Foetal thymus size in pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies

Nau, T.; Murcia, Kathrin Oelmeier de; Möllers, Mareike; Braun, Janina; Abhari, Roxanna E.; Steinhard, J.; Borowski, Matthias; Klockenbusch, Walter; Schmitz, Ralf

doi:10.1007/s00404-018-4795-4

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…It has been suggested that low but persistent inflammation in maternal obesity causes an increase in the transverse dimension of the fetal thymus [ 17 ]. Moreover, fetal TTR was lower in pregnancies obtained by assisted reproductive techniques [ 27 ]. It was determined that fetal thymus dimensions were also decreased in patients who had recovered from COVID-19 [ 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of fetal thymus size in maternal autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Hendem

Oluklu

Beşer

et al. 2023

Arch Gynecol Obstet

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Purpose To investigate the effect of inflammation on the fetal thymus-thoracic ratio (TTR) in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). Method This prospective case–control study included 45 pregnant women with SLE, SS, and APS and 90 gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women between 24 and 37 gestational weeks. The ratio of the anteroposterior fetal thymus length to the transverse mediastinal length was calculated as the TTR in the study groups. Results Fetal TTR was significantly lower in the case group ( p < 0.001). Fetal TTR in the APS group was significantly lower than SS group ( p = 006). The patients using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) had significantly higher fetal TTR compared to patients not using HCQ ( p = 0.004). A moderate negative correlation was found between the disease duration and fetal TTR ( r = − 0.552, p < 0.001). In predicting admission to the neonatal intensive unit care (NICU), a value of 0.31 was found for the fetal TTR with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 69% Conclusion Maternal inflammation in pregnancies with autoimmune diseases may affect the intrauterine milieu of the fetus and cause a lower fetal TTR. Additionally, the lower level of fetal TTR may be more effective and beneficial for the clinician if combined with other risk factors in predicting NICU admission.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of fetal thymus size in maternal autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Hendem

Oluklu

Beşer

et al. 2023

Arch Gynecol Obstet

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“…Preterm premature rupture of membranes, one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, has processes that trigger inflammatory pathways and oxidative stress 23 . In a retrospective study, in pregnancies obtained by assisted reproductive techniques, which are characterized by peri‐implantation hormonal milieu changes, TT‐ratio was found to be decreased compared to spontaneous pregnancies 13 . It was determined that the fetal thymus size decreased in diabetic pregnant women and pregnant women who recovered from COVID‐19 20,21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been previously shown that this ratio remains constant in normal fetuses regardless of the gestational week 8 . It has been evaluated in high‐risk pregnancies and aneuploidies in various studies 10–14 . Thymic hypoplasia or aplasia, which was first found to be associated with fetuses with 22q11.2 chromosome deletion and cardiac defects, continues to be of interest 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of fetal thymus size in pregnant women with rheumatic diseases: A case–control study

Yıldırım

Oluklu

Beşer

et al. 2023

J of Clinical Ultrasound

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PurposeTo investigate the fetal thymic‐thoracic ratio (TT‐ratio) in pregnancies diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsThirty‐two pregnant women with rheumatic disease and 96 low‐risk pregnant women between 20 and 37 weeks were included in the study. Three control patients were randomly selected for each study patient. TT‐ratio was calculated by measuring the anterior–posterior diameter of the thymus and the intrathoracic mediastinal diameter. Data were compared between the study group, including RA and AS, and the control group.ResultsThirty‐two pregnant women with arthritis, 19 diagnosed with RA and 13 with AS, were evaluated. The mean value of the study group TT‐ratio was 0.33; control group, 0.36; a statistically significant difference was found (p < 0.001). Perinatal outcomes were not different when compared with control patients. There was a negative correlation between disease duration, maternal C‐reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and TT‐ratio.ConclusionThis is the first study to prospectively evaluate the fetal TT‐ratio in patients with RA and AS. Systemic inflammation appears to affect fetal thymus size. Appropriate management of maternal rheumatic diseases is essential for developing the thymus, a vital immune system component.

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“…It has been reported that the fetal thymus size increases in proportion to the gestational week in healthy pregnant women while the fetal thymic-thoracic ratio remains constant 8 . However, it has been reported that this ratio decreased in some complicated pregnancy cases, including diabetic pregnancies [12][13][14][15][16] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Finding the best method for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus: fetal thymic-thoracic ratio or fetal thymus transverse diameter

Gök

Özden

2023

Rev. Assoc. Med. Bras.

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OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter measurements in gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Fetal thymic-thoracic ratio and fetal thymus transverse diameter were assessed in 360 pregnant women. Patients were examined in two groups: 180 gestational diabetes mellitus (study group) and 180 healthy pregnant women (control group). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the cases with gestational diabetes mellitus and the control group in terms of fetal thymus transverse diameter; however, the fetal thymic-thoracic ratio was found to be significantly lower in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to that in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The fetal thymic-thoracic ratio is superior to the fetal thymus transverse diameter in evaluating the fetal thymus size.

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Foetal thymus size in pregnancies after assisted reproductive technologies

Abstract: Our data show reduced thymus size in foetuses conceived using ART compared to controls. These findings indicate that the use of ART may lead to certain deviations in organogenesis.

Cited by 8 publications

References 45 publications

Evaluation of fetal thymus size in maternal autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Evaluation of fetal thymus size in maternal autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Assessment of fetal thymus size in pregnant women with rheumatic diseases: A case–control study

Finding the best method for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus: fetal thymic-thoracic ratio or fetal thymus transverse diameter

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