The introduction of biologic therapy with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to the treatment strategies of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has significantly changed the way clinicians practice. Antibodies are cleared differently than small molecules, and knowledge about the pharmacology and immunology of immunoglobulins is helpful when using these agents in women preconception and during pregnancy. The most commonly used antibody therapies in patients with IBD are IgG1 molecules, but others are under development. When treating patients who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy, it is important to remember that immunoglobulin G (IgG) is the predominant means of fetal immunity and that it is transported across the placenta. This transport happens in a linear fashion as the pregnancy progresses, with the largest amount transferred in the third trimester. Preferential transport occurs for IgG1, followed by IgG4, and IgG3, with IgG2 being the least detected. Understanding the mechanism for immunoglobulin transfer will help to understand how to minimize risk of exposure of the fetus to the therapeutic monoclonal antibody both in utero and after delivery.

Our results suggest that the clinical syndrome of eclampsia is associated with an anatomical substrate that is recognizable by neuroimaging as PRES. The levels of blood pressure elevation are lower than those reported in cases of PRES because of hypertensive encephalopathy. Further studies are needed to determine whether more aggressive blood pressure control and early neuroimaging may have a role in the management of these patients.

Abstract-Africa is a continent characterized by marked ethnic, sociodemographic, and economic diversity, with profound changes in many regions over the past 2 decades. This diversity has an impact on cardiovascular disease presentation and outcomes. Within Africa and within the individual countries, one can find regions having predominantly communicable diseases such as rheumatic heart disease, tuberculous pericarditis, or cardiomyopathy and others having a marked increase in noncommunicable disease such as hypertension and hypertensive heart disease. Ischemic heart disease remains rare in most countries. Difficulties in the planning and implementation of effective health care in most African countries are compounded by a paucity of studies and a low rate of investment in research and data acquisition. The fiduciary responsibilities of companies working in Africa should include the effective and efficient use of natural resources to promote the overall health of populations.

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders (HPD) are important causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition, a history of HPD has been associated with an increased risk for maternal cardiovascular disease later in life, possibly due to irreversible vascular and metabolic changes that persist beyond the affected pregnancies. Therefore, treatment of HPD may not only improve immediate pregnancy outcomes, but also the maternal long-term cardiovascular health. Unlike the recommendations for hypertension treatment in the general population, treatment recommendations of HPD have not changed substantially for more than two decades. This is particularly true for mild to moderate hypertension in pregnancy, defined as a blood pressure of 140–159/90–109 mm Hg. This review focuses on the goals of therapy, treatment strategies, and new developments in the field of HPD that should be taken into account when considering blood pressure targets and pharmacological options for treatment of hypertension in pregnant women.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) supports pre-conception care (PCC) towards improving health and pregnancy outcomes. PPC entails a continuum of promotive, preventative and curative health and social interventions. PPC identifies current and potential medical problems of women of childbearing age towards strategising optimal pregnancy outcomes, whereas antenatal care constitutes the care provided during pregnancy. Optimised PPC and antenatal care would improve civil society and maternal, child and public health. Multiple factors bar most African women from receiving antenatal care. Additionally, PPC is rarely available as a standard of care in many African settings, despite the high maternal mortality rate throughout Africa. African women and healthcare facilitators must cooperate to strategise cost-effective and cost-efficient PPC. This should streamline their limited resources within their socio-cultural preferences, towards short- and long-term improvement of pregnancy outcomes.This review discusses the relevance of and need for PPC in resource-challenged African settings, and emphasises preventative and curative health interventions for congenital and acquired heart disease. We also consider two additional conditions, HIV/AIDS and hypertension, as these are two of the most important co-morbidities encountered in Africa, with significant burden of disease. Finally we advocate strongly for PPC to be considered as a key intervention for reducing maternal mortality rates on the African continent.