Article

Key clinical point: Niraparib is tolerable and shows activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and DNA repair gene defects (DRD).

Major finding: The median follow-up duration was 10 months and 8.6 months in the measurable BRCA and non-BRCA cohorts, respectively. The objective response rate was 34.2% in the measurable BRCA cohort and 10.6% in the measurable non-BRCA cohort. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematological (anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia). These adverse events were manageable with treatment interruptions, dose reductions, or supportive measures.

Study details: An open-label, single-arm, phase 2 GALAHAD study of 289 patients with histologically confirmed mCRPC and DRD who were treated with niraparib.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen Research & Development. The authors received grants, contracts, payments, honoraria, travel support, and consulting/advisory/personal fees or reported being in a leadership role, holding stocks, or other ownership roles relative to Janssen Research & Development.

Source: Smith MR et al. Lancet Oncol. 2022 (Feb 4). Doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00757-9.

Key clinical point: Niraparib is tolerable and shows activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and DNA repair gene defects (DRD).

Major finding: The median follow-up duration was 10 months and 8.6 months in the measurable BRCA and non-BRCA cohorts, respectively. The objective response rate was 34.2% in the measurable BRCA cohort and 10.6% in the measurable non-BRCA cohort. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematological (anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia). These adverse events were manageable with treatment interruptions, dose reductions, or supportive measures.

Study details: An open-label, single-arm, phase 2 GALAHAD study of 289 patients with histologically confirmed mCRPC and DRD who were treated with niraparib.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen Research & Development. The authors received grants, contracts, payments, honoraria, travel support, and consulting/advisory/personal fees or reported being in a leadership role, holding stocks, or other ownership roles relative to Janssen Research & Development.

Source: Smith MR et al. Lancet Oncol. 2022 (Feb 4). Doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00757-9.

Key clinical point: Niraparib is tolerable and shows activity in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and DNA repair gene defects (DRD).

Major finding: The median follow-up duration was 10 months and 8.6 months in the measurable BRCA and non-BRCA cohorts, respectively. The objective response rate was 34.2% in the measurable BRCA cohort and 10.6% in the measurable non-BRCA cohort. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematological (anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia). These adverse events were manageable with treatment interruptions, dose reductions, or supportive measures.

Study details: An open-label, single-arm, phase 2 GALAHAD study of 289 patients with histologically confirmed mCRPC and DRD who were treated with niraparib.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen Research & Development. The authors received grants, contracts, payments, honoraria, travel support, and consulting/advisory/personal fees or reported being in a leadership role, holding stocks, or other ownership roles relative to Janssen Research & Development.

Source: Smith MR et al. Lancet Oncol. 2022 (Feb 4). Doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00757-9.

Key clinical point: The addition of dendritic cell vaccine immunotherapy for prostate cancer (DCVAC/PCa) to chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa maintenance therapy does not extend overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Major finding: The overall survival was not significantly different between the DCVAC/PCa and placebo groups (median 23.9 months vs. 24.3 months; hazard ratio 1.04; P = .60). The treatment-emergent adverse event rate was 9.2% in the DCVAC/PCa group and 12.7% in the placebo group.

Study details: A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 randomized VIABLE study of 1,182 patients with mCRPC who were randomly assigned to receive DCVAC/PCa plus chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa (n = 787) or placebo (n = 395).

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Sotio a.s. The authors received research funding, grants, personal/advisory/consulting fees, and nonfinancial support or had stock ownership or patents.

Source: Vogelzang NJ et al. JAMA Oncol. 2022 (Feb 10). Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.7298.

Key clinical point: The addition of dendritic cell vaccine immunotherapy for prostate cancer (DCVAC/PCa) to chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa maintenance therapy does not extend overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Major finding: The overall survival was not significantly different between the DCVAC/PCa and placebo groups (median 23.9 months vs. 24.3 months; hazard ratio 1.04; P = .60). The treatment-emergent adverse event rate was 9.2% in the DCVAC/PCa group and 12.7% in the placebo group.

Study details: A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 randomized VIABLE study of 1,182 patients with mCRPC who were randomly assigned to receive DCVAC/PCa plus chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa (n = 787) or placebo (n = 395).

