Introduction: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is either Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (HL IC) or non-Hunner lesion interstitial cystitis (N-HL IC), differing in the presence of HLs on cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is essential in diagnosing HL but are bladder biopsies useful in N-HL IC patients? Our objective was to assess bladder biopsy in patients with N-HL IC, evaluating whether the count of mast cells (MCs) and percentage of activated MCs could measure severity. Materials and Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective study. Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of BPS/IC by ESSIC definition; absence of HLs. Each patient had three bladder biopsies. Statistical analysis: χ²/Fischer’s exact test; Wilcoxon signed-ranks test/Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance: p < 0.05. Results: We separated 48 women into Group 1 with 50%. We compared the results of the O’Leary-Sant questionnaire between the two groups and did not find any correlation between the severity of the pathology and either the MC count in the detrusor or the percentage of activated MCs in the lamina propria or detrusor. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings cast doubt on the usefulness of bladder biopsy for the evaluation of severity in N-HL IC.

Introduction: The prevalence of ductus venosus agenesis (ADV) in singleton pregnancies ranges from 0.04% to 0.15%, while its prevalence in twins remains largely unknown. To our knowledge, in the literature, there is only a single case report of a monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancy complicated by ADV. Fetuses with ADV are at increased risk for congenital cardiac disease, heart failure, and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Consequently, these pregnancies have a heightened risk of experiencing an adverse outcome, like stillbirth and neonatal or infant death. Closer antenatal monitoring is warranted when ADV is suspected. Currently, there are no guidelines regarding the standard of care in cases of ADV and no recommendations for the timing of delivery in either singleton or twin pregnancies. Cases: This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the management of twin pregnancies complicated by ADV, featuring two cases of MC twins with concurrent sFGR and ADV in one twin. Discussion: These pregnancies experienced completely different outcomes, underscoring the necessity for personalized management tailored to the specific risk factors present in each pregnancy. Typically, in MCDA pregnancies with severe sFGR (type II and III), delivery represents the most reasonable option when venous Doppler abnormalities are identified. However, the absence of the DV complicates the management and the process of decision-making regarding the timing of delivery in cases of sFGR and ADV. We emphasize that effective decision-making should be guided by the presence of additional risk factors, including velamentous insertion, significant estimated fetal weight discordance, and progressive deterioration of the Doppler over time. Conclusions: Our experience suggests that these factors are strongly correlated with poorer outcomes. Given this context, could it be acceptable, in the case of MC pregnancy complicated by severe sFGR and ADV, with worsening findings and additional risk factors (e.g., velamentous insertion, severe birth weight discrepancy), to anticipate the time of delivery starting from 30 weeks of gestational age?

Introduction: While machine learning models successfully predict preeclampsia in singleton pregnancies and aspirin prophylaxis prevents preterm preeclampsia, no parallel models exist for twin pregnancies. This study developed machine learning algorithms to predict preeclampsia in twins using maternal factors and biomarkers from all three trimesters. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 596 pregnant women with twin pregnancies at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks’ gestation. Machine learning models assessed the efficacy of maternal factors and biomarkers for preeclampsia prediction across all trimesters. Screening performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Women with first-trimester risk >1/100 received aspirin treatment (150–160 mg/day) based on Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) twin-specific algorithms, while others received 80–100 mg/day or no treatment according to local guidelines. Results: Sixty-seven women (11.2%) developed preeclampsia, including 40 (6.7%) with preterm preeclampsia. Key first-trimester markers included maternal factors, mean arterial pressure, cell-free fetal DNA, placental growth factor, and blood group B. Second- and third-trimester predictors comprised placental growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, and mean arterial pressure. The optimal machine learning model incorporating all three trimesters achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.97 with 91% detection rate at 10% false-positive rate. Conclusion: Despite aspirin treatment in 257 (43.1%) women, logistic regression showed no significant reduction in preeclampsia rates. These findings suggest that while multi-trimester biomarkers effectively predict preeclampsia in twins, the effect of aspirin prophylaxis in twin pregnancies has yet to be proven. An app to predict this score is available at: twin-pe.math.biu.ac.il or by contact with the corresponding author.

In 2024, Europe experienced a significant upsurge in cases of Parvovirus B19 (B19V), the etiological agent of erythema infectiosum, also known as fifth disease. The prevalence of B19V in pregnant women, a particularly vulnerable population, holds critical clinical significance. Typically, B19V follows a well-documented seasonal pattern, with annual epidemics peaking in the spring and larger outbreaks occurring approximately every four years. B19V exhibits a tropism for erythroid precursor cells, potentially resulting in fetal anemia and, in the most severe scenarios, intrauterine demise. Severe in utero infections necessitate intrauterine erythrocyte transfusion (IUT), a highly specialized and technically demanding procedure that is exclusively performed in tertiary-level prenatal care units. This study delineates how the notable increase in B19V infections is also reflected in our prenatal diagnosis unit at Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli (FPG) IRCCS, Rome, Italy. According to our case series, since 2018, B19V has been identified as the second most common cause of fetal anemia during the study period (29%, 6 patients), yet it accounted for the majority of IUT procedures performed in 2024 (16 out of 19 cases, 84.2%). Given the rising incidence of severe intrauterine infections in recent epidemic cycles, healthcare professionals should maintain a high index of suspicion regarding the clinical manifestations of maternal B19V infection and its potential obstetric complications. Further research is imperative to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of routine screening for B19V immunity in pregnant women and to investigate the long-term neurodevelopmental and clinical outcomes of neonates affected by intrauterine B19V infection.