Papers by Valentina Pontello
Maternal and neonatal SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies assessment after mRNA maternal vaccination in the third trimester of pregnancy
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Transplacental passage of antibodies is a key element of neonatal immunity. Data from the existin... more Transplacental passage of antibodies is a key element of neonatal immunity. Data from the existing literature show that maternal immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, produced in response to SARS-CoV-2, are transferred across the placenta after both asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 infection during pregnancy [1].
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Apr 11, 2017
Figure 1. Estimated risk of pregnancy loss by gestational age in high-income countries and deplet... more Figure 1. Estimated risk of pregnancy loss by gestational age in high-income countries and depletion of susceptibles.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Dec 1, 2006
Anorexia nervosa and diet-induced amenorrhea have an important impact not only on gynecological h... more Anorexia nervosa and diet-induced amenorrhea have an important impact not only on gynecological health but also on bone mass, especially if the disease is not promptly recognized and treated. This is particularly important because these conditions usually arise in adolescence, when peak bone mass is normally achieved. In this article we discuss the therapeutic issues related to bone loss associated with eating disorders.
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007
Poster abstracts fetal anomalies. The female group specified they would terminate their relatives... more Poster abstracts fetal anomalies. The female group specified they would terminate their relatives pregnancies if they found major fetal anomalies. Only younger aged doctors would terminate their relatives pregnancies if they found fetal anomalies. Conclusions: All respondents, who were non obstetrical and gynecological doctors, admitted that they had little knowledge about invasive PND. Attitudes towards invasive PND and pregnancy termination was influenced by all three factors: gender, age group and religion. Females and younger doctors from both gender groups tended to recommend the termination of pregnancy if they found fetal anomalies.
Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2010
To evaluate the effect of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) on the measurement of fetal nuchal transl... more To evaluate the effect of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) on the measurement of fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT). One-hundred and three pregnant women underwent first-trimester NT measurement according to The Fetal Medicine Foundation criteria. NT was evaluated using conventional ultrasonography (CUS) and THI without modifying any other ultrasound parameter (e.g. gain). For each patient three images with CUS and three images with THI were stored and then measured independently on the ultrasound system by two different operators. The maximum measurements using CUS and THI were compared. Differences between the values of CUS and THI NT measurements were tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Bland-Altman plots were constructed, and intraobserver and interobserver variabilities were assessed by calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient. Probability values of < 0.05 were considered significant. Mean maternal age was 32.8 (range, 20-42) years, mean gestational a...
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007
Amniocentesis in the third trimester of pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis, 2007
Amniocentesis in the third trimester, which reduces risks of procedure-related miscarriage but st... more Amniocentesis in the third trimester, which reduces risks of procedure-related miscarriage but still allows termination of affected fetuses, may be applicable in some pregnancies. The implications of deferring amniocentesis include complications, delivery before the test and increased amniotic fluid culture failure rates. We investigated the indications, complications, karyotype results and laboratory failure rates of third-trimester amniocentesis. We studied all women who underwent third-trimester amniocentesis from 2000 to 2006. Data were collected from ultrasound databases, computerised records and individual chart review. We reviewed 165 pregnancies that underwent amniocenteses after 28 weeks. Median maternal age at amniocentesis was 32 years and median gestation, 32(+2) weeks. Indications included malformation (60/165), soft markers (37/165), maternal request (12/165), and positive screening test (11/165). Of the 49 women(29.7%) who declined second-trimester amniocentesis, 24.5% had twins and 38.8%, malformations. Amniocentesis was not offered to 116 women: 57/116 (49.1%) third-trimester referrals, 25/116 (21.5%) diagnosed late and the remainder, low-risk indications. Fetal karyotype was abnormal in 17 cases (10.3%). Seven women who initially declined amniocentesis had abnormal results compared with one advised to have late amniocentesis. Culture failure rate was 9.7%, however results were obtained by Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) from 164/165 samples. Complication rate was 1.2%. For late diagnoses and for low-risk indications, third-trimester amniocentesis is an acceptable option, especially when utilising QF-PCR with cytogenetic culture.
Hemangioma of the Clitoris Presenting as Clitoromegaly: A Case Report
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2009
A 20-year-old woman with massive clitoral enlargement is presented to discuss the differential di... more A 20-year-old woman with massive clitoral enlargement is presented to discuss the differential diagnosis and the treatment of this condition.