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Sotio a.s. The authors received research funding, grants, personal/advisory/consulting fees, and nonfinancial support or had stock ownership or patents.

Source: Vogelzang NJ et al. JAMA Oncol. 2022 (Feb 10). Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.7298.

Key clinical point: The addition of dendritic cell vaccine immunotherapy for prostate cancer (DCVAC/PCa) to chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa maintenance therapy does not extend overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Major finding: The overall survival was not significantly different between the DCVAC/PCa and placebo groups (median 23.9 months vs. 24.3 months; hazard ratio 1.04; P = .60). The treatment-emergent adverse event rate was 9.2% in the DCVAC/PCa group and 12.7% in the placebo group.

Study details: A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 randomized VIABLE study of 1,182 patients with mCRPC who were randomly assigned to receive DCVAC/PCa plus chemotherapy followed by DCVAC/PCa (n = 787) or placebo (n = 395).

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Sotio a.s. The authors received research funding, grants, personal/advisory/consulting fees, and nonfinancial support or had stock ownership or patents.

Source: Vogelzang NJ et al. JAMA Oncol. 2022 (Feb 10). Doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.7298.

Key clinical point: Although high first‐trimester glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels are predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), they cannot ensure effective GDM diagnosis owing to subpar sensitivity or specificity.

Main finding: An HbA_1c cutoff value of 4.85% ruled out GDM with a diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 92.2%, 32.8%, 95.5%, and 21.2%, respectively, whereas HbA_1c cutoff value of 5.45% for diagnosing GDM decreased sensitivity (54.8%) while increasing specificity (96.8%), with the NPV and PPV being 91.5% and 76.8%, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a single-center prospective study including 700 singleton pregnant women over 18 years of age who did not have type I or II diabetes mellitus.

Disclosures: The study was not funded by any source. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

Source: Valadan M et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:71 (Jan 27). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04330-2.

Key clinical point: Although high first‐trimester glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels are predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), they cannot ensure effective GDM diagnosis owing to subpar sensitivity or specificity.

Main finding: An HbA_1c cutoff value of 4.85% ruled out GDM with a diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 92.2%, 32.8%, 95.5%, and 21.2%, respectively, whereas HbA_1c cutoff value of 5.45% for diagnosing GDM decreased sensitivity (54.8%) while increasing specificity (96.8%), with the NPV and PPV being 91.5% and 76.8%, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a single-center prospective study including 700 singleton pregnant women over 18 years of age who did not have type I or II diabetes mellitus.

Disclosures: The study was not funded by any source. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

Source: Valadan M et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:71 (Jan 27). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04330-2.

Key clinical point: Although high first‐trimester glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels are predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), they cannot ensure effective GDM diagnosis owing to subpar sensitivity or specificity.

Main finding: An HbA_1c cutoff value of 4.85% ruled out GDM with a diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) of 92.2%, 32.8%, 95.5%, and 21.2%, respectively, whereas HbA_1c cutoff value of 5.45% for diagnosing GDM decreased sensitivity (54.8%) while increasing specificity (96.8%), with the NPV and PPV being 91.5% and 76.8%, respectively.

Study details: The data are derived from a single-center prospective study including 700 singleton pregnant women over 18 years of age who did not have type I or II diabetes mellitus.

Disclosures: The study was not funded by any source. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest.

Source: Valadan M et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:71 (Jan 27). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04330-2.

Key clinical point: Presence of amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) in the midtrimester may serve as an additional ultrasound index for predicting preterm birth in women with a short cervical length (CL; ≤25 mm) who have undergone cervical cerclage.

Main finding: In patients who underwent cerclage, AFS and short CL were associated with preterm birth at <28 weeks and <36 weeks (all P < .05). In women with a short CL, the presence of AFS was significantly associated with short gestational age at delivery even after adjusting for possible confounders (adjusted hazard ratio 2.45; 95% CI 1.7-3.5).

Study details: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study involving 296 singleton pregnant women who underwent McDonald cerclage for cervical insufficiency, transvaginal ultrasound-diagnosed short CL, or cervical dilatation with amniotic sac bulging, followed by evaluation of the presence of AFS and CL at 14-24 weeks of gestation within 2 weeks after cerclage.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding or conflict of interests concerning the study.

