Long-term loss of fetal blood can occur with fetomaternal hemorrhage, vasoprevia, or placental previa. Our objective was to determine the effects of progressive fetal blood loss over 10 days on fetal plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration and its relationship to arterial PO(2), hematocrit, and the volume of blood loss. Late-gestation fetal sheep (n = 8) were hemorrhaged daily at a rate of 1 ...

The persistent presence in plasma of medium to high levels of IgG and/or IgM class anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and/or the lupus anticoagulant (LAC) is associated with both “recurrent pregnancy loss” and venous and arterial thrombosis. This clinicoserological entity, first described in the early eighties in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was termed the antiphospholipid syndrome ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the postprocedure loss rate for mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis. OUTCOME Reduction of benign biopsy rates. BENEFITS To provide better advice for women about the risks and benefits of mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis, and to ensure that women are given sufficient information/counselling to make a decision about screening. SUMMARY STATEMENT The risk of postproc...

Experience with more than 150 pregnancies of women with systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrates that: many conventional measures of lupus activity, including complement, platelet count and urinary protein, are invalid during pregnancy; pregnancy does not cause lupus exacerbation; anti-phospholipid antibody is common and is closely associated with fetal loss, but is not the sole determinant fa...

Objective: Amniocentesis is an invasive cytogenic test traditionally associated with a 1/200 procedure–related pregnancy loss rate. Recent studies have questioned the validity of the traditionally stated rate. The purpose of this study was to document the results of second-trimester genetic amniocentesis performed at our perinatalogy clinic. Study Design: A retrospective review of all the amnio...