Showing papers by "Francesca Monari published in 2010"

l-Arginine supplementation in women with chronic hypertension: impact on blood pressure and maternal and neonatal complications

Abstract: Objective. To evaluate l-arginine (l-Arg) supplementation in pregnant women with chronic hypertension and its effects on blood pressure (BP) and maternal and neonatal complications.Methods. We enrolled 80 women affected by mild chronic hypertension referred to the High Risk Clinic of the Mother–Infant Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Each woman after obtaining oral consent was randomized to receive oral l-Arg versus placebo and thereafter submitted to 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. The primary outcome was BP change after 10–12 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes were as follows: percentage of women on antihypertensive treatment at delivery, maternal, and fetal outcome.Results. The BP changes after 10–12 weeks of treatment did not differ between groups. A lower percentage of women received antihypertensive drugs in the l-Arg group than the placebo group. The incidence of superimposed preeclampsia indicated delivery before the 34th weeks and certain neonatal complications tended ...

Management of subsequent pregnancy after antepartum stillbirth. A review.

Abstract: In literature, there is a paucity of information about the management of the subsequent pregnancy after stillbirth (SB). we undertook a systematic review of the literature focusing on the evidence for antenatal interventions with the potential to prevent SB and we try to summarise the management of the pregnancy subsequent to a SB. The diverse interventions and their efficacy will be reported according to the possible causes and/or conditions associated to the previous SB. Few of the studies reported SB as an outcome and the evidence was frequently conflicting. Several interventions showed clear evidence of impact on SB, including the scrupulous control of blood sugar by using multiple doses of insulin, frequent antenatal foetal monitoring and timing of delivery in diabetic women; the prophylaxis with low dose of aspirin in high-risk women; or serial sonograms for foetal growth, Doppler studies and antepartum foetal testing in women with previous growth restricted foetus. Other interventions instead reduced know risk factors for SB but failed to show statistically significant impact on SB rate. Overall, early access to care, at least three ultrasounds examinations, screening for the main pregnancy-related disorders and timely delivery are the milestone of appropriate antenatal care in women with previous SB.