{"title":"Association between postpartum pain and discharge readiness after delivery: mediating effects of social support and quality of discharge guidance.","authors":"Yan Liu, Sen Li, Huicong Lv, Xiaodan Li","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0221","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore the association between postpartum pain and discharge readiness after delivery, and examine the mediating effects of social support and quality of discharge guidance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study included puerperae who delivered and were discharged from a tertiary hospital affiliated to Peking University between April and July 2021 by the convenience sampling method. The Chinese versions of the OB-RHDS, OB-QDTS, PSQ, and VAS were used to evaluate discharge readiness, quality of discharge guidance, social support, and postpartum pain, respectively. The path analysis was performed based on the Andersen model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 306 questionnaires were distributed in this study, and 276 (90.20 %) valid questionnaires were collected. The postpartum pain at discharge was 2.62±1.89 (possible range: 0-10). The average score of postpartum social support (importance) was 210.98±30.08, and the average score of postpartum social support (actually received) was 201.17±34.21, respectively. The postpartum pain at discharge significantly affected maternal discharge readiness. The path analysis showed that the quality of discharge guidance had the mediating effect of the association between pain at discharge and discharge readiness, and postpartum social support was a moderator for the association between pain at discharge and quality of discharge guidance, and the association between quality of discharge guidance and discharge readiness.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The postpartum pain at discharge was associated with discharge readiness, and the quality of discharge guidance and postpartum social support might mediate the association.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"703-713"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146064427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sofia Roero, Silvana Arduino, Agata Ingala, Chiara Peila, Carlotta Bossotti, Isabella Ferrando, Miriam Folino Gallo, Maria Francesca Greco, Alessandra Aiello, Alessandra Coscia, Alberto Revelli
{"title":"Perinatal outcomes of monochorionic monoamniotic twin pregnancies.","authors":"Sofia Roero, Silvana Arduino, Agata Ingala, Chiara Peila, Carlotta Bossotti, Isabella Ferrando, Miriam Folino Gallo, Maria Francesca Greco, Alessandra Aiello, Alessandra Coscia, Alberto Revelli","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0575","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To describe the risk of early and late fetal loss of a cohort of monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) twin pregnancies; secondary objectives are to describe perinatal outcomes of these pregnancies and to identify which obstetric variables mostly influence the incidence of neonatal adverse outcome.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective cohort study including MCMA twin pregnancies followed up at the Twin Pregnancy Care Unit of Sant'Anna Hospital in Turin (Italy) between 2005 and 2024. Chorionicity and amnionicity were diagnosed in the first trimester.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total number of 53 MCMA twin pregnancies have been included in the study, of which 42 progressed beyond 24 weeks of gestation. The rate of fetal loss before 24 weeks of GA was 19.8 %, after 24 weeks this rate lowered to 3.6 %; the incidence of overall intrauterine losses was 23.6 %; 80.5 % of liveborn twins were female. Around one fourth of the newborn babies had an adverse outcome, the likelihood of which was significantly influenced by gestational age at birth, birthweight and presence of malformations. The incidence of congenital malformations in our sample was 13.4 %.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Most fetal losses occur before 24 weeks of gestation and the rate of fetal demise after this cutoff is quite low. It could be worth to postpone elective delivery to 34 weeks of gestational age or beyond, in order to reduce perinatal complications associated to premature birth.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"687-693"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146064404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julian Dewantiningrum, Wiku Andonotopo, Muhammad Adrianes Bachnas, Wisnu Prabowo, Eric Edwin Yuliantara, Mochammad Besari Adi Pramono, Efendi Lukas, I Nyoman Hariyasa Sanjaya, Anak Agung Gede Putra Wiradnyana, Anak Agung Ngurah Jaya Kusuma, Khanisyah Erza Gumilar, Ernawati Darmawan, Muhammad Ilham Aldika Akbar, Dudy Aldiansyah, Aloysius Suryawan, Ridwan Abdullah Putra, Anita Deborah Anwar, Cut Meurah Yeni, Nuswil Bernolian, Laksmana Adi Krista Nugraha, Waskita Ekamaheswara Kasumba Andanaputra, Wibisana Andika Krista Dharma, Sri Sulistyowati, Milan Stanojevic, Asim Kurjak
