of a choroid plexus cyst. METHOD: A detailed review of the literature about this subject allowed to better apprehend the different attitudes taken up by the authors. RESULTS: Fetal choroid plexus cysts (CPC) are potentially useful markers for trisomy 18 in as much as they are present in about 50% of affected fetuses and they are easily seen in the standard biparietal diameter view which is obtained for all routine ultrasound scans. However, advice is contradictory as to whether karyotyping should be proposed for all fetuses (1-2% of the population) where fetal CPC are diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The review of the literature show that the majority of the authors advocate amniocentesis when the CPC is associated with another ultrasound abnormality. Isolated, it imposes regular and meticulous morphologic ultrasound supervision to search for another possible associated ultrasound abnormality, if necessary, in a prenatal diagnosis center.

Amniocentesis↗

[Ultrasonographic signs of chromosome aberrations].

We reviewed the literature on ultrasonographic criteria allowing prenatal diagnosis of chromosome aberrations, especially the most frequent: trisomy. Signs vary depending on the term of the ultrasound examination (first trimester ultrasound is often performed to early and several signs are observed in the second trimester). During the first trimester, the main criteria is the diagnosis of nuchal clearness 3 mm. The distance can only be measured with an appropriate sagittal CRL section by an experienced operator. The ideal term of this morphology ultrasound is 10 weeks gestation. During the second trimester, there are many suggestive criteria including non-specific signs: anomalous quantity of amniotic fluid, short femur, nuchal thickness 6 mm, isolated anomaly of the umbilical velocimetry, pyelectasy and fetal malformations (mainly cerebral or abdominal, including ophalocele and diaphragmatic hernia, anomalies, abnormal heart anatomy, cystic hygroma, facial anomalies and malformations of the members, often abnormal flexion of the hands).

Blood Flow Velocity↗

[Study of developing clinical outbreak and serological rebounds in children with congenital toxoplasmosis and follow-up during the first 2 years of life].

BACKGROUND: The survival of T gondii bradyzoites in cysts explains clinical recurrences and serological rebounds after birth in children with congenital toxoplasmosis. At the present time, management of such manifestations is not well defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three infants with congenital toxoplasmosis were followed-up at the University Hospital of Lille (France) during the first two years of life. For each child, the treatment before and after birth was well defined. Clinical, ophthalmological, radiological and serological data were collected every third month. Serological assays specially adapted to this age bracket were used for the quantification of specific IgG, or for the detection of T gondii specific IgM and IgA. RESULTS: Seventy-six serological rebounds were reported in 55 of the 63 children (87%). They concerned essentially IgG (96%) and less frequently IgM (47%) or IgA (60%). At the same time, only five clinical recurrences were observed, four of them being preceded by a serological rebound. DISCUSSION: Treatment of fetuses or children with pyrimethamine and sulfonamides versus spiramycin alone was associated with a decrease in the frequency of serological rebounds during the first year of life (P < 0.001). Such a therapeutic regimen during the second year of life decreases the appearance of serological rebounds in children without rebound antecedent (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The increase in number of rebounds after the end of a course of pyrimethamine and sulfonamides necessitates the evaluation of such a long term treatment without interruption.

Child, Preschool↗

[Panorama of uropathies discovered during the prenatal period. 147 cases].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish the panorama of uropathies discovered during the antenatal period and to analyze the explorations performed. Pregnancy outcome and infant prognosis was also recorded. METHOD: Ultrasonographic imaging revealed dilatation in 62.5% of the cases, parenchymal anomalies in 26.3% and unilateral or bilateral agenesia in 11.2%. The percentage of abnormal karyotypes was 4.76% for all urorenal symptomatologies. These abnormal karyotypes corresponded to 10% of those performed in 17 fetuses, urine puncture was used in order to assess in utero renal function. There were 113 live births, 31 medically termined pregnancies and 3 spontaneous abortions. Among the 113 live infants, 12 died during the post-natal period. Thirty-two infants were considered to be normal and 69 had an urorenal malformation, including 2 infants with pre-end-stage renal failure at 4 and 3 years. CONCLUSION: It is uncommon to discover an urorenal malformation at prenatal ultrasonography. The main problem is antenatal management and evaluation of prognosis. Urine puncture and in utero derivation are discussed. When no other reliable factors affecting fetal prognosis are available, puncture of fetal urine provides useful information for management although the technique remains under debate.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

[May-Heggelin anomaly and pregnancy. A case report, review of the literature].

The May-Hegglin anomaly is a rare autosomal dominant platelet disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, giant platelets and existence of crescent-shaped inclusions within the cytoplasm of granulocytes, eosinophils and monocytes (Döhle body). We report a case of May-Hegglin anomaly associated with a pregnancy. The pregnancy and delivery were uneventful. The child is not a carrier of this hematologic anomaly. Nine cases of complicated pregnancies with this anomaly have been reported in the literature. The risks of maternal hemorrhagic accident during pregnancy and during delivery are weak due to the fact that platelets functions are preserved. The same applies to the fetus. Nevertheless, as in the case of maternal autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, most reports advice performing a fetal platelet count on fetal blood sampling before birth to decide upon the mode of delivery. The risk of the cordonal approach to perform fetal blood sampling must be balanced against the small fetal hemorrhagic risk and most authors propose to allow normal delivery whilst avoiding all traumatic instrumental extraction, especially the use of vacuum extractor.

Adult↗

[Management of newborn life-threatening distress at birth. Study of the experience at a university maternity ward].

Care given to 1,425 consecutive new-born infants in a University Maternity Ward was screened for high-risk pregnancies. The characteristics of the new-borns retained for study resulted from this choice. Life-threatening distress, defined as the need for respiratory assistance beyond the third minute of life, was observed in 6% of cases. Distress had been predicted 30 minutes before birth in only 42% of cases. In 56.5%, the signs of distress occurred outside "normal" working hours and immediate care was given by the mid-wife in 36% of cases. Despite progress in fetal medicine, these findings would suggest that life-threatening distress at birth is often unpredicted and occurs at a non-negligible rate. This would emphasize the need of training the entire obstetrical team, especially the mid-wives in care the for new-borns.

Acute Disease↗

Evolution of the prematurity before the 32nd week from 1980 to 1985 in a tertiary perinatal center in Lille, France.

127 infants were born alive before the 32nd week of gestation in the H. Salengro obstetrical unit from the University Hospital of Lille from January 1980 to December 1985. During this period the annual number of deliveries was constant, 2700. Two periods were considered, 1980-1982 and 1983-1985. The number of such premature infants increased slightly: from 56 to 71. The most striking feature was the dramatic increase in infants born after induction of delivery for fetal reasons. Another finding is the statistically significant lowering of gestational age and birthweight of the spontaneously born infants. These trends counterweight the efficacy of the policy of prevention. When considering the morbidity and the mortality, hyaline membrane disease still plays a preeminent role in this population.

Female↗