Key clinical point: Fremanezumab lowers the pain and neurological symptom days in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) with associated neurological dysfunction and inadequate response to 2-4 prior classes of prophylactic medications.

Major finding: Quarterly and monthly fremanezumab vs. placebo significantly reduced monthly mean days with neurological symptoms (least square mean difference −1.7 days and −1.8 days vs. −0.5 days; both P ≤ .01) and monthly migraine days (P < .0001) over 12 weeks.

Study details: This post hoc analysis included 837 patients with difficult-to-treat EM or CM from the phase 3b FOCUS study who received quarterly fremanezumab, monthly fremanezumab, or placebo over 12 weeks and were categorized into patients with (n = 493) and without (n = 344) associated neurological dysfunction.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., USA. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, or principal clinical trial investigators for or receiving personal fees from various sources, including Teva, and other authors are employees or stockholders of Teva.

Source: Lampl C et al. Efficacy and quality-of-life improvements with fremanezumab treatment in patients with difficult-to-treat migraine with associated neurological dysfunction. Eur J Neurol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1111/ene.15328

Key clinical point: Fremanezumab lowers the pain and neurological symptom days in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) with associated neurological dysfunction and inadequate response to 2-4 prior classes of prophylactic medications.

Major finding: Quarterly and monthly fremanezumab vs. placebo significantly reduced monthly mean days with neurological symptoms (least square mean difference −1.7 days and −1.8 days vs. −0.5 days; both P ≤ .01) and monthly migraine days (P < .0001) over 12 weeks.

Study details: This post hoc analysis included 837 patients with difficult-to-treat EM or CM from the phase 3b FOCUS study who received quarterly fremanezumab, monthly fremanezumab, or placebo over 12 weeks and were categorized into patients with (n = 493) and without (n = 344) associated neurological dysfunction.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., USA. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, or principal clinical trial investigators for or receiving personal fees from various sources, including Teva, and other authors are employees or stockholders of Teva.

Source: Lampl C et al. Efficacy and quality-of-life improvements with fremanezumab treatment in patients with difficult-to-treat migraine with associated neurological dysfunction. Eur J Neurol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1111/ene.15328

Key clinical point: Fremanezumab lowers the pain and neurological symptom days in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) with associated neurological dysfunction and inadequate response to 2-4 prior classes of prophylactic medications.

Major finding: Quarterly and monthly fremanezumab vs. placebo significantly reduced monthly mean days with neurological symptoms (least square mean difference −1.7 days and −1.8 days vs. −0.5 days; both P ≤ .01) and monthly migraine days (P < .0001) over 12 weeks.

Study details: This post hoc analysis included 837 patients with difficult-to-treat EM or CM from the phase 3b FOCUS study who received quarterly fremanezumab, monthly fremanezumab, or placebo over 12 weeks and were categorized into patients with (n = 493) and without (n = 344) associated neurological dysfunction.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., USA. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, or principal clinical trial investigators for or receiving personal fees from various sources, including Teva, and other authors are employees or stockholders of Teva.

Source: Lampl C et al. Efficacy and quality-of-life improvements with fremanezumab treatment in patients with difficult-to-treat migraine with associated neurological dysfunction. Eur J Neurol. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1111/ene.15328

Key clinical point: Consistent with the overall study population results, eptinezumab therapy demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) and self-reported aura from the PROMISE studies.

Major finding: Over weeks 1-12, monthly migraine days decreased with 100 mg and 300 mg eptinezumab vs. placebo in patients with EM (100 mg, −3.9 days; 300 mg, −4.2 days vs. −3.3 days) and CM (100 mg, −7.1 days; 300 mg, −7.6 days vs. −5.9 days) with aura. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar across treatment groups.

Study details: Of 1741 patients with EM/CM from the PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2 trials, this post hoc analysis included 877 patients who self-reported migraine with aura at screening and received eptinezumab (n = 583) or placebo (n = 294).

Disclosures: Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., USA, funded the study. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, advisors, or as a primary trial investigator for and receiving personal fees and research support from various sources, including Lundbeck. Some authors are current or former employees of Lundbeck or its subsidiary company.