{"title":"Functional neurobehaviour of the human fetus: a comprehensive framework for prenatal assessment using 4D ultrasound and AI.","authors":"Julian Dewantiningrum, Wiku Andonotopo, Muhammad Adrianes Bachnas, Wisnu Prabowo, Eric Edwin Yuliantara, Mochammad Besari Adi Pramono, Efendi Lukas, I Nyoman Hariyasa Sanjaya, Anak Agung Gede Putra Wiradnyana, Anak Agung Ngurah Jaya Kusuma, Khanisyah Erza Gumilar, Ernawati Darmawan, Muhammad Ilham Aldika Akbar, Dudy Aldiansyah, Aloysius Suryawan, Ridwan Abdullah Putra, Anita Deborah Anwar, Cut Meurah Yeni, Nuswil Bernolian, Laksmana Adi Krista Nugraha, Waskita Ekamaheswara Kasumba Andanaputra, Wibisana Andika Krista Dharma, Sri Sulistyowati, Milan Stanojevic, Asim Kurjak","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0282","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate current evidence on prenatal neurobehavioural assessment using four-dimensional ultrasound (4D-US), structured scoring systems, and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, and to develop an integrated framework for early identification of neurodevelopmental vulnerability.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A narrative review of the literature from 2000 to 2025 was conducted following PRISMA-guided organisational principles to enhance transparency. Studies were eligible if they used 3D/4D ultrasound to assess fetal neurobehaviour, including spontaneous motor activity, facial expressions, or behavioural transitions. Specific tools examined included the Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET), prenatal General Movements Assessment (GMA), and AI-assisted behavioural analysis systems. Methodological quality was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Data extraction focused on imaging protocols, behavioural parameters, scoring systems, and associations with neonatal neurological outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty eligible studies demonstrated that fetal motor sequences, movement variability, and facial expressions exhibit hierarchical maturation consistent with developmental progression of brainstem, subcortical, and cortical neural circuits. KANET parameters showed reproducible scoring and meaningful correlation with neonatal neurodevelopment, particularly in high-risk pregnancies. Prenatal general movement patterns displayed continuity with postnatal repertoires and contributed to early neurological prediction. AI-based classifiers provided objective quantification of fetal movement and facial activity, supporting automated or semi-automated assessment workflows.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Functional neurobehavioural assessment using 4D-US, structured scoring tools, and AI-enhanced analysis is feasible, reproducible, and clinically informative. Integrating behavioural markers with neurosonographic findings and computational modelling may strengthen early detection of neurological risk and improve long-term neurodevelopmental care pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"761-777"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146052479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diagnostic yield of post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging for cardiac anomalies in fetal and perinatal deaths: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Seetu Palo, Mishu Mangla, Monica Mishra, Poojitha Kalyani Kanikaram, Annapurna Srirambhatla","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0528","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0528","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (pmMRI) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive alternative to conventional autopsy for detecting cardiac anomalies in fetal and perinatal deaths and we aimed to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pmMRI in detecting cardiac anomalies in fetal and perinatal deaths.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of electronic databases and grey literature was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to analyse studies comparing pmMRI findings to conventional autopsy. Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two reviewers using the QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using a bivariate random-effects model to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixteen studies were included in the systematic review, and 12 studies (n=1810 fetuses) were meta-analyzed. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of pmMRI for detecting cardiac anomalies were 76 % (95 % CI: 71-80 %) and 96 % (95 % CI: 95-97 %), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 55.35 (95 % CI: 22.73-134.79), with an area under the SROC curve of 0.89, indicating excellent diagnostic performance. Subgroup analyses showed comparable sensitivity between 1.5 and 3 T scanners, though specificity was slightly higher for 1.5 T. Diagnostic accuracy was generally better in larger fetuses and when higher field strength MRI (9.4 T) was used.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>pmMRI demonstrates high specificity and moderate sensitivity for detecting cardiac anomalies in fetal and perinatal deaths and may serve as a valuable non-invasive adjunct to conventional autopsy. Standardization of imaging protocols and further research into high-field pmMRI integration are recommended to optimize diagnostic reliability.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"593-606"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145998361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisa Lorenz-Meyer, Max Hackelöer, Olivia Nonn, Caroline Scheele, Wolfgang Henrich, Stefan Verlohren