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2004
An open-label, multicentre trial to evaluate the vaginal bleeding pattern of the combined contraceptive vaginal ring NuvaRing®
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2008
The objective of this multicentre, non-controlled, open-label study is the evaluation of the blee... more The objective of this multicentre, non-controlled, open-label study is the evaluation of the bleeding patterns during the use of a vaginal combined contraceptive, its safety in relation to occurrence of adverse effects, its efficacy as a contraceptive method and user compliance. Healthy female volunteers (N=165), asking for contraception, were enrolled to participate in the study. Each subject was given seven vaginal rings, releasing an average amount of 120microg etonogestrel (ENG) and 15microg ethinylestradiol (EE) per day. Study period was 7 cycles. A total of 878 cycles was valid for statistical analysis. The primary parameter, (breakthrough bleeding and/or spotting), was recorded for each cycle. The subjects were asked to report any adverse effect experienced during the treatment period, general physical and gynaecological examinations were performed and haematological blood tests were taken. Breakthrough bleeding/spotting occurred in 5.01% cycles (44 out of 878 cycles, of whom 37 were breakthrough spotting only). Absence of withdrawal bleeding during the ring-free period was reported in 1.94% cycles (17 out of 878). Forty-one subjects (24.8%) reported 66 events that were potentially drug-related. The most frequently drug-related events were weight increase (10 cases), headache (9 cases), nausea (4 cases). No pregnancy was reported during the study period. Haematology and chemical chemistry tests showed no clinically significant abnormality. In the present study, NuvaRing has shown to be a valid contraceptive method to ensure optimal cycle control with low incidence of irregular bleeding and altered withdrawal bleeding. The low incidence of gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting) may be related the low hormonal dose and to the vaginal delivery of hormones which avoids the gastrointestinal tract.
Intracardiac injection of potassium chloride as method for feticide: experience from a single UK tertiary centre
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2008
We report our experience with intracardiac administration of potassium chloride as safe and effec... more We report our experience with intracardiac administration of potassium chloride as safe and effective method for late termination of pregnancy (TOP) and to document the indications for feticide in a major tertiary unit. During the study period (January 2000 and December 2005), 239 late terminations of pregnancy were performed at a median gestational age of 22(+6) weeks (range 20(+6) to 36(+3) weeks). The most frequent indication was represented by aneuploidy (24.3%), followed by brain abnormalities (17.6%). Maternal indications were responsible for 2.9% of the total number of terminations. No maternal complications occurred and complete asystole was achieved in all cases with a median volume of potassium chloride of 4.7 ml (range 2-10 ml). Potassium chloride injected directly in the left ventricle induces immediate asystole, and it is a safe and effective method of TOP. Interestingly, despite the widespread introduction of aneuploidy screening, chromosomal abnormalities, particularly trisomy 21, still represent the major indication for late TOP.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2006
Anorexia nervosa and diet-induced amenorrhea have an important impact not only on gynecological h... more Anorexia nervosa and diet-induced amenorrhea have an important impact not only on gynecological health but also on bone mass, especially if the disease is not promptly recognized and treated. This is particularly important because these conditions usually arise in adolescence, when peak bone mass is normally achieved. In this article we discuss the therapeutic issues related to bone loss associated with eating disorders.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2003
Aspetti psicologici della morte intrauterina. Ricerca, esperienze e protocolli di intervento
Copyright © FrancoAngeli NB: Copia ad uso personale. È vietata la riproduzione (totale o parziale... more Copyright © FrancoAngeli NB: Copia ad uso personale. È vietata la riproduzione (totale o parziale) dell'opera con qualsiasi mezzo effettuata e la sua messa a disposizione di terzi, sia in forma gratuita sia a pagamento. ... 122 C. Ravaldi, G. Mello, V. Pontello, L. Rimediotti, ...
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2006
OBJECTIVE: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is associated with high perinatal mortality and ... more OBJECTIVE: Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is associated with high perinatal mortality and risk of neurological complications in survivors. Although fetoscopic placental laser is the established treatment for advanced disease, controversy remains about its use in early stage TTTS, both because of procedure-related losses and the relatively favourable outcome in stage I. We aimed to document rates of progression and regression in stage I TTTS and to determine the factors influencing the course of disease. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an observational study from 2000-2006 of all women with TTTS referred to our fetal medicine center, where laser was not performed for stage I disease. Variables were evaluated for their ability to predict disease course and outcome of those presenting with stage I TTTS. Primary outcomes were disease regression or progression and neonatal survival at 28 days. RESULTS: Among 132 consecutive cases of TTTS, 46 women presented with stage I disease. Perinatal survival of at least one infant was 83%, with double survival in 59%. In the majority of cases (70%), the disease remained stable (28%) or regressed (41%). Of the cases that progressed, 79% did so within 2 weeks and 93% progressed to stage III or more. Factors associated with progression were early gestational age (GA) at presentation, high amniotic fluid index and larger recipient deepest vertical pool (DVP), whereas factors associated with regression were later GA at presentation and larger donor DVP. Further, absence of an artery-to-artery anastemosis showed a trend towards influencing progression, as did presence of a small as opposed to normal-sized donor bladder. Treatment with amnioreduction at first presentation did not influence progression or regression. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a high percentage of stage I TTTS cases regress or remain early stage. Identification of factors predicting progression will facilitate selection of patients for definitive therapy, while avoiding treatment-related morbidities in mild disease.
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Papers by Valentina Pontello