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Biomedical subjects

I MacGillivray

Publications and source records attributed to I MacGillivray.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The classification and definition of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Hypertension and proteinuria in pregnancy may be the result of a number of different disorders with different etiologies and pathologic characteristics. As the causes of hypertension and proteinuria in pregnancy are largely unknown, a new clinical classification of the hypertensive disorders is proposed and is based solely on the physical signs of hypertension and proteinuria. The classification is intended to define meaningful clinical categories by which all cases of hypertension and proteinuria occurring in pregnancy, labor, or the puerperium may be classified. New definitions of hypertension and proteinuria are also proposed; they are based on standardized methods of measurement and simple criteria of abnormality. It is hoped that this clinical classification and associated definitions will find general acceptance so that the incidence and outcome of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the results of research in different centers may be compared and mutual understanding achieved.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Placenta praevia and sex ratio at birth.

The ratio of male to female sex among infants born to 391 women with and 114 079 without placenta praevia was analysed by parity. In the women without placenta praevia the sex ratio decreased significantly with increasing parity, whereas in the women with placenta praevia it increased. Overall, the sex ratio was increased among the women with placenta praevia, particularly multiparas. An increase in the sex ratio at birth is associated with insemination early or late in the menstrual cycle, which may result in delayed development and implantation of the blastocyst; this may be a predisposing factor in placenta praevia.

Female↗

Zinc and copper nutrition in human pregnancy: a longitudinal study in normal primigravidae and in primigravidae at risk of delivering a growth retarded baby.

A longitudinal study of plasma zinc and copper concentration and plasma volume was carried out in 33 normal healthy primigravidae for comparison with 31 primigravidae selected as being at risk of delivering a growth retarded baby. Neither group received mineral or vitamin supplements. In Group A, plasma zinc concentration fell as plasma volume increased between 14 weeks and 35 weeks. Intravascular mass of zinc therefore increased and showed significant correlation with intravascular mass of albumin. Both of these were significantly lower in Group B, reflecting poorer plasma volume expansion. Plasma copper concentration mirrored the increase in plasma ceruloplasmin and was comparable in both groups. Plasma zinc and copper concentrations were unaffected by smoking or by method of feeding and there was no correlation found with percentile birth weight distribution. In both groups at 30 weeks daily dietary zinc intake was approximately half the Recommended Dietary Allowance.

Adult↗

Pre-eclampsia in second pregnancy.

A total population of pregnant women from Aberdeen City District 1967-1978 has been studied. There were 29 851 pregnancies and 6637 women had a first recorded pregnancy between 1967 and 1978 and had two or more pregnancy events. As expected the incidence of pre-eclampsia in a second pregnancy was less than that in a first pregnancy, but it was dependent on the outcome of the first pregnancy. If the first pregnancy was complicated by proteinuric pre-eclampsia than the incidence of the condition in the second pregnancy was similar to that in a first pregnancy, but women who were normotensive in the first pregnancy had a reduced incidence of the condition in the second pregnancy. The incidence of proteinuric pre-eclampsia after early abortion (less than 13 weeks), either spontaneous or induced was similar to the population incidence in a first pregnancy, but after a late spontaneous abortion the risk of proteinuric pre-eclampsia was significantly reduced. Change of civil status of the offspring from first to second pregnancy did not affect the incidence of pre-eclampsia in a second pregnancy. There was an effect of birthweight in that women who had proteinuric pre-eclampsia in conjunction with a low-birthweight baby (less than 2500 g) in their first pregnancy had double the incidence of proteinuric pre-eclampsia in their second pregnancy. Only a pregnancy of 37 weeks or more is likely to offer protection or 'immunity' to pre-eclampsia in a second pregnancy and even then the effect is moderated by the development of pre-eclampsia in the first pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

The importance of plasma volume expansion and nutrition in twin pregnancy.

Physiological adaptation including expansion in plasma volume is exaggerated in women with twin pregnancies. In singleton pregnancy and multiparous twin pregnancies there is an association between plasma volume expansion and birth weight, but this is not so in primigravid twin pregnancies. Women with twin pregnancies have a similar dietary intake to singleton pregnancies, but it is not known whether there are differences with parity or zygosity. Absorption and utilisation of nutrients may be increased to meet demands for extra fetal growth. Nutrient supply and plasma volume expansion will be further discussed and their association with birth weight presented.

Birth Weight↗

Beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin levels before and after the development of pre-eclampsia.

Maternal serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) concentrations were significantly higher in 41 primigravid patients with proteinuric pre-eclampsia compared with those in 41 primigravid normotensive women matched for age and gestation. beta-hCG was also measured in serial serum samples obtained from 13 women who had a high weight-gain between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Seven of these pregnancies were subsequently complicated with pre-eclampsia while the remaining six continued to be normotensive; beta-hCG levels were found to rise before the clinical signs of pre-eclampsia appeared.

Body Weight↗

Determinants of birthweight of twins.

The low birthweight of twins compared with singletons is only slightly influenced by the higher congenital abnormality rate in twins, or the increased incidence of proteinuric pre-eclampsia in the mothers. Reduced intakes of energy food or of zinc, copper, and iron do not account for the lower birthweight. The main cause of low birthweight is preterm delivery, and this is more common in monozygotic than dizygotic twin pregnancies, due particularly to premature rupture of the membranes. The type of placentation did not influence the preterm onset of labor. Preterm labor in monozygotic twin pregnancies is associated with a very high boy:girl ratio, but this did not apply in dizygotic twin pregnancies.

Birth Weight↗

Congenital anomalies in twins in Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland.

Data with regard to the proportion of congenital malformations found at birth are presented from a survey of 657 pairs of twins of known zygosity and placentation delivered in Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland between 1968 and 1979. There was an excess of malformed individuals from monozygotic (MZ) pairs, but this did not reach statistical significance. The possible effect of monochorionic placentation in the causation of malformations in MZ twins in general is discussed. It seems that this type of placentation may be of less causative importance than has been previously suggested.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Preterm deliveries in twin pregnancies in Aberdeen.

The incidence of preterm delivery was 28.2% of all twin deliveries. Preterm delivery was common in monozygotic twins due to a high incidence of spontaneous rupture of the membranes. In addition, preterm delivery was associated more often with boy rather than girl infants.

Female↗

Maternal nutrition in twin pregnancy.

Energy and protein intake as measured by 24-hour urinary nitrogen values are similar in twin and singleton pregnancies. The relationship between urinary nitrogen and nitrogen intake is equally significant in twin and singleton pregnancies. Dietary zinc, copper, and iron are not different in women with twins, nor are the levels of these elements in plasma. These observations are surprising in view of the extra fetal demands on the mother and the different adaptation of twin pregnancies.

Copper↗

Nitrogen balance studies in human pregnancy.

Sixty-eight primigravidae successfully complete a 12-day nitrogen balance study when they were between 30 and 34 weeks pregnant. Particular attention was paid to ensure that each patient ate a hospital diet quantitatively equal to the home diet; each patient ate the same every day and all food was eaten. There was a significant correlation between nitrogen intake and apparent nitrogen retention but no relationship between apparent nitrogen retention and birth weight or the occurrence of pre-eclampsia. The mean apparent nitrogen retention for the 68 women was 1.2 g/day. Once allowance is made for integumental losses this figure is equal to the estimated daily nitrogen retention for growth of the fetus and reproductive tissues during this time. There was no evidence of maternal storage of surplus protein as has been previously suggested. The previous literature is reviewed and an attempt made to explain the discrepancy between the findings in this study and previous work.

Birth Weight↗

The indicence of severe pre-eclampsia amongst mothers and mothers-in-law of pre-eclamptics and controls.

In order to distinguish between a maternal, fetal or maternal and fetal genetic predisposition towards severe pre-eclampsia, the first pregnancies of 158 mothers and 160 mothers-in-law of pre-eclamptic women and of matched controls were analysed. Fourteen per cent of mothers of pre-eclamptics were found to have had severe pre-eclampsia, confirming previous suggestions that the condition "runs in families', in contrast to only a 3% incidence amongst mothers of controls. The incidence in mothers-in-law of both pre-eclamptics and controls was 4%, in full agreement with a maternal genotype hypothesis and suggesting that the fetal genotype plays, at most, only a minor role in the aetiology of severe pre-eclampsia. The data are in agreement with the hypothesis that a single recessive gene acting in the mother could be responsible for severe pre-eclampsia, but multifactorial inheritance is not ruled out. Mild pre-eclampsia showed no such familial tendency, indicating that the mild and severe forms of pre-eclampsia may represent separate pathological entities.

Female↗