{"title":"Antenatal corticosteroid prophylaxis in women with increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the clinical routine - A retrospective analysis.","authors":"Lisa Lorenz-Meyer, Max Hackelöer, Olivia Nonn, Caroline Scheele, Wolfgang Henrich, Stefan Verlohren","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0612","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is a predictive biomarker for preeclampsia (PE)-related outcomes. In women with signs of PE at ≤34 weeks, it may guide the timing of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) administration.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 702 women presenting with signs of PE and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR) between 22+0- and 33+6-weeks. High risk was defined as an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥85. The predictive accuracy of the ratio for PE-related preterm birth at ≤34+0 weeks was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Differences in remaining pregnancy duration and gestational age at delivery between risk groups were analyzed using the log-rank test (p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 702 patients, 165 (23.5 %) had a PE-related delivery ≤34+0 weeks. A high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (≥85) was observed in 128 (18.2 %) women who received ACS and in 44 (6.3 %) who didn't. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio predicted PE-related delivery at ≤34+0 weeks - and thus the need for ACS with an AUC of 0.95 (95 % CI 0.93-0.97), yielding an optimal cut-off of 52.5 with sensitivity 87.9 % (95 % CI 82.0-92.0) and specificity 87.9 % (95 % CI 84.9-90.4). The median remaining pregnancy duration was 7.0 days (IQR 3.0-17.8), with delivery at 29+5 weeks (IQR 26+6-32+0) in women with ACS and a ratio ≥85, vs. 60.0 days (IQR 42.0-80.0) and delivery at 38+1 weeks (IQR 37+0-39+3) in women with a ratio <85 and no ACS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In women with signs of PE and FGR <34 weeks of gestation, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is a strong predictor of PE-related preterm delivery and may support clinical decision-making regarding timely ACS administration.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"533-542"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Therapeutic trials of maternal position therapy are needed to clarify the causes of abnormal maternal hemodynamic profiles and reduced umbilical vein flow in fetal growth restriction.","authors":"Thomas L Archer","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0684","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0684","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"431-432"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145958728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nandini Shashikant Malshe, Anuva Kapoor, Kalyani P Deshmukh, Chanchal Goyal, Aravind P Gandhi
{"title":"Effect of preterm birth on neonatal, infant, child, young adult and adult mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Nandini Shashikant Malshe, Anuva Kapoor, Kalyani P Deshmukh, Chanchal Goyal, Aravind P Gandhi","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0474","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0474","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Preterm birth is associated with a higher risk of mortality. In 2020, the global incidence of preterm births was reported at 9.9 per 100 live births. This meta-analysis was undertaken to evaluate the effect of preterm birth on mortality among various age groups.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A thorough search was done on four electronic databases: \"PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase\". Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, observational analytical studies published till 4th December 2024 were included. Screening of the studies was done by two independent reviewers in two stages: title/abstract, followed by full text review of the advanced articles. It was followed by data extraction. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was done in R Studio. PROSPERO ID: CRD42024622282.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Database search yielded 1775 unique studies. 23 studies met the final predefined eligibility criteria. Preterm babies showed an increased risk of mortality compared to term babies with a pooled relative risk of 6.12 (95 % CI: 3.16-11.84) for neonatal mortality, 11.84 (95 % CI: 6.88-20.37) for infant mortality and 1.88 (95 % CI: 1.24-2.83) for 1-5 year. However, it was similar in adult mortality with a pooled relative risk of 1.21 (95 % CI: 0.07-20.12).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Preterm birth is strongly associated with increased risks of childhood mortality, especially in extreme and very preterm infants, but the risk persists even for late preterms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"788-798"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145966197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The additional value of fetal MRI to ultrasonography in prenatal diagnosis: an evaluation based on postnatal confirmation.","authors":"Elif Yasar, Ozge Kahramanoglu, Cigdem Kunt Isguder, Nur Betul Unal Ozdemir, Yunus Yasar, Koray Gok","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0398","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the additional diagnostic value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to prenatal ultrasonography (US) in fetal anomaly evaluation, using postnatal confirmation as the reference standard.