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Biomedical subjects

Lieve Verstraete

Publications and source records attributed to Lieve Verstraete.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Use of mifepristone to ripen the cervix and induce labor in term pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of mifepristone for ripening the cervix and inducing labor in term pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: In a double-blind placebo-controlled dose-finding study, 346 women received 50, 100, 200, 400, or 600 mg of mifepristone or placebo. The main endpoint for efficacy was the number of patients in whom labor occurred between 12 and 45 and 54 hours after treatment or who had a Bishop score 6 or greater. Maternal and fetal tolerability was also studied. RESULTS: No significant efficacy was observed whatever the dose of mifepristone. Mifepristone was well tolerated by the mother and fetus. CONCLUSION: Mifepristone, at doses up to 600 mg, does not induce labor within 54 hours in patients with unfavourable cervical status.

Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal↗

Fetal toxicity of valsartan and possible reversible adverse side effects.

BACKGROUND: Published cases suggest that the use of angiotensin II receptor antagonists is fetotoxic during the third trimester, but not in early pregnancy. CASE: We report a case in which the adverse fetal effect of angiotensin II receptor antagonist treatment was reversed. A woman with chronic hypertension was treated with valsartan until gestation week (GW) 20, when a complete anhydramnios was observed. Six days after interruption of the treatment, amniotic fluid reappeared. It reached a normal level at GW 23.5. The plasmatic creatinine level and the renal ultrasound examination were within normal limits at the six-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas angiotensin-II-receptor antagonist generates a severe renal toxicity, this case suggests that, at least in the first half of pregnancy, these effects can be reversed.

Adult↗

[Recurrent miscarriage].

Repetitive spontaneous first trimester miscarriage as well as second and third trimester in utero fetal death are considered as recurrent pregnancy losses. They represent 1% of all pregnancies. Repetitive fetal loss with alive fetus should also be counted as such. An explanation is found for less than 50% of such patients. Most recurrent first trimester fetal losses are of chromosomal, hormonal, immunological, uterine or environmental origin. The most frequent causes for in utero fetal death are renovascular syndromes, hormonal or immunological pathologies, hereditary thrombophilias, red cell or platelet allo-immunisation and chromosomal anomalies. Second trimester miscarriage is generally due to a cervical incompetence, uterine malformations or infections.

Abortion, Habitual↗