View clinical trials related to Fetal Growth Restriction.
Filter by:In many low-income countries, the use of ultrasound by medical officers and non-physician health care staff (e.g., midwives) for antenatal identification of high risk pregnancies is a new intervention requiring authoritative investigation. The primary hypothesis to be assessed in this study is that antenatal ultrasound screenings performed by medical officers and non-physician health care staff will significantly reduce a composite outcome consisting of maternal mortality and maternal near miss, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in low-resource settings. Underpinning this hypothesis are two assumptions. The first assumption is that antenatal detection of complicated pregnancies will lead to appropriate referral at the right time for complicated pregnancies to comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) facilities. The second assumption is that ultrasound's introduction will increase antenatal attendance leading to greater rates of institutional delivery. To assess these underlying assumptions beyond the composite end point, this study will investigate the health system impact of compact ultrasound. Secondary outcomes include antenatal attendance rates, institutional delivery rates at basic EmONC facilities, referral rates to comprehensive EmONC facilities, cesarean section rates (both planned and emergent) and an assessment of medical officers and non-physician health care provider ultrasound competence and training quality.
One of the most challenging areas currently facing obstetricians is the detection and management of pregnancies in which the growth of the fetus is poor. These fetuses have not only increased rates of perinatal morbidity and mortality, but also have higher levels of morbidity extending into adult life (Linda; Murray 2010). In developing countries including Egypt, low birth weight is a national concern and emphasized in population and health policies according to the latest WHO data published in April 2011 low Birth Weight Deaths in Egypt reached 13,587 or 3.74% of total deaths, Mortality was more frequent in LBW (31.6%) than normal birth weight (NBW) infants (2.0%). Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is defined as fetuses whose growth velocity slows down or stops completely because of inadequate oxygen and nutritional supply or utilization (Linda; Murray 2010). Low birth weight (LBW) refers to an infant with a birth weight < 2500 g, Small for gestational age (SGA) birth is defined as an estimated fetal weight (EFW) less than the 10th centile and severe SGA as an EFW less than the 3rd centile, (RCOG Green-top Guideline No.31, 2013). Ultrasound has been used as a tool for determining fetal health and a variety of sonographic parameters have been used to screen and diagnose IUGR including fetal biometry, fetal body proportions (Campbell et al., 1994), amniotic fluid volume (Owen et al., 1999), subcutaneous tissue thickness and estimated fetal weight (EFW) (Larciprete et al., 2005). IUGR is associated with changes in the body proportions as undernourished fetus directs most of its energy to maintain the growth of vital organs, such as the brain and heart, at the expense of the liver, muscle and fat and this results in decreased abdominal and thigh circumference measurements and hence theoretically increased HC/AC, FL/AC and FL/TC ratios (Colley et al., 1991). Fetal thigh circumference has a role to play in accurately measuring fetal weight when incorporated with other fetal parameters and provide a potentially straightforward method for assessing the deposition of muscle and fat in the growing fetus; there is a scope of using the FL/TC ratio in predicting IUGR (Sanyal et al., 2012). Fetal thigh circumference to femur length ratio (FL/TC) seems to be potential for use in predicting IUGR (Shripad; Varalaxmi, 2005).
The purpose of this study is to use an air filter intervention to evaluate the relationship between particulate matter air pollution exposure during pregnancy and fetal growth. We hypothesize that: 1) portable high efficiency air (HEPA) filters will produce major reductions in home indoor concentrations of particulate matter and 2) pregnant women whose exposures to particulate matter are reduced by this intervention will give birth to children with greater mean body weight for gestational age. In an extended follow-up of this cohort, we aim to evaluate the relationship between use of portable air purifiers during pregnancy and the growth and development of children from birth to age four years. In particular, the follow-up study will focus on children's physical growth, respiratory symptoms, and behavioral, social and neurocognitive development.
The Antiphospholipid Syndrome is an immune disease where the presence of antibodies directed against cell membrane phospholipids (antiphospholipid antibodies) can cause an hypercoagulable state that causes thrombosis and obstetric complications (miscarriages, stillbirths). Since 1999 the Sapporo Criteria for Antiphospholipid Syndrome diagnosis includes the development of fetal growth restriction (diagnosed postpartum), but this was done without solid evidence of a relation between the two or using the most common form of fetal growth restriction diagnosis (ultrasound). Our study will try to add information to this particular point.
Normal growth and development of twins are important for the long-term health of the children. The purpose of this study was to empirically define the trajectory of fetal growth in dichorionic twins using longitudinal two-dimensional ultrasonography and to compare the fetal growth trajectories for dichorionic twins with those based on a growth standard developed by our group for singletons. This knowledge may lead to interventions that could minimize or prevent pregnancy and newborn health problems in the future.
The risk of venous thromboembolism increases in pregnancy. Thrombophilia whether genetic or acquired, is a hypercoagulable disorder that may increase the risk of venous thromboembolic events. Clinically, these events are presented as maternal deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. Thrombophilias are also associated with adverse fetal outcomes including intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, severe preeclampsia, placental abruption and recurrent abortions. Pregnant women who experienced one or more of the above complications are advised to be examined for the presence of the genetic or the acquired form of thrombophilia. Low molecular weight heparin prophylaxis, an anticoagulant, is advised for pregnant women with a history of thromboembolism, and many experts recommend prophylaxis for pregnant patients with a known thrombophilia and history of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with these hypercoagulable states. Physiologic changes in normal pregnancy, including weight gain, increased renal clearance and volume of distribution, may decrease the availability of low molecular weight heparin (Enoxaparin or Dalteparin), or produce a less predictable response in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women. There are no clear recommendations for use of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin in pregnancy. Clinicians tend to use doses suggested for nonpregnant patients. Regarding pregnant patients taking enoxaparin or dalteparin, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that "because of the lack of data regarding adequate dosing during pregnancy, anti-factor Xa levels may be monitored". Two recently published studies demonstrated that plasma anti-factor Xa levels during pregnancy were lower than expected, indicating that many pregnant patients may receive a subprophylactic dosing. Our objective is to check pregnancy outcome among thrombophilic women treated with an adjusted enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis dosage according to anti-factor Xa plasma levels compared to women with fixed dosage.