高橋 宏典

PURPOSE: To clarify the present status of human papillomavirus (HPV) contamination of transvaginal probes in Japan and propose a preventive method. METHODS: This study was performed at three institutes: a tertiary center, secondary hospital, and primary facility. To identify contamination rates, probes were disinfected and covered with probe covers and condoms; the cover was changed for each patient. The probes were tested for HPV, and those with HPV detected were analyzed to identify the type of HPV. Next, nurses put on new gloves before covering the probe for each patient, and the probes were similarly tested for HPV. RESULTS: A total of 120 probes were tested, and HPV was detected from a total of five probes, a contamination rate of 4.2 % (5/120). HPV was detected in all three institutes. Importantly, high-risk HPV, i.e., HPV-52, 56, and 59, was detected. After the "glove change strategy" was implemented, HPV was not detected on any of 150 probes tested at any of the three institutions. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, the HPV contamination rate of vaginal probes in routine practice was 4.2 %. There was no HPV contamination of probes after changing the gloves for cover exchange for each patient. This strategy may prevent HPV probe contamination.

AimIn hypertensive pregnant women, the protein-to-creatinine (P/C) ratio is well correlated with 24-h proteinuria and a P/C ratio of 0.27 (g/gCr) is used to reflect significant proteinuria (>0.3 g/day). The aim of this study was to obtain data on normotensive pregnant women, which have so far been lacking. MethodsThe study population consisted of 74 pregnant women who met the following criteria: (i) 22 gestational weeks; (ii) a positive result (1+) on dipstick test; (iii) a positive result (>0.27) for P/C ratio; and (iv) 24-h urine test performed within 2 days of the P/C ratio. The correlation between the P/C ratio and 24-h proteinuria, the incidence rates of significant proteinuria according to P/C ratios, and appropriate threshold of the P/C ratio to rule in significant proteinuria were determined using the appropriate statistical methods. ResultsThe P/C ratio was moderately correlated with the 24-h proteinuria, with a correlation coefficient of 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.487-0.76). The area under the receiver-operator curve was 0.76 (95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.87); however, no clear shoulder was identifiable. The incidence rates of significant proteinuria according to P/C ratios of 0.27-0.49, 0.50-0.74, 0.75-0.99, and >1 were 41, 66, 100, and 100%, respectively, indicating that all normotensive pregnant women with a P/C ratio > 0.75 had significant proteinuria. ConclusionNormotensive pregnant women showed a significant correlation between the P/C ratio and 24-h urine protein level. All normotensive pregnant women with a P/C ratio > 0.75 had significant proteinuria, suggesting that a P/C ratio > 0.75 may be the rule-in' threshold of significant proteinuria in this population.

Post-delivery/-abortion uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) sometimes causes life-threatening bleeding, requiring transarterial embolization (TAE). It is unclear whether some UAP resolve spontaneously. In three patients, UAP resolved spontaneously without TAE. Case 1 was after vacuum delivery with slight bleeding: at day 5 post-partum, a yin-yang sign on Color Doppler and an enhanced intrauterine sac-like structure were observed, leading to the diagnosis of UAP, which disappeared at 4 weeks post-partum. Case 2 was after vacuum delivery with manual placental removal and was asymptomatic: a hypoechoic intrauterine mass with a yin-yang sign were observed during a post-partum routine check-up and the intrauterine flow disappeared at 4 weeks post-partum. Case 3 was after dilatation and curettage in the first trimester with slight bleeding: UAP was detected at 4 weeks post-abortion, which disappeared at 6 weeks post-abortion. All three cases had a small UAP (diameter: 10-15 mm) and low-level or no symptoms. Some UAP may resolve spontaneously and, thus, may not require TAE.

To characterise congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN), with special emphasis on polyhydramnios and the neonatal prognosis, we summarise 31 CMN patients (30 reported patients and the present patient). CMN was detected at a median of 30 weeks' gestation, and infants were delivered at a median of 34 weeks' gestation. Of 27 patients with available data, 19 (70%) had polyhydramnios, of which 8 required amnio- drainage. Women with amnio-drainage gave birth significantly earlier (30.4 weeks' gestation) than those without polyhydramnios (36.7 weeks' gestation). Thus, CMN was frequently associated with polyhydramnios and this polyhydramnios was associated with a significant increase in the risk of preterm birth. Of 20 patients with available data, the affected-side kidney was 'compressed' in 16 and 'replaced' in 4: polyhydramnios was present in a half vs 100%, respectively, suggesting that a 'replaced' kidney may suggest a more aggressive tumour and may be associated with a poorer prognosis. Univariate analysis showed that early gestational week at diagnosis was the only feature significantly associated with poor prognosis. Thus, polyhydramnios, 'replaced' kidney and early gestational week at diagnosis, may indicate poor prognosis, to which obstetricians should pay attention.