Source: Ashina M et al. Efficacy and safety of eptinezumab in patients with migraine and self-reported aura: Post hoc analysis of PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2. Cephalalgia. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1177/03331024221077646

Key clinical point: Consistent with the overall study population results, eptinezumab therapy demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) and self-reported aura from the PROMISE studies.

Major finding: Over weeks 1-12, monthly migraine days decreased with 100 mg and 300 mg eptinezumab vs. placebo in patients with EM (100 mg, −3.9 days; 300 mg, −4.2 days vs. −3.3 days) and CM (100 mg, −7.1 days; 300 mg, −7.6 days vs. −5.9 days) with aura. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar across treatment groups.

Study details: Of 1741 patients with EM/CM from the PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2 trials, this post hoc analysis included 877 patients who self-reported migraine with aura at screening and received eptinezumab (n = 583) or placebo (n = 294).

Disclosures: Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., USA, funded the study. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, advisors, or as a primary trial investigator for and receiving personal fees and research support from various sources, including Lundbeck. Some authors are current or former employees of Lundbeck or its subsidiary company.

Source: Ashina M et al. Efficacy and safety of eptinezumab in patients with migraine and self-reported aura: Post hoc analysis of PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2. Cephalalgia. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1177/03331024221077646

Key clinical point: Consistent with the overall study population results, eptinezumab therapy demonstrated favorable efficacy and safety in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM) and self-reported aura from the PROMISE studies.

Major finding: Over weeks 1-12, monthly migraine days decreased with 100 mg and 300 mg eptinezumab vs. placebo in patients with EM (100 mg, −3.9 days; 300 mg, −4.2 days vs. −3.3 days) and CM (100 mg, −7.1 days; 300 mg, −7.6 days vs. −5.9 days) with aura. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar across treatment groups.

Study details: Of 1741 patients with EM/CM from the PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2 trials, this post hoc analysis included 877 patients who self-reported migraine with aura at screening and received eptinezumab (n = 583) or placebo (n = 294).

Disclosures: Lundbeck Seattle BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., USA, funded the study. Some authors declared serving as consultants, speakers, advisors, or as a primary trial investigator for and receiving personal fees and research support from various sources, including Lundbeck. Some authors are current or former employees of Lundbeck or its subsidiary company.

Source: Ashina M et al. Efficacy and safety of eptinezumab in patients with migraine and self-reported aura: Post hoc analysis of PROMISE-1 and PROMISE-2. Cephalalgia. 2022 (Mar 18). Doi: 10.1177/03331024221077646

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab is an effective and safe long-term treatment option for chronic migraine.

Major finding: At month 12, patients in the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups showed a mean change of −8.5, −9.0, and −8.0 days in monthly migraine days from the beginning of the double-blind period, respectively (all within-group P < .001). No new safety concerns emerged with extended treatment.

Study details: Findings are from the 9-month open-label extension of the REGAIN trial including 1022 patients with chronic migraine who completed the preceding 3-month double-blind treatment (501, 259, and 262 patients assigned to the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups, respectively) and received a 240-mg galcanezumab loading dose, followed by 120 mg in the next month and flexible dosing thereafter.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. Some authors declared receiving speaker, consultant, or advisory board member honoraria from various sources, including Eli Lilly. Two authors reported being full-time employees and minor stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Pozo-Rosich P et al. Long-term treatment with galcanezumab in patients with chronic migraine: results from the open-label extension of the REGAIN study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 (Apr 8). Doi:   10.1080/03007995.2022.2059975

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab is an effective and safe long-term treatment option for chronic migraine.

Major finding: At month 12, patients in the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups showed a mean change of −8.5, −9.0, and −8.0 days in monthly migraine days from the beginning of the double-blind period, respectively (all within-group P < .001). No new safety concerns emerged with extended treatment.

