Importance: Genetic carrier screening is performed to identify carriers of rare genetic diseases. Identification of carriers allows patients to make informed reproductive health choices and can decrease the incidence of genetic disorders with serious medical implications.
Objective: This review aims to provide an overview of the history of prenatal genetic screening and the various forms of carrier screening, a synopsis of recent changes in society recommendations and current practice guidelines, and discussion of clinical challenges associated with carrier screening.
Evidence acquisition: Published practice guidelines from relevant professional societies were reviewed and synthesized. PubMed search was performed for relevant history and clinical considerations of carrier screening.
Results: Information and evidence summarized in this review include professional society practice guidelines, review articles, and peer-reviewed research articles.
Conclusions and relevance: Current practice guidelines differ between stakeholder professional organizations. Expanded carrier screening offers increased identification of rare disease carriers allowing for more informed reproductive choices. However, there are several barriers to the implementation of expanded carrier screening for all patients.
Importance: CenteringPregnancy (CP) is a model for group prenatal care associated with improved perinatal outcomes for preterm birth and low birthweight, increased rates of breastfeeding, and higher rates of patient and clinician satisfaction.
Objective: The study aims to review the literature related to perinatal outcomes associated with CP, benefits and barriers to implementation, and utility of the model.
Evidence: An electronic-based search was performed in PubMed using the search terms "CenteringPregnancy" OR "Centering Pregnancy," revealing 221 articles.
Results: The CP model improves patient centeredness, efficiency, and equality in prenatal care. Challenges include administrative buy-in, limited resources, and financial support. Multisite retrospective studies of CP demonstrate improved maternal, neonatal, postpartum, and well-being outcomes, especially for participants from minority backgrounds; however, prospective studies had mixed results. CenteringPregnancy is feasibly implemented with high tenet fidelity in several low- and middle-income settings with improved perinatal outcomes compared with traditional care.
Conclusions: CenteringPregnancy is feasible to implement, largely accepted by communities, and shows positive qualitative and quantitative health outcomes. This body of literature supports CP as a potential tool for decreasing racial inequalities in prenatal access, quality of care, and maternal mortality. Further investigation is necessary to inform obstetric clinicians about the potential outcome differences that exist between group and traditional prenatal care.
Importance: Autoimmune and rheumatologic conditions can lead to multiple adverse maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes, especially if they flare during pregnancy. Although many medications to