新生児同種免疫性血小板減少症(Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia:NAIT)とは、免疫学的機序により起こる児の一過性血小板減少症であり、同胞罹患率が高い。母親に患児の血小板と反応する抗血小板抗体が証明されることが診断基準の一つであるが、原因抗体が明らかでない同胞発症症例を経験した。臨床経過からNAITが否定できない場合には、原因抗体が不明であっても次の妊娠分娩の際にNAITに準じた慎重な管理が必要である。(著者抄録)

40歳(2経妊0経産)。妊娠19週4日に出血と腹部膨満感を主訴に来院し、切迫流産の診断で入院となった。塩酸リトドリンの経静脈投与を66μg/分から開始し、炎症所見が軽快した後、21週0日に緊急マクドナルド頸管縫縮術を行った。その後、子宮収縮や頸管所見に応じてリトドリンを200μg/分まで徐々に増量した。母体の心拍数はリトドリン投与前が80bpm台、投与後が90〜110bpmであった。リトドリン投与55日目、起床時に突然の強い動悸を訴えた。脈拍は150〜170bpm、血圧は118/56mmHg、SpO2は97%、12誘導心電図は心拍数160bpm、R-R間隔は不整でP波を認めず、心房細動と診断した。心房細動の原因を明らかにするため、原因となりうる「心疾患」「電解質異常」「甲状腺機能亢進症」「薬剤」について鑑別診断を行った結果、「心疾患」「電解質異常」「甲状腺機能亢進症」は否定的であり、投与中

新生児同種免疫性血小板減少症(Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia:NAIT)とは、免疫学的機序により起こる児の一過性血小板減少症であり、同胞罹患率が高い。母親に患児の血小板と反応する抗血小板抗体が証明されることが診断基準の一つであるが、原因抗体が明らかでない同胞発症症例を経験した。臨床経過からNAITが否定できない場合には、原因抗体が不明であっても次の妊娠分娩の際にNAITに準じた慎重な管理が必要である。(著者抄録)

Introduction. To identify factors that determine blood loss during peripartum hysterectomy for abnormally invasive placenta (AIP-hysterectomy). Methods. We reviewed all of the medical charts of 11,919 deliveries in a single tertiary perinatal center. We examined characteristics of AIP-hysterectomy patients, with a single experienced obstetrician attending all AIP-hysterectomies and using the same technique. Results. AIP-hysterectomy was performed in 18 patients (0.15%: 18/11,919). Of the 18, 14 (78%) had a prior cesarean section (CS) history and the other 4 (22%) were primiparous women. Planned AIP-hysterectomy was performed in 12/18 (67%), with the remaining 6 (33%) undergoing emergent AIP-hysterectomy. Of the 6, 4 (4/6: 67%) patients were primiparous women. An intra-arterial balloon was inserted in 9/18 (50%). Women with the following three factors significantly bled less in AIP-hysterectomy than its counterpart: the employment of an intra-arterial balloon (4, 448 ± 1, 948 versus 8, 861 ± 3, 988 mL), planned hysterectomy (5, 003 ± 2, 057 versus 9, 957 ± 4, 485 mL), and prior CS (5, 706 ± 2, 727 versus 9, 975 ± 5, 532 mL). Patients with prior CS (-) bled more: this may be because these patients tended to undergo emergent surgery or attempted placental separation. Conclusion. Patients with intra-arterial balloon catheter insertion bled less on AIP-hysterectomy. Massive bleeding occurred in emergent AIP-hysterectomy without prior CS.

Serous retinal detachment is sometimes caused by hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and its associated conditions, in which the predominant eye symptoms are blurred vision, distorted vision, and reduced visual acuity. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of a puerperal woman with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome in whom color vision abnormality was the first and predominant manifestation of serous retinal detachment. At 32 weeks of gestation, the 34-year-old Japanese woman underwent cesarean section due to HELLP syndrome. She complained of color vision abnormality on day 1 post-partum and ophthalmological examination revealed serous retinal detachment of both eyes. The visual acuity was preserved. With supportive therapy, her color vision abnormality gradually ameliorated and retinal detachment completely resolved on day 34 post-partum without any sequelae. Obstetricians should be aware that color vision abnormality can be the first and predominant symptom of HELLP-related serous retinal detachment.

