Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and perinatal outcomes of cerclage procedure according to indication. Methods The pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of the patients who underwent cerclage with the diagnosis of cervical insufficiency between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into three groups: a history-indicated group, an ultrasound-indicated group and a physical examination-indicated group. Results Seventy-three patients who underwent cerclage were included in the study. Of these, 41 (56.2%) had history-indicated, 17 (23.3%) had ultrasound-indicated and 15 (20.5%) had physical examination-indicated cerclages. Compared to history- and ultrasound-indicated cerclage group, duration from cerclage to delivery (18.6 ± 6.9 weeks vs 17.8±5.9 weeks vs 11 ± 5.3 weeks, p = 0.003) was significantly lower and delivery < 28 weeks (9.8% vs 5.9% vs 33.3%, p = 0.042) and delivery < 34 weeks of gestation (26.8% vs 11.8% vs 60%, p = 0.009) were significantly higher in physical examination-indicated cerclage group. In physical examination-indicated cerclage, compared with history- and ultrasound-indicated cerclage low birth weight, low APGAR score, neonatal intensive care unit admission and neonatal mortality were higher, although not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion Pregnant women who underwent physical examination-indicated cerclage had higher risks for preterm delivery < 28 weeks and < 34 weeks than history- and ultrasound–indicated cerclage.

ObjectiveTo investigate the possible predictive value of fetal fraction in the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) test in pregnancies with early- and late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR).MethodsThis retrospective study comprised 247 women who were screened using the cfDNA test for aneuploidies during the first or second trimester and had deliveries at our institution from January 2016 to December 2019. The fetal fractions of women with early- (n = 14) and late-onset (n = 83) FGR and those with uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 150) were compared.ResultsThe median fetal fractions for the early-onset FGR, late-onset FGR, and control groups were 5.7 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.65], 7 (IQR 5), and 7.35 (IQR 3.65), respectively. The fetal fractions were significantly lower in the early-onset FGR group than in the late-onset FGR and control groups (P = 0.047 and P = 0.037, respectively). There was no difference in fetal fractions between the late-onset FGR and control groups (P = 1.00).ConclusionAs a placenta-related disease, early-onset FGR had lower fetal fractions in the cfDNA test than uncomplicated pregnancies. For clinical use, lower fetal fractions can contribute as a biomarker for screening asymptomatic women for possible placenta-related diseases, such as early-onset FGR. However, more studies are needed to define the “lower” limit.

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