To define serum decorin (sDEC) levels in healthy pregnants and in patients with preterm labor (PTL), and to introduce possible role of sDEC in predicting the risk for preterm birth (PTB). Thirty-one women with diagnosis of PTL between 24th to 32nd weeks of pregnancy were compared with 44 healthy pregnants in this prospective case-control study. Maternal blood sDEC and uterine cervical length (CL) measurements were conducted at referral. Median sDEC level was significantly decreased in PTL group (p = 0.013). Median CL was significantly shorter in PTL group (p < 0.001). There was not any correlation between sDEC level and maternal age, BMI, and gestational age at blood sampling time within PTL (p = 0.955, p = 0.609, p = 0.079, respectively) and control groups (p = 0.652, p = 0.131, and p = 0.921, respectively). There was not any association between sDEC level and PTB within 7 days, before 34th weeks, but before 37th weeks there was (p = 0.206, 0.091, and p = 0.026, respectively). There was not any correlation between sDEC level and the CL in PTL group (p = 0.056). sDEC has a limited effect in prediction of PTB within a week or before 34th weeks. Combination of sDEC with CL measurements predicted PTB before 37th weeks.

Umbilical cord teratomas are rare tumoral lesions of umbilical cord which have challenging antenatal diagnosis. The cord teratomas contain tissue from all three germ layers and have both cystic and solid components. This ultrasonographic appearance may help the clinician to clarify the correct diagnosis. We report a case of cord teratoma diagnosed prenatally by ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Since cord teratomas may lead to adverse fetal outcomes, close follow-up of the fetus is recommended.

Objective: To evaluate fetal and neonatal safety of early-onset long-term antenatal indomethacin treatment (LIT) for short cervix. Methods: In this cohort study, women started LIT for short cervix (< 25 mm) before 25 completed weeks. They followed a standardized regiment of oral indomethacin: 100 mg loading, 50 mg qid for 48 hours, 25 mg qid until delivery or at 32 weeks gestational age (GA) whichever comes first. Weekly monitoring for oligohydramnios and ductus areriosus (DA) constriction included confirmation of compliance with treatment/dose. This approach is established in our clinical practice. To identify LIT complications separate from prematurity, each neonate exposed to LIT were matched to two unexposed neonatal controls within ± 3 days of GA of delivery and birth weight of ± 10%. Odds ratios for neonatal variables included pulmonary hemorrhage, patent DA (PDA) requiring medical or surgical correction, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) grade III–IV, other intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), neonatal mortality, calculated individually and for total composite morbidity. Statistical determinants of neonatal morbidity were assessed using binary logistic regression. Exposure to LIT, maternal age, parity, BMI, GA at delivery, birth-weight (BW), neonatal gender, cord artery pH, and 5-minute Apgar score were independent variables. Results: 166 LIT cases were matched with 332 controls. LIT median duration was 49 (3–108) days. Mean delivery GA was 34 weeks. LIT was stopped for 5 patients (2.9%) with oligohydramnios and 1 (0.6%) with DA constriction, without consequent morbidity. 71 cases (43%) completed LIT, stopping at 32 weeks. 95 stopped early for preterm premature ruptures of membranes (PPROM) (20%), active labor (11%) or patient choice (22%). Odds of any individual complication did not differ between treated cases and controls. LIT was not a statistical determinant of composite morbidity or any individual neonatal problem. Conclusion: Continuous early-onset indomethacin exposure, up to 15 weeks antenatally, did not increase fetal or neonatal complications. This level of safety is permissive to a randomized trial of indomethacin for treatment of short cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) infection on pregnancy outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital between the years of October 2020-October 2021. All the pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnoses were enrolled in the study during this period. Demographic parameters, a history of Favipiravir use, COVID-19 symptoms, treatment approaches, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 30+5 years. Forty-seven of the patients were asymptomatic (51%). The most common symptoms were respectively; fatigue (37.8%), fever (27.6%), dyspnea (22%), cough (17.8%), headache (11%), anosmia (4.4%), hyperemesis (4.4%), diarrhea (2.2%). There were 20 patients (21.7%) who were hospitalized. Eight of these women (8.6%) required intensive care unit admission due to COVID pneumonia-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Five of the patients treated in the intensive care unit died due to respiratory failure. Two patients had a miscarriage before the 20th week. There were four stillbirths. The gestational weeks at which fetal death occurred were 24, 26, 28, and 38 weeks of gestation. There were 19 patients with a history of favipiravir use. There was not any other congenital abnormality due to Favipiravir usage.CONCLUSION: Our study showed that COVID-19 disease has similar symptoms in pregnant women to non-pregnant women, according to the literature data. However, COVID-19 infection increases the rates of pregnancy complications and maternal mortality