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Low Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) and Pregnancy Outcome
On August 27, 2007, K left the following comment on my previous post entitled"Abnormal First Trimester Screening Results" published earlier this year:I had a 1st trimester screen and while most of the results came back normal, my PAPP-A level was ...
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Low hCG and PAPP-A in a Patient with an Autoimmune Disorder
The following comment was left on an old post "Affect of Smoking on PAPP-A Levels in First Trimester." The case is interesting because it reminds us that abnormal maternal serum markers in first trimester might be the result of factors unrelated t...
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Grand Rounds 4.44 at GruntDoc!
Thanks to GruntDoc for the effort put into hosting this week's Grand Rounds 4.44. I am grateful that he included my recent post on Amniocentesis is Not Without Risk. Admittedly, it is a long post, but it tells a story. I may be wrong, but I get ...
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Amniotic Fluid - 8 - Evaluation and Management of Polyhydramnios
In the last couple of posts we have reviewed causes and complications related to excessive amniotic fluid, otherwise known as polyhydramnios or, simply hydramnios. Although 50-60% of cases of hydramnios are idiopathic (no identifiable cause) and ...
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Cytomegalovirus (CMV): Spectrum of Disease
From the time of exposure to CMV, to the onset of virus excretion, which occurs whether or not symptomatic disease develops, usually takes 4-12 weeks. At least half of the primary, and the vast majority of the recurrent, infections are entirely as...
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Is 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (17P) Safe for the Baby During Use in Preterm Birth Prevention?
Recently, I received the following two comments from readers regarding their concerns about the use of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate or 17P (formerly known as Delalutin) in the management of preterm labor. Their specific concerns are related to...
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Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss - 6 - A Special Patient
Before I get into details regarding specific abnormalities of the maternal immune system and clotting system that appear to be related to recurrent early pregnancy loss, let me tell you a story about one of those ‘special patients’ in my life who ...
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Midtrimester Loss: Preterm Labor vs. Cervical Incompetence
Below is a sequence of comments between a reader and me related to the unending difficulties we encounter sorting out the cause of midtrimester pregnancy losses: Is it preterm labor, cervical incompetence, uterine infection, fetal chromosomal abn...
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Falling Folic Acid Levels Portend Problems
A few weeks ago, I attended the Medicaid Commissioner’s Perinatal Task Force meeting in my home state of South Carolina. A featured presenter at that meeting was Dr. Roger E. Stevenson from the Greenwood Genetic Center who reminded us of the need ...
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Will We Ever See 17-P for PTB?
On August 31, I posted a note entitled "Preterm Birth: An American Tragedy." In that post, I reported that Adeza Biomedical Corp. had filed application with the FDA to have exclusive rights to the production of 17-hydroxy-progesterone caproate ("1...