Study details: Findings are from the 9-month open-label extension of the REGAIN trial including 1022 patients with chronic migraine who completed the preceding 3-month double-blind treatment (501, 259, and 262 patients assigned to the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups, respectively) and received a 240-mg galcanezumab loading dose, followed by 120 mg in the next month and flexible dosing thereafter.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. Some authors declared receiving speaker, consultant, or advisory board member honoraria from various sources, including Eli Lilly. Two authors reported being full-time employees and minor stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Pozo-Rosich P et al. Long-term treatment with galcanezumab in patients with chronic migraine: results from the open-label extension of the REGAIN study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 (Apr 8). Doi:   10.1080/03007995.2022.2059975

Key clinical point: Galcanezumab is an effective and safe long-term treatment option for chronic migraine.

Major finding: At month 12, patients in the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups showed a mean change of −8.5, −9.0, and −8.0 days in monthly migraine days from the beginning of the double-blind period, respectively (all within-group P < .001). No new safety concerns emerged with extended treatment.

Study details: Findings are from the 9-month open-label extension of the REGAIN trial including 1022 patients with chronic migraine who completed the preceding 3-month double-blind treatment (501, 259, and 262 patients assigned to the placebo, 120 mg galcanezumab, and 240 mg galcanezumab groups, respectively) and received a 240-mg galcanezumab loading dose, followed by 120 mg in the next month and flexible dosing thereafter.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. Some authors declared receiving speaker, consultant, or advisory board member honoraria from various sources, including Eli Lilly. Two authors reported being full-time employees and minor stockholders of Eli Lilly.

Source: Pozo-Rosich P et al. Long-term treatment with galcanezumab in patients with chronic migraine: results from the open-label extension of the REGAIN study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 (Apr 8). Doi:   10.1080/03007995.2022.2059975

Key clinical point: Prenatal standard estimated fetal weight (EFW) z-scores can predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses with greater accuracy than abdominal circumference (AC) z-scores and postnatal reference standards.

Major finding: The INTERGROWTH-21st project-derived EFW z-scores showed higher accuracy in identifying fetuses with a birthweight of <10th and <3rd percentiles than AC z-scores (both P < .05) and postnatal standards (both P < .05). The Hadlock group-derived EFW z-scores performed better in identifying fetuses <10th percentiles (P < .05) and similarly in identifying fetuses <3rd percentile (P = .344) than AC z-scores, whereas they were more accurate than postnatal standards with both birth-weight percentiles (both P < .05).

Study details: This retrospective study included 406 singleton pregnant women at an increased risk for fetal growth restriction who underwent ultrasound examinations between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Visentin S et al. A prenatal standard for fetal weight improves the prenatal diagnosis of small for gestational age fetuses in pregnancies at increased risk. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:254 (Mar 26). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04545-x

Key clinical point: Prenatal standard estimated fetal weight (EFW) z-scores can predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses with greater accuracy than abdominal circumference (AC) z-scores and postnatal reference standards.

Major finding: The INTERGROWTH-21st project-derived EFW z-scores showed higher accuracy in identifying fetuses with a birthweight of <10th and <3rd percentiles than AC z-scores (both P < .05) and postnatal standards (both P < .05). The Hadlock group-derived EFW z-scores performed better in identifying fetuses <10th percentiles (P < .05) and similarly in identifying fetuses <3rd percentile (P = .344) than AC z-scores, whereas they were more accurate than postnatal standards with both birth-weight percentiles (both P < .05).

Study details: This retrospective study included 406 singleton pregnant women at an increased risk for fetal growth restriction who underwent ultrasound examinations between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Visentin S et al. A prenatal standard for fetal weight improves the prenatal diagnosis of small for gestational age fetuses in pregnancies at increased risk. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:254 (Mar 26). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04545-x

Key clinical point: Prenatal standard estimated fetal weight (EFW) z-scores can predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses with greater accuracy than abdominal circumference (AC) z-scores and postnatal reference standards.

Major finding: The INTERGROWTH-21st project-derived EFW z-scores showed higher accuracy in identifying fetuses with a birthweight of <10th and <3rd percentiles than AC z-scores (both P < .05) and postnatal standards (both P < .05). The Hadlock group-derived EFW z-scores performed better in identifying fetuses <10th percentiles (P < .05) and similarly in identifying fetuses <3rd percentile (P = .344) than AC z-scores, whereas they were more accurate than postnatal standards with both birth-weight percentiles (both P < .05).

