Genome sequencing identifies RMND1 as a strong candidate gene for severe prenatal kidney failure mimicking renal tubular dysgenesis associated with hyporeninism.

Background: Renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD) is a severe kidney disease characterized by poor development of proximal tubules and persistent fetal anuria leading to oligohydramnios. It can be acquired during fetal life or inherited as an autosomal recessive disease associated with bi-allelic pathogenic variants in one of the genes encoding the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components, AGT, REN, ACE, or AGTR1. Few cases of RTD remain unsolved despite the lack of fetal cause and comprehensive screening of RAS genes.

Caracteristics of women presenting with chronic histiocytic intervillositis during pregnancy: A case-control study.

Introduction: Chronic Histiocytic Intervillositis (CHI) appears to be among the most severe placental diseases. Its rarity has limited our knowledge of the women in whom it occurs.

Objective: To search for maternal characteristics linked to the existence of CHI, by first studying the current pregnancy included in the study, then their previous pregnancies.

Pregnancy as a susceptible state for thrombotic microangiopathies.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period represent phases of heightened vulnerability to thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs), as evidenced by distinct patterns of pregnancy-specific TMAs (e.g., preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome), as well as a higher incidence of nonspecific TMAs, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome, during pregnancy.

The challenging follow-up of pregnancy in women with known thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a single-center experience of a preemptive management protocol.

Background: Although thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura frequently affects women of childbearing age, there is no clear recommendation for the management of subsequent pregnancies in women with established thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational study included all women with hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura who had had at least one subsequent pregnancy after thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura diagnosis between 2003 and 2022. The strategy comprised weekly surveillance of platelet count during pregnancy (and quarterly monitoring of ADAMTS13 activity) for women with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, without any routine prophylactic treatment.

Total alkaline phosphatase levels by gestational age in a large sample of pregnant women.

Introduction: Total alkaline phosphatase (tALP) levels rise physiologically in maternal serum during pregnancy, and excessively so in certain conditions. However, current reference values are dated, nonlinear, and based on small samples. Factors related to variation in tALP remain unexplained.

Associations between fetal heart rate variability and umbilical cord occlusions-induced neural injury: An experimental study in a fetal sheep model.

Introduction: This study evaluated the association between fetal heart rate variability (HRV) and the occurrence of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a fetal sheep model.

Material And Methods: The experimental protocol created a hypoxic condition with repeated cord occlusions in three phases (A, B, C) to achieve acidosis to pH <7.00.

COL4A1/COL4A2 and inherited platelet disorder gene variants in fetuses showing intracranial hemorrhage.

Background: Variants of COL4A1/COL4A2 genes have been reported in fetal intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) cases but their prevalence and characteristics have not been established in a large series of fetuses. Fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is a major acquired ICH factor but the prevalence and characteristics of inherited platelet disorder (IPD) gene variants leading to thrombocytopenia are unknown. Herein, we screened COL4A1/COL4A2 and IPD genes in a large series of ICH fetuses.

The first two non-Finnish HYLS1 variants: Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of hydrolethalus syndrome.

Hydrolethalus syndrome (HLS) is a rare lethal fetal malformation disorder related to ciliogenesis disruption. This condition is more frequent in Finland where a founder missense variant in the HYLS1 gene was identified. No other HYLS1 variant has hitherto been implicated in HLS.

Risk factors for spontaneous hematoma of the umbilical cord: A case-control study.

Background: Spontaneous hematomas of the umbilical cord are rare and often fatal to the fetus. Little is known about their mechanism or their risk factors. In view of their rarity, the series are limited.

WNT10B variants in split hand/foot malformation: Report of three novel families and review of the literature.

Split-hand/foot malformation (SHFM) is a genetically heterogeneous congenital limb malformation typically limited to a defect of the central rays of the autopod, presenting as a median cleft of hands and feet. It can be associated with long bone deficiency or included in more complex syndromes. Among the numerous genetic causes, WNT10B homozygous variants have been recently identified in consanguineous families, but remain still rarely described (SHFM6; MIM225300).

Novel mutations in the ciliopathy-associated gene CPLANE1 (C5orf42) cause OFD syndrome type VI rather than Joubert syndrome.

Mutations in CPLANE1 (previously known as C5orf42) cause Oral-Facial-Digital Syndrome type VI (OFD6) as well as milder Joubert syndrome (JS) phenotypes. Seven new cases from five unrelated families diagnosed with pure OFD6 were systematically examined. Based on the clinical manifestations of these patients and those described in the literature, we revised the diagnostic features of OFD6 and include the seven most common characteristics: 1) molar tooth sign, 2) tongue hamartoma and/or lobulated tongue, 3) additional frenula, 4) mesoaxial polydactyly of hands, 5) preaxial polydactyly of feet, 6) syndactyly and/or bifid toe, and 7) hypothalamic hamartoma.

Perinatal outcome of placental massive perivillous fibrin deposition: a case-control study.

Objective: The objectives of the study are to describe the obstetric outcomes associated with massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MFD) compared with a control series and to determine if outcome differs according to the extent of fibrin deposition.

Method: Retrospective case-control study based on placentas analyzed over a consecutive 12-year period. MFD was considered severe if it extended over more than 50% of the placenta and moderate between 25% and 50%.

SALL4 expression in gestational trophoblastic tumors: a useful tool to distinguish choriocarcinoma from placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor.

SALL4 has important functions in embryonic stem cells. The aim of this study was to investigate SALL4 expression in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. We hypothesized that it could help to distinguish choriocarcinoma, the presumed most primitive form of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, from placental site trophoblastic tumor and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor, which would be more differentiated variants.