Source: Huang Y et al. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/jum.15952.

Key clinical point: Presence of amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) in the midtrimester may serve as an additional ultrasound index for predicting preterm birth in women with a short cervical length (CL; ≤25 mm) who have undergone cervical cerclage.

Main finding: In patients who underwent cerclage, AFS and short CL were associated with preterm birth at <28 weeks and <36 weeks (all P < .05). In women with a short CL, the presence of AFS was significantly associated with short gestational age at delivery even after adjusting for possible confounders (adjusted hazard ratio 2.45; 95% CI 1.7-3.5).

Study details: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study involving 296 singleton pregnant women who underwent McDonald cerclage for cervical insufficiency, transvaginal ultrasound-diagnosed short CL, or cervical dilatation with amniotic sac bulging, followed by evaluation of the presence of AFS and CL at 14-24 weeks of gestation within 2 weeks after cerclage.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding or conflict of interests concerning the study.

Source: Huang Y et al. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/jum.15952.

Key clinical point: Presence of amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) in the midtrimester may serve as an additional ultrasound index for predicting preterm birth in women with a short cervical length (CL; ≤25 mm) who have undergone cervical cerclage.

Main finding: In patients who underwent cerclage, AFS and short CL were associated with preterm birth at <28 weeks and <36 weeks (all P < .05). In women with a short CL, the presence of AFS was significantly associated with short gestational age at delivery even after adjusting for possible confounders (adjusted hazard ratio 2.45; 95% CI 1.7-3.5).

Study details: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study involving 296 singleton pregnant women who underwent McDonald cerclage for cervical insufficiency, transvaginal ultrasound-diagnosed short CL, or cervical dilatation with amniotic sac bulging, followed by evaluation of the presence of AFS and CL at 14-24 weeks of gestation within 2 weeks after cerclage.

Disclosures: The authors reported no source of funding or conflict of interests concerning the study.

Source: Huang Y et al. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/jum.15952.

Key clinical point: Expanded noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT-plus) is better at predicting fetal chromosome abnormalities in pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA) than in those of young maternal age (YMA).

Main finding: The positive predictive value of NIPT-plus in AMA pregnancies vs. YMA pregnancies was 57.6% vs. 35.7% (P < .05) for sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) and 77.8% vs. 51.9% (P < .05) for chromosome aneuploidies, including trisomies 21, 18, and 13, and SCAs.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including 448 pregnant women with screen-positive results by NIPT-plus for fetal chromosome abnormality in the second trimester, who underwent prenatal diagnosis, of which 27% were AMA pregnancies.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China. None of the authors reported having a conflicts of interests.

Source: Chen Y et al. Am J Med Genet A. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62657.

Key clinical point: Expanded noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT-plus) is better at predicting fetal chromosome abnormalities in pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA) than in those of young maternal age (YMA).

Main finding: The positive predictive value of NIPT-plus in AMA pregnancies vs. YMA pregnancies was 57.6% vs. 35.7% (P < .05) for sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) and 77.8% vs. 51.9% (P < .05) for chromosome aneuploidies, including trisomies 21, 18, and 13, and SCAs.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including 448 pregnant women with screen-positive results by NIPT-plus for fetal chromosome abnormality in the second trimester, who underwent prenatal diagnosis, of which 27% were AMA pregnancies.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China. None of the authors reported having a conflicts of interests.

Source: Chen Y et al. Am J Med Genet A. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62657.

Key clinical point: Expanded noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT-plus) is better at predicting fetal chromosome abnormalities in pregnant women of advanced maternal age (AMA) than in those of young maternal age (YMA).

Main finding: The positive predictive value of NIPT-plus in AMA pregnancies vs. YMA pregnancies was 57.6% vs. 35.7% (P < .05) for sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) and 77.8% vs. 51.9% (P < .05) for chromosome aneuploidies, including trisomies 21, 18, and 13, and SCAs.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study including 448 pregnant women with screen-positive results by NIPT-plus for fetal chromosome abnormality in the second trimester, who underwent prenatal diagnosis, of which 27% were AMA pregnancies.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China. None of the authors reported having a conflicts of interests.