Study details: This retrospective study included 406 singleton pregnant women at an increased risk for fetal growth restriction who underwent ultrasound examinations between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. No conflicts of interest were reported.

Source: Visentin S et al. A prenatal standard for fetal weight improves the prenatal diagnosis of small for gestational age fetuses in pregnancies at increased risk. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:254 (Mar 26). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04545-x

Key clinical point: Accuracy of ultrasonography for the prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is comparable with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Major finding: Ultrasonography and MRI showed similar sensitivity (0.90; 95% CI 0.86-0.93 vs. 0.89; 95% CI 0.85-0.92), specificity (0.83; 95% CI 0.79-0.86 vs. 0.87; 95% CI 0.83-0.89), and diagnostic odds ratio (39.5; 95% CI 19.6-79.7 vs. 37.4; 95% CI 17.0-82.3) for PAS diagnosis, with no significant difference between their pooled diagnostic sensitivity (P = .808) and specificity (P = .413).

Study details: This is a meta-analysis of 18 studies including 861 pregnancies at a potential risk for PAS, of which 339 were diagnosed with PAS.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hong S et al. Performance comparison of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in their diagnostic accuracy of placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Insights Imaging. 2022;13:50 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01192-w

Key clinical point: Accuracy of ultrasonography for the prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is comparable with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Major finding: Ultrasonography and MRI showed similar sensitivity (0.90; 95% CI 0.86-0.93 vs. 0.89; 95% CI 0.85-0.92), specificity (0.83; 95% CI 0.79-0.86 vs. 0.87; 95% CI 0.83-0.89), and diagnostic odds ratio (39.5; 95% CI 19.6-79.7 vs. 37.4; 95% CI 17.0-82.3) for PAS diagnosis, with no significant difference between their pooled diagnostic sensitivity (P = .808) and specificity (P = .413).

Study details: This is a meta-analysis of 18 studies including 861 pregnancies at a potential risk for PAS, of which 339 were diagnosed with PAS.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hong S et al. Performance comparison of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in their diagnostic accuracy of placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Insights Imaging. 2022;13:50 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01192-w

Key clinical point: Accuracy of ultrasonography for the prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is comparable with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Major finding: Ultrasonography and MRI showed similar sensitivity (0.90; 95% CI 0.86-0.93 vs. 0.89; 95% CI 0.85-0.92), specificity (0.83; 95% CI 0.79-0.86 vs. 0.87; 95% CI 0.83-0.89), and diagnostic odds ratio (39.5; 95% CI 19.6-79.7 vs. 37.4; 95% CI 17.0-82.3) for PAS diagnosis, with no significant difference between their pooled diagnostic sensitivity (P = .808) and specificity (P = .413).

Study details: This is a meta-analysis of 18 studies including 861 pregnancies at a potential risk for PAS, of which 339 were diagnosed with PAS.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Hong S et al. Performance comparison of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in their diagnostic accuracy of placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Insights Imaging. 2022;13:50 (Mar 22). Doi: 10.1186/s13244-022-01192-w

Key clinical point: Noninvasive prenatal fetal rhesus D (RHD) screening after 11 weeks of gestation offers high accuracy and reliability in routine clinical practice.

Major finding: Fetal RHD testing had a 100% sensitivity (95% CI 95.3%-100.0%) and a 100% specificity (95% CI 91.6%-100.0%), with the negative and positive predictive values being 100.0%. No false-negative or false-positive screening results were reported.

Study details: This was a single-center study wherein fetal RHD testing (real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting RHD exons 5 and 7) was performed using blood samples from 205 RHD-negative pregnant women at ≥11 weeks of gestation and test performance was evaluated using cord blood samples obtained from 62% (n = 127) of women.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Scientific Fund of Hematology. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Blomme S et al. Routine noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal Rh D in maternal plasma—A 2-year experience from a single center in Belgium. Transfusion. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1111/trf.16868

Key clinical point: Noninvasive prenatal fetal rhesus D (RHD) screening after 11 weeks of gestation offers high accuracy and reliability in routine clinical practice.

