background: there are many parameters that modulate the severity of sickle cell anemia. fetal hemoglobin (hb f) is one of these major variables. however, its effect is clinically inconsistent. we conducted a descriptive study to assess the influence of hb f on clinical events and hematological variables in patients with sickle cell anemia. methods: 151 patients with sickle cell anemia with a st...

context maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) and alpha fetal protein (afp) were originally introduced to detect trisomy 21 and neural tube defects. however, in the absence of aneuploidy or neural tube defects, mid-trimester maternal serum hcg and/or maternal serum afp associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. pregnancies with unexplained mid-trimester elevation in maternal serum ...

BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) has important fetal implications. There is increased risk for poor fetal outcomes, including preterm delivery, meconium staining of amniotic fluid, respiratory distress, fetal distress and demise. METHODS One hundred and one women diagnosed with ICP between January 2005 and March 2009 at San Francisco General Hospital were included in thi...

Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland which can be associated with a number of complications both for mother and fetus. A 34-year-old pregnant woman with normal function was referred to our Department Obstetrics and Gynecology at Microcitemico Pediatric Hospital, Cagliari, suspected fetal goiter 32 gestational weeks. The case monitored regularly by ultrasound and treated successfu...

Among 56 pregnancies complicated by obstetric cholestasis five intrauterine deaths and one neonatal death occurred between 33 and 39 weeks, and a further six infants required urgent delivery for intrapartum asphyxia. Eighteen spontaneous premature deliveries occurred. Five mothers required specific treatment for unexplained postpartum haemorrhage. Cholestasis of pregnancy is therefore not a con...

Background: Both maternal and fetal complications are increased in diabetic pregnancies. Although hypertensive complications are increased in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes, reports on hypertensive complications in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been contradictory. Congenital malformations and macrosomia are the main fetal complications in Type 1 diabetic pregn...