Source: Chen Y et al. Am J Med Genet A. 2022 (Feb 2). Doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62657.

Key clinical point: Diagnostic exome sequencing may enable the characterization of the molecular defects underlying unexplained callosal anomalies (CA) and potentially reduce the number of prenatally undiagnosed cases.

Main finding: A total of 17 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 14 genes from 17 fetuses were identified, with the proportion of diagnostic genetic variants being 34%. Genetic variants were diagnosed in 29.4% and 43.8% of fetuses with isolated and nonisolated CA, respectively.

Study details: This single-center cohort study analyzed 50 fetuses with CA, with (n = 16) or without (n = 34) other structural abnormalities, but with normal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis findings.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology, and Project of Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research. No conflicts of interest were declared.

Source: Lei TY et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 28). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6107.

Key clinical point: Diagnostic exome sequencing may enable the characterization of the molecular defects underlying unexplained callosal anomalies (CA) and potentially reduce the number of prenatally undiagnosed cases.

Main finding: A total of 17 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 14 genes from 17 fetuses were identified, with the proportion of diagnostic genetic variants being 34%. Genetic variants were diagnosed in 29.4% and 43.8% of fetuses with isolated and nonisolated CA, respectively.

Study details: This single-center cohort study analyzed 50 fetuses with CA, with (n = 16) or without (n = 34) other structural abnormalities, but with normal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis findings.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology, and Project of Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research. No conflicts of interest were declared.

Source: Lei TY et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 28). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6107.

Key clinical point: Diagnostic exome sequencing may enable the characterization of the molecular defects underlying unexplained callosal anomalies (CA) and potentially reduce the number of prenatally undiagnosed cases.

Main finding: A total of 17 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 14 genes from 17 fetuses were identified, with the proportion of diagnostic genetic variants being 34%. Genetic variants were diagnosed in 29.4% and 43.8% of fetuses with isolated and nonisolated CA, respectively.

Study details: This single-center cohort study analyzed 50 fetuses with CA, with (n = 16) or without (n = 34) other structural abnormalities, but with normal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis findings.

Disclosures: The study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology, and Project of Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research. No conflicts of interest were declared.

Source: Lei TY et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 28). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6107.

Key clinical point: The Z-sign may serve as a strong marker for a double aortic arch (DAA) in surgically confirmed cases of vascular rings, even in those with atresia of the left arch, and thus facilitate the differentiation between a right aortic arch with left duct (RAA-LD) and DAA in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Main finding: The Z-sign could predict a DAA with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 80%-100%), specificity of 81% (95% CI 60%-92%), positive predictive value of 79% (95% CI 57%-91%), and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI 82%-100%).

Study details: Findings are from a review of the echocardiographic features of 40 fetuses with either DAA or RAA-LD (those with the left duct connecting the pulmonary artery and descending aorta) confirmed during surgery, which displayed the commonest overlap in fetal appearances.

Disclosures: MPM Van Poppel received financial support from the Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering. The other authors did not report any conflict of interests.

Source: Van Poppel MPM et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6104.

Key clinical point: The Z-sign may serve as a strong marker for a double aortic arch (DAA) in surgically confirmed cases of vascular rings, even in those with atresia of the left arch, and thus facilitate the differentiation between a right aortic arch with left duct (RAA-LD) and DAA in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Main finding: The Z-sign could predict a DAA with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 80%-100%), specificity of 81% (95% CI 60%-92%), positive predictive value of 79% (95% CI 57%-91%), and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI 82%-100%).

Study details: Findings are from a review of the echocardiographic features of 40 fetuses with either DAA or RAA-LD (those with the left duct connecting the pulmonary artery and descending aorta) confirmed during surgery, which displayed the commonest overlap in fetal appearances.

Disclosures: MPM Van Poppel received financial support from the Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering. The other authors did not report any conflict of interests.

Source: Van Poppel MPM et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6104.

Key clinical point: The Z-sign may serve as a strong marker for a double aortic arch (DAA) in surgically confirmed cases of vascular rings, even in those with atresia of the left arch, and thus facilitate the differentiation between a right aortic arch with left duct (RAA-LD) and DAA in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Main finding: The Z-sign could predict a DAA with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 80%-100%), specificity of 81% (95% CI 60%-92%), positive predictive value of 79% (95% CI 57%-91%), and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI 82%-100%).

Study details: Findings are from a review of the echocardiographic features of 40 fetuses with either DAA or RAA-LD (those with the left duct connecting the pulmonary artery and descending aorta) confirmed during surgery, which displayed the commonest overlap in fetal appearances.

Disclosures: MPM Van Poppel received financial support from the Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering. The other authors did not report any conflict of interests.

Source: Van Poppel MPM et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 20). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6104.

Key clinical point: Fetuses with complicated congenital gastrointestinal obstruction (CGIO) vs. isolated CGIO are at a greater risk for chromosomal aberrations and pathogenic copy number variants (CNV).

Main finding: Fetuses with complicated CGIO showed a significantly higher detection rate of karyotype abnormalities (33.8% vs. 10.8%; P < .01) and overall detection rate of pathogenic CNVs (20% vs. 4.8%; P < .05) than those with isolated CGIO.

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed 240 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with CGIO who presented as either isolated (alone) or complicated (in combination with certain soft markers and structural abnormalities) and were referred for karyotyping or copy number variation sequencing.

Disclosures: No source of funding or conflict of interests were reported by the authors.

Source: Meng X, Jiang L. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:50 (Jan 19). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04401-y.

Key clinical point: Fetuses with complicated congenital gastrointestinal obstruction (CGIO) vs. isolated CGIO are at a greater risk for chromosomal aberrations and pathogenic copy number variants (CNV).

Main finding: Fetuses with complicated CGIO showed a significantly higher detection rate of karyotype abnormalities (33.8% vs. 10.8%; P < .01) and overall detection rate of pathogenic CNVs (20% vs. 4.8%; P < .05) than those with isolated CGIO.

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed 240 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with CGIO who presented as either isolated (alone) or complicated (in combination with certain soft markers and structural abnormalities) and were referred for karyotyping or copy number variation sequencing.

Disclosures: No source of funding or conflict of interests were reported by the authors.

Source: Meng X, Jiang L. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:50 (Jan 19). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04401-y.

Key clinical point: Fetuses with complicated congenital gastrointestinal obstruction (CGIO) vs. isolated CGIO are at a greater risk for chromosomal aberrations and pathogenic copy number variants (CNV).

Main finding: Fetuses with complicated CGIO showed a significantly higher detection rate of karyotype abnormalities (33.8% vs. 10.8%; P < .01) and overall detection rate of pathogenic CNVs (20% vs. 4.8%; P < .05) than those with isolated CGIO.

Study details: This retrospective study analyzed 240 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with CGIO who presented as either isolated (alone) or complicated (in combination with certain soft markers and structural abnormalities) and were referred for karyotyping or copy number variation sequencing.

Disclosures: No source of funding or conflict of interests were reported by the authors.

Source: Meng X, Jiang L. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:50 (Jan 19). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04401-y.

Key clinical point: Ultrasound evaluation performed following a standardized protocol is highly effective at detecting placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in pregnant women with persistent placenta previa under real-world conditions.

Main finding: Of 126 patients with placenta previa, PAS was detected in 11 patients, of which 10 were diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound, exhibiting a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 98.3%, positive predictive value of 83.3%, and negative predictive value of 99.1%.

Study details: This was a retrospective real-world cohort study involving 126 pregnant women with persistent placenta previa who underwent standardized transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound to assess hypoechoic retroplacental zone loss or myometrial thinning <1 mm, lacunar images (flow >15 cm/second), thick and bulging placenta, uterine-bladder serous interface thinning/interruption, and placental/uterovesical hypervascularity; the presence of at least 1 was considered high-risk for PAS.

Disclosures: The authors disclosed receiving no financial support for the study and having no conflict of interests.

Source: Juan-Clar M et al. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1159/000521738.

Key clinical point: Ultrasound evaluation performed following a standardized protocol is highly effective at detecting placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in pregnant women with persistent placenta previa under real-world conditions.

Main finding: Of 126 patients with placenta previa, PAS was detected in 11 patients, of which 10 were diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound, exhibiting a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 98.3%, positive predictive value of 83.3%, and negative predictive value of 99.1%.