Major finding: Fetal RHD testing had a 100% sensitivity (95% CI 95.3%-100.0%) and a 100% specificity (95% CI 91.6%-100.0%), with the negative and positive predictive values being 100.0%. No false-negative or false-positive screening results were reported.

Study details: This was a single-center study wherein fetal RHD testing (real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting RHD exons 5 and 7) was performed using blood samples from 205 RHD-negative pregnant women at ≥11 weeks of gestation and test performance was evaluated using cord blood samples obtained from 62% (n = 127) of women.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Scientific Fund of Hematology. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Blomme S et al. Routine noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal Rh D in maternal plasma—A 2-year experience from a single center in Belgium. Transfusion. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1111/trf.16868

Key clinical point: Noninvasive prenatal fetal rhesus D (RHD) screening after 11 weeks of gestation offers high accuracy and reliability in routine clinical practice.

Major finding: Fetal RHD testing had a 100% sensitivity (95% CI 95.3%-100.0%) and a 100% specificity (95% CI 91.6%-100.0%), with the negative and positive predictive values being 100.0%. No false-negative or false-positive screening results were reported.

Study details: This was a single-center study wherein fetal RHD testing (real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting RHD exons 5 and 7) was performed using blood samples from 205 RHD-negative pregnant women at ≥11 weeks of gestation and test performance was evaluated using cord blood samples obtained from 62% (n = 127) of women.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the Scientific Fund of Hematology. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Blomme S et al. Routine noninvasive prenatal screening for fetal Rh D in maternal plasma—A 2-year experience from a single center in Belgium. Transfusion. 2022 (Mar 30). Doi: 10.1111/trf.16868

Key clinical point: Maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) levels measured before labor may aid the prediction of cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction and fetal heart rate (FHR) function at delivery.

Major finding: Women having vaginal delivery had significantly higher pre-labor PlGF levels than those having a cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction (157 ± 106 vs. 74 ± 62 pg/mL; P = .03). PlGF levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.42; P = .01) with FHR findings at delivery according to the five-tier classification system.

Study details: The study analyzed PlGF levels in 33 primiparous singleton pregnant women at 35-42 weeks of gestation who were hospitalized before the onset of labor, of which 26 women had vaginal delivery and 7 had a cesarean delivery due to fetal indications.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka H et al. Placental growth factor level is correlated with intrapartum fetal heart rate findings. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:215 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04562-w

Key clinical point: Maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) levels measured before labor may aid the prediction of cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction and fetal heart rate (FHR) function at delivery.

Major finding: Women having vaginal delivery had significantly higher pre-labor PlGF levels than those having a cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction (157 ± 106 vs. 74 ± 62 pg/mL; P = .03). PlGF levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.42; P = .01) with FHR findings at delivery according to the five-tier classification system.

Study details: The study analyzed PlGF levels in 33 primiparous singleton pregnant women at 35-42 weeks of gestation who were hospitalized before the onset of labor, of which 26 women had vaginal delivery and 7 had a cesarean delivery due to fetal indications.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka H et al. Placental growth factor level is correlated with intrapartum fetal heart rate findings. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:215 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04562-w

Key clinical point: Maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) levels measured before labor may aid the prediction of cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction and fetal heart rate (FHR) function at delivery.

Major finding: Women having vaginal delivery had significantly higher pre-labor PlGF levels than those having a cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction (157 ± 106 vs. 74 ± 62 pg/mL; P = .03). PlGF levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.42; P = .01) with FHR findings at delivery according to the five-tier classification system.

Study details: The study analyzed PlGF levels in 33 primiparous singleton pregnant women at 35-42 weeks of gestation who were hospitalized before the onset of labor, of which 26 women had vaginal delivery and 7 had a cesarean delivery due to fetal indications.

Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka H et al. Placental growth factor level is correlated with intrapartum fetal heart rate findings. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:215 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04562-w

Key clinical point: Maternal serum lamin A (LMNA) could emerge as a potential biomarker for prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease (CHD), neural tube defects (NTD), and preeclampsia (PE).

Major finding: Significantly lower LMNA levels were observed in pregnancies with fetal CHD, NTD, and PE (all P < .0001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LMNA in prenatal diagnoses of CHD, NTD, early-onset PE, and late-onset PE were 0.875, 0.871, 0.851, and 0.674, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a prospective study including 2711 singleton pregnant women at 15-18 weeks of gestation who underwent measurement of serum LMNA levels.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program and National Natural Science Foundation of China, among others. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Chen L et al. Maternal serum lamin A is a potential biomarker that can predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. EBioMedicine. 2022;77:103932 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103932

Key clinical point: Maternal serum lamin A (LMNA) could emerge as a potential biomarker for prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease (CHD), neural tube defects (NTD), and preeclampsia (PE).

Major finding: Significantly lower LMNA levels were observed in pregnancies with fetal CHD, NTD, and PE (all P < .0001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LMNA in prenatal diagnoses of CHD, NTD, early-onset PE, and late-onset PE were 0.875, 0.871, 0.851, and 0.674, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a prospective study including 2711 singleton pregnant women at 15-18 weeks of gestation who underwent measurement of serum LMNA levels.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program and National Natural Science Foundation of China, among others. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Chen L et al. Maternal serum lamin A is a potential biomarker that can predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. EBioMedicine. 2022;77:103932 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103932

Key clinical point: Maternal serum lamin A (LMNA) could emerge as a potential biomarker for prenatal diagnosis of fetal congenital heart disease (CHD), neural tube defects (NTD), and preeclampsia (PE).

Major finding: Significantly lower LMNA levels were observed in pregnancies with fetal CHD, NTD, and PE (all P < .0001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LMNA in prenatal diagnoses of CHD, NTD, early-onset PE, and late-onset PE were 0.875, 0.871, 0.851, and 0.674, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a prospective study including 2711 singleton pregnant women at 15-18 weeks of gestation who underwent measurement of serum LMNA levels.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program and National Natural Science Foundation of China, among others. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Chen L et al. Maternal serum lamin A is a potential biomarker that can predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. EBioMedicine. 2022;77:103932 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.103932

Key clinical point: Fetal echocardiography can diagnose most major congenital heart diseases (CHD) with high accuracy. The accuracy can be affected by factors such as gestational age at diagnosis and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) diagnosis.

Major finding: Diagnostic accuracy rates were highest for univentricular hearts (97.6%; CI, 86.3%-99.9%), followed by tetralogy of Fallot (97.2%; CI 90.0%-99.2%) and transposition of the great arteries (96.2%; CI 89.2%-98.6%) and the lowest for heterotaxy syndrome (71.1%; CI 56.6%-82.2%). Factors such as a >25-week gestational age at diagnosis (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1; P = .023) and DORV diagnosis (aRR 8.33; P = .032) affected the diagnostic accuracy.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, single-center study including 827 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with a major CHD that was confirmed for 589 either postnatally or via fetal autopsies.

Disclosures: This research was sponsored by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and Lois Hole Women’s Hospital/Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Haberer K et al. Accuracy of fetal echocardiography in defining anatomical details: A single institutional experience over a 12-year period. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2022 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.02.015

Key clinical point: Fetal echocardiography can diagnose most major congenital heart diseases (CHD) with high accuracy. The accuracy can be affected by factors such as gestational age at diagnosis and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) diagnosis.

Major finding: Diagnostic accuracy rates were highest for univentricular hearts (97.6%; CI, 86.3%-99.9%), followed by tetralogy of Fallot (97.2%; CI 90.0%-99.2%) and transposition of the great arteries (96.2%; CI 89.2%-98.6%) and the lowest for heterotaxy syndrome (71.1%; CI 56.6%-82.2%). Factors such as a >25-week gestational age at diagnosis (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1; P = .023) and DORV diagnosis (aRR 8.33; P = .032) affected the diagnostic accuracy.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, single-center study including 827 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with a major CHD that was confirmed for 589 either postnatally or via fetal autopsies.