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we evaluated 104 fetal cases who underwent fetal MRI following suspicious or abnormal second- or third-trimester US findings between January 2022 and January 2025. US and MRI findings were compared, and diagnostic concordance was categorized. Postnatal confirmation was based on imaging, surgical, clinical, or pathological follow-up. Diagnostic accuracy rates were calculated using postnatal outcomes as the gold standard, and modality agreement was assessed using the kappa coefficient and McNemar test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Postnatal confirmation data were available for 99 of the 104 cases, comprising 149 anomalies. MRI and US showed complete agreement in 79.8 % of cases. MRI provided additional diagnostic information over US in 10.6 % and showed discrepant findings in 9.6 %. Postnatal data confirmed that US correctly diagnosed 76.8 % of cases, while MRI reached 92.9 % diagnostic accuracy, a statistically significant difference (p=0.0015). The agreement between modalities was moderate (κ=0.54). MRI notably enhanced diagnostic accuracy, especially for central nervous system anomalies, and influenced postnatal clinical management.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Fetal MRI significantly improves prenatal diagnostic accuracy over US, particularly in complex or ambiguous cases, with the most significant added value seen in central nervous system pathologies. Its complementary role enhances prenatal counseling and postnatal planning. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate its contribution across different organ systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"381-390"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145917923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Let's use diverse technologies to assess maternal hemodynamics-- both <i>before</i> and <i>during</i> labor and to both <i>predict</i> and <i>prevent</i> bad outcomes!","authors":"Thomas L Archer","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0733","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0733","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"433-434"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa, Roberto Romero, Elizabeth M McClure, Shivaprasad Goudar, Manjunath Somannavar, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Sarah Saleem, Najia Ghanchi, Imran Ahmed, Afia Zafar, Sanyukta Patil, Sunilkumar Bk, Yogeshkumar S, Jean Kim, Janet Moore, Arun Meyyazhagan, Awoniyi Awonuga, Dereje Gudicha, Adi L Tarca, Robert L Goldenberg
{"title":"Maternal circulating sFlt-1/placental growth factor is a biomarker of fetal death associated with placental lesions of maternal vascular malperfusion.","authors":"Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa, Roberto Romero, Elizabeth M McClure, Shivaprasad Goudar, Manjunath Somannavar, Shiyam Sunder Tikmani, Sarah Saleem, Najia Ghanchi, Imran Ahmed, Afia Zafar, Sanyukta Patil, Sunilkumar Bk, Yogeshkumar S, Jean Kim, Janet Moore, Arun Meyyazhagan, Awoniyi Awonuga, Dereje Gudicha, Adi L Tarca, Robert L Goldenberg","doi":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0624","DOIUrl":"10.1515/jpm-2025-0624","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Fetal death is a major pregnancy complication, with rates of 5.5 per 1,000 births in the United States and substantially higher in India (24.7/1,000) and Pakistan (44.5/1,000). Maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) is the most frequent placental lesion associated with fetal death, occurring in 58 % of fetal deaths and 31 % of preterm neonatal deaths in South Asia. Angiogenic imbalance, characterized by a low placental growth factor (PlGF) to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) ratio, has been associated with MVM and fetal death in high-income countries. We examined whether maternal serum concentrations of PlGF, sFlt-1, and their ratio differ between mothers with and without MVM among stillbirths and preterm neonatal deaths in India and Pakistan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort analysis used data from the PURPOSe study (Project to Understand and Research Preterm Pregnancy Outcomes and Stillbirths in South Asia). Maternal blood was collected at delivery, and placental histopathology was classified according to the Amsterdam criteria. Serum PlGF and sFlt-1 were measured using Elecsys<sup>®</sup> immunoassays, with analyses stratified by gestational age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Placental MVM was present in 44-57 % of stillbirths and 31-38 % of preterm neonatal deaths. Between 28 and 36 weeks, women with MVM had significantly lower PlGF and higher sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratios (p<0.001). A tenfold decrease in PlGF or increase in the ratio was associated with MVM (OR 0.5 and 1.7, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The maternal sFlt-1/PlGF ratio identifies pregnancies with fetal or neonatal death associated with placental MVM, particularly between 28 and 36 weeks' gestation.</p>","PeriodicalId":16704,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Perinatal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"550-565"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13288967/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145911839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}