OBJECTIVE We sought to study long-term (neuro)developmental and behavioral outcome of pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction at term in relation to induction of labor or an... Show moreOBJECTIVE We sought to study long-term (neuro)developmental and behavioral outcome of pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction at term in relation to induction of labor or an expectant management. STUDY DESIGN Parents of 2-year-old children included in the Disproportionate Intrauterine Growth Intervention Trial at Term (DIGITAT) answered the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS We approached 582 (89.5%) of 650 parents. The response rate was 50%. Of these children, 27% had an abnormal score on the ASQ and 13% on the CBCL. Results of the ASQ and the CBCL for the 2 policies were comparable. Low birthweight, positive Morbidity Assessment Index score, and admission to intermediate care increased the risk of an abnormal outcome of the ASQ. This effect was not seen for the CBCL. CONCLUSION In women with intrauterine growth restriction at term, neither a policy of induction of labor nor expectant management affect developmental and behavioral outcome when compared to expectant management. Show less
Wyk, L. van; Boers, K.E.; Post, J.A.M. van der; Pampus, M.G. van; Wassenaer, A.G. van; Baar, A.L. van; ... ; DIGITAT Study Grp 2012
ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that fetal progenitor cells persist in maternal blood or bone marrow for more than 30 years after delivery. Increased trafficking of fetal cells occurs... Show moreABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that fetal progenitor cells persist in maternal blood or bone marrow for more than 30 years after delivery. Increased trafficking of fetal cells occurs during pregnancy complications, such as hypertension, preeclampsia, miscarriage and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). Women with these pregnancy complications are significantly more often HLA-class II compatible with their spouses. Women who later develop scleroderma also give birth to an HLA-class II child more often. From these prior studies we hypothesized that preeclampsia and other pregnancy complications could be associated with increased levels of fetal cell trafficking, and later be involved in the development of scleroderma. METHODS: This study was a retrospective multi-centre matched case-control study. One-hundred-and-three women with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 103 women with no history of SSc or other autoimmune disease were given a questionnaire regarding complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and miscarriage. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations. RESULTS: We found a statistically significantly increased incidence of having had a pregnancy history of hypertension or a fetus with IUGR in women who subsequently developed SSc compared to healthy controls. We found an odds ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1 to 4.6) for hypertensive complications during pregnancy and an odds ratio of 3.9 (95% CI: 1.2 to 12.3) for intra-uterine growth restriction for women with SSc compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show an association between hypertensive complications during pregnancy or IUGR and the development of SSc at a later age. We speculate that the pregnancy abnormalities may have resulted in increased fetomaternal trafficking, which may have played a role in the increased incidence of SSc. Further studies are indicated to examine this putative relationship. Show less
Willekes, C.; Post, J. van der; Mol, B.; Roumen, F.; Boers, K.; Delemarre, F.; ... ; Wijnen, E. 2011