Disclosures: This research was sponsored by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and Lois Hole Women’s Hospital/Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Haberer K et al. Accuracy of fetal echocardiography in defining anatomical details: A single institutional experience over a 12-year period. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2022 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.02.015

Key clinical point: Fetal echocardiography can diagnose most major congenital heart diseases (CHD) with high accuracy. The accuracy can be affected by factors such as gestational age at diagnosis and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) diagnosis.

Major finding: Diagnostic accuracy rates were highest for univentricular hearts (97.6%; CI, 86.3%-99.9%), followed by tetralogy of Fallot (97.2%; CI 90.0%-99.2%) and transposition of the great arteries (96.2%; CI 89.2%-98.6%) and the lowest for heterotaxy syndrome (71.1%; CI 56.6%-82.2%). Factors such as a >25-week gestational age at diagnosis (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1; P = .023) and DORV diagnosis (aRR 8.33; P = .032) affected the diagnostic accuracy.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, single-center study including 827 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with a major CHD that was confirmed for 589 either postnatally or via fetal autopsies.

Disclosures: This research was sponsored by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and Lois Hole Women’s Hospital/Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Haberer K et al. Accuracy of fetal echocardiography in defining anatomical details: A single institutional experience over a 12-year period. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2022 (Mar 11). Doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2022.02.015

Key clinical point: The incidence of short cervical length is significantly affected by the method of cervical length measurement, thus necessitating knowledge of the measurement method employed.

Major finding: The lowest mean cervical length was recorded using single-line without cervico-isthmic complex (CIC; 41.04 ± 7.1 mm) compared with two-line without CIC (43.29 ± 7.36 mm) and trace without CIC (44.14 ± 7.60 mm); trace with CIC yielded the longest mean length (49.18 ± 9.05 mm). The incidence of a short cervix (<25 mm) ranged from 0.4% to 1.1%.

Study details: This was a single-center, prospective, cohort study including 1691 nulliparous or parous women with a singleton pregnancy who had undergone cervical length measurement between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. BW Mol declared receiving a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator grant and consulting fees from a few pharmaceutical companies.

Source: van Zijl MD et al. Uniform international method to measure cervical length; are we there yet? Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1159/000523996

Key clinical point: The incidence of short cervical length is significantly affected by the method of cervical length measurement, thus necessitating knowledge of the measurement method employed.

Major finding: The lowest mean cervical length was recorded using single-line without cervico-isthmic complex (CIC; 41.04 ± 7.1 mm) compared with two-line without CIC (43.29 ± 7.36 mm) and trace without CIC (44.14 ± 7.60 mm); trace with CIC yielded the longest mean length (49.18 ± 9.05 mm). The incidence of a short cervix (<25 mm) ranged from 0.4% to 1.1%.

Study details: This was a single-center, prospective, cohort study including 1691 nulliparous or parous women with a singleton pregnancy who had undergone cervical length measurement between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. BW Mol declared receiving a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator grant and consulting fees from a few pharmaceutical companies.

Source: van Zijl MD et al. Uniform international method to measure cervical length; are we there yet? Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1159/000523996

Key clinical point: The incidence of short cervical length is significantly affected by the method of cervical length measurement, thus necessitating knowledge of the measurement method employed.

Major finding: The lowest mean cervical length was recorded using single-line without cervico-isthmic complex (CIC; 41.04 ± 7.1 mm) compared with two-line without CIC (43.29 ± 7.36 mm) and trace without CIC (44.14 ± 7.60 mm); trace with CIC yielded the longest mean length (49.18 ± 9.05 mm). The incidence of a short cervix (<25 mm) ranged from 0.4% to 1.1%.

Study details: This was a single-center, prospective, cohort study including 1691 nulliparous or parous women with a singleton pregnancy who had undergone cervical length measurement between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding. BW Mol declared receiving a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator grant and consulting fees from a few pharmaceutical companies.

Source: van Zijl MD et al. Uniform international method to measure cervical length; are we there yet? Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Mar 10). Doi: 10.1159/000523996