Study details: This was a retrospective real-world cohort study involving 126 pregnant women with persistent placenta previa who underwent standardized transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound to assess hypoechoic retroplacental zone loss or myometrial thinning <1 mm, lacunar images (flow >15 cm/second), thick and bulging placenta, uterine-bladder serous interface thinning/interruption, and placental/uterovesical hypervascularity; the presence of at least 1 was considered high-risk for PAS.

Disclosures: The authors disclosed receiving no financial support for the study and having no conflict of interests.

Source: Juan-Clar M et al. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1159/000521738.

Key clinical point: Ultrasound evaluation performed following a standardized protocol is highly effective at detecting placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in pregnant women with persistent placenta previa under real-world conditions.

Main finding: Of 126 patients with placenta previa, PAS was detected in 11 patients, of which 10 were diagnosed prenatally by ultrasound, exhibiting a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 98.3%, positive predictive value of 83.3%, and negative predictive value of 99.1%.

Study details: This was a retrospective real-world cohort study involving 126 pregnant women with persistent placenta previa who underwent standardized transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound to assess hypoechoic retroplacental zone loss or myometrial thinning <1 mm, lacunar images (flow >15 cm/second), thick and bulging placenta, uterine-bladder serous interface thinning/interruption, and placental/uterovesical hypervascularity; the presence of at least 1 was considered high-risk for PAS.

Disclosures: The authors disclosed receiving no financial support for the study and having no conflict of interests.

Source: Juan-Clar M et al. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2022 (Jan 11). Doi: 10.1159/000521738.

Key clinical point: Performing prenatal exome sequencing (ES) not solely for the indication of fetal malformations but also for specific prenatal findings, such as fetal growth restriction and polyhydramnios, could avoid missing the diagnosis of postnatal neurocognitive disorders.

Main finding: Sonographic fetal structural findings of 52.5% of patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorders did not hint at considering prenatal ES. Fetal structural abnormalities and other sonographic anomalies (fetal growth restriction, polyhydramnios, etc.) were shown by 23.75% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study that analyzed the prenatal sonographic data of 122 patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorder using ES.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for conducting the study. AR Shuldiner disclosed being a full-time employee of and receiving salary and stock options from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. C Gonzaga-Jauregui was a full-time employee of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals at the time of the study.

Source: Sukenik-Halevy R et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 14). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6095.

Key clinical point: Performing prenatal exome sequencing (ES) not solely for the indication of fetal malformations but also for specific prenatal findings, such as fetal growth restriction and polyhydramnios, could avoid missing the diagnosis of postnatal neurocognitive disorders.

Main finding: Sonographic fetal structural findings of 52.5% of patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorders did not hint at considering prenatal ES. Fetal structural abnormalities and other sonographic anomalies (fetal growth restriction, polyhydramnios, etc.) were shown by 23.75% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study that analyzed the prenatal sonographic data of 122 patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorder using ES.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for conducting the study. AR Shuldiner disclosed being a full-time employee of and receiving salary and stock options from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. C Gonzaga-Jauregui was a full-time employee of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals at the time of the study.

Source: Sukenik-Halevy R et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 14). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6095.

Key clinical point: Performing prenatal exome sequencing (ES) not solely for the indication of fetal malformations but also for specific prenatal findings, such as fetal growth restriction and polyhydramnios, could avoid missing the diagnosis of postnatal neurocognitive disorders.

Main finding: Sonographic fetal structural findings of 52.5% of patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorders did not hint at considering prenatal ES. Fetal structural abnormalities and other sonographic anomalies (fetal growth restriction, polyhydramnios, etc.) were shown by 23.75% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study that analyzed the prenatal sonographic data of 122 patients with postnatally diagnosed neurocognitive disorder using ES.

Disclosures: The authors received no financial support for conducting the study. AR Shuldiner disclosed being a full-time employee of and receiving salary and stock options from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. C Gonzaga-Jauregui was a full-time employee of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals at the time of the study.

Source: Sukenik-Halevy R et al. Prenat Diagn. 2022 (Jan 14). Doi: 10.1002/pd.6095.