Although massive haemorrhage at caesarean section (CS) for placenta praevia is a serious concern, effective treatment is not yet determined. We performed a new uterine sandwich to achieve haemostasis at CS for total placenta praevia in five consecutive cases in whom the placenta reached up to >5cm from the internal cervical os in all directions of an uterine wall. A Matsubara-Yano (MY) uterine compression suture was placed, followed by placement of an intrauterine balloon. Haemostasis was achieved in all five cases with median blood loss of 1618mL. No short-term adverse events were observed. The MY sandwich can be used to achieve haemostasis at CS for placenta praevia.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) are members of the metzincin family of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases that play pivotal roles in the proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix for cell invasion. Few studies have investigated the ADAM subtypes that are expressed in first trimester trophoblast cells. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the differential expression profiles of ADAMs between first trimester villous trophoblast cells (VTs) and extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs). We isolated EVTs from explanted human first trimester chorionic villi and investigated the mRNA expression levels of five members of the ADAM family (ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2, ADAM10, ADAM12, and ADAM17) using real-time PCR. Chorionic villous tips were defined as first trimester VTs. Of the differentially expressed ADAM genes between first trimester VTs and EVTs, ADAMTS1 was expressed at a significantly higher level in EVTs than in VTs. In contrast, both ADAM10 and ADAM12 were expressed at significantly higher levels in VTs than in EVTs. No differences were found in the mRNA levels of ADAMTS2 and ADAM17 between the two cell types. Moreover, we demonstrated that in VTs, the expression level of ADAM12 was significantly downregulated in the late first trimester (10-13 gestational weeks) compared to the middle first trimester (7-8 weeks). These results suggest that first trimester trophoblast cells express ADAM genes in cell type- and gestational age-dependent manners. Our data provide additional insight into the functions of ADAMs in the human placenta.

AimIn placenta previa (PP), anterior placentation, compared with posterior placentation, is reported to more frequently cause massive hemorrhage during cesarean section (CS). Whether this is due to the high incidence of placenta accreta, previous CS, or a transplacental approach in anterior placenta is unclear. We attempted to clarify this issue. Material and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the relation between the bleeding amount during CS for PP and various factors that may cause massive hemorrhage (>2400mL) (n=205) in a tertiary center. If the preoperatively ultrasound-measured distance from the internal cervical ostium to the placental edge was longer in the uterine anterior wall than in the posterior wall, we defined it as anterior previa, and vice versa. ResultsPatients with accreta, previous CS, total previa, and anterior placentation bled significantly more than their counterparts. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that accreta (odds ratio [OR] 12.6), previous CS (OR 4.7), total previa (OR 4.1), and anterior placentation (OR 3.5) were independent risk factors of massive hemorrhage. ConclusionsAnterior placentation, namely, the placenta with a longer os-placental edge distance in the anterior wall than in the posterior wall, was a risk of massive hemorrhage during CS for PP.

Various fetal or placental disorders cause Ballantyne's (mirror) syndrome. For the first time, we report a maternal manifestation of Ballantyne's syndrome occurring concomitantly with the development of fetal congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN). In a pregnant woman with a CMN fetus, lung edema, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and high serum human chorionic gonadotrophin level occurred, all of which characterize maternal manifestation of Ballantyne's syndrome. The fetus and placenta were devoid of edema', lacking triple edema', and thus this condition was not diagnosed as Ballantyne's syndrome; however, we considered this condition as the maternal manifestation of Ballantyne's syndrome. We performed emergent cesarean section at 28 weeks. Delivery acutely ameliorated maternal symptoms. Tumor was resected and was confirmed as CMN. Maternal manifestations of Ballantyne's syndrome, such as lung edema and hypertension, can occur in a mother with fetal CMN even without fetal and/or placental edema. The clinical course of this patient may suggest an etiology of Ballantyne's syndrome.

A recent report indicated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D, regulating cell proliferation and/or differentiation, may be associated with the development of placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD), a disorder characterized by cell proliferation/differentiation. In PMD placenta, we examined the expression of five cell-proliferation/differentiation-associated genes, namely, Wnt3a, Wnt5a, -catenin, VEGF-D and Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1). In PMD, expressions of Wnt3a, Wnt5a and -catenin were decreased, whereas those of VEGF-D and DKK-1 were increased. These abnormal expressions suggest a relationship between these genes and PMD pathogenesis/pathophysiology.