Early Diagnosis of Ectopic Pregnancies Remains Challenging
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Early diagnosis is difficult even with the use of ultrasound and serial hCG measurements.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
April 11, 2006
Covering:
Silva C et al., Obstet Gynecol 2006 Mar; 107:605-10
Women with Multifetal Pregnancies Have Increased Mortality Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Mortality risk in women with multifetal pregnancies is 3.5 times higher than in women with singleton pregnancies.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
April 11, 2006
Covering:
MacKay AP et al., Obstet Gynecol 2006 Mar; 107:563-8
Membrane Sweeping in Induction of Labor
General Medicine Summary and Comment
This time-honored practice seems to be effective in shortening the time from induction to delivery.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
April 11, 2006
Covering:
Tan PC et al., Obstet Gynecol 2006 Mar; 107:569-77
WNV Infection During Pregnancy: What Is the Outcome?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Most women with gestational West Nile virus infection deliver healthy, normal infants.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
April 7, 2006
Covering:
O’Leary DR et al., Pediatrics 2006 Mar; 117:e537-45
Second-Trimester Amnio Safer Than Ever
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this prospective study, the rate of fetal death did not differ significantly between women who underwent amniocentesis and those who did not.
By Sandra Ann Carson, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Mungen E et al., Am J Perinatol 2006 Jan; 23:25-30
SSRIs and Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this case-control study, SSRI use late in pregnancy significantly increased risk for PPHN.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
SSRI-Exposed Babies: Monitor Them for at Least 48 Hours
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this cohort study, symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome were observed in about one third of exposed infants.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Levinson-Castiel R et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Feb; 160:173-6
Antidepressants During Pregnancy: Think Twice Before Stopping
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women who stopped treatment were five times more likely to relapse than those who maintained treatment.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 1; 295:499-507
Dads' Reactions to Stillbirths
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Mothers aren’t the only ones who experience depression and anxiety during the first pregnancy after a stillbirth.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Turton P et al., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Feb; 188:165-72
Reducing Nevirapine Resistance in Mothers and Infants
Two studies suggest that rates of nevirapine resistance can be reduced by adding AZT (with or without 3TC) to maternal and infant regimens.
By G. Sonia Nagy, MD
March 29, 2006
Covering:
Chaix M-L et al., J Infect Dis 2006 Feb 15; 193:482-7
Eshleman SH et al., J Infect Dis 2006 Feb 15; 193:479-81
Reclassification of Eruptions Associated With Pregnancy
Dermatology Summary and Comment
These authors identify and name a new dermatosis in pregnant women.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
March 28, 2006
Covering:
Ambros-Rudolph CM et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 Mar; 54:395-404
Antidepressants Cross the Placenta
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Cord blood levels of two tricyclics were close to maternal levels.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 22, 2006
Covering:
Loughhead AM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2006 Feb 1; 59:287-90
Study Missed Point: DMPA Results in Zero Teen Pregnancies
Women's Health Summary and Comment
DMPA should continue to be a first-tier contraceptive option for obese and nonobese teens.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Bonny AE et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Jan; 160:40-5
Does the Patch Increase Thrombosis Risk?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
This study suggests that the greater estrogen exposure in patch users relative to OC users might not translate into greater VTE risk.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Jick SS et al., Contraception 2006 Mar; 73:223-8
Metronidazole Does Not Prevent Early Labor in High-Risk Women
Women's Health Summary and Comment
This study showed no benefit, and possible harm, from metronidazole administration to prevent preterm birth.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Shennan A et al., BJOG 2006 Jan; 113:65-74
Transcervical CVS Might Hurt Less Than Amniocentesis
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this study of pain associated with prenatal diagnostic procedures, TC-CVS appeared to be the least painful.
By Sandra Ann Carson, MD
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Csaba A et al., Prenat Diagn 2006 Jan; 26:35-8
Is Prenatal SSRI Exposure Harmful to Newborns?
Infants born to mothers on SSRIs should be monitored closely for neonatal abstinence syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD, and Howard Bauchner, MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Levinson-Castiel R et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Feb; 160:173-6
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
The Gene for Costello Syndrome Has Been Identified
Mutations in the <$EMPH_O>HRAS<$EMPH_C> proto-oncogene were found to be the cause of the syndrome.
By Judith G. Hall, OC, MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Aoki Y et al., Nat Genet 2005 Oct; 37:1038-40
If One Is Good, Two Is Not Necessarily Better
Monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies, either with or without TTS, carry high risks for perinatal morbidity and mortality.
By William P. Kanto, Jr., MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Cordero L et al., J Perinatol 2005 Dec; 25:753-8
First-Ever Population-Based Birth Defect Tally
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Chromosomal defects are most common.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
March 7, 2006
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006 Jan 6; 54:1301-5
Resection of Cervical Lesions Associated with Later Obstetric Complications
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In this meta-analysis, LEEP and cold-knife conization were associated with future obstetric complications; laser conization and ablation were not.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
March 7, 2006
Covering:
Kyrgiou M et al., Lancet 2006 Feb 11; 367:489-98
Uric Acid Adds to Clinical Risk Assessment in Preeclampsia
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women with preeclampsia and high uric acid were more likely to deliver early than were those with preeclampsia alone.
By Marian C. Limacher, MD
March 7, 2006
Covering:
Roberts JM et al., Hypertension 2005 Dec; 46:1263-9
Planned Home Birth: Safe for Selected Women
Well-controlled studies have shown that planned home birth is a safe alternative for some women, with excellent perinatal outcomes.
By Saraswathi Vedam, MSN, CNM
March 7, 2006
Home Birth: Is It Safe? Is It Available? Is It for You?
Women's Health Patient Information
Home birth can be safe for certain healthy women, as long as they plan accordingly.
By Diane E. Judge, APN/CNP
March 7, 2006
SSRIs and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Maternal SSRI use in late pregnancy was associated with increased risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
March 2, 2006
Covering:
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
Mills JL., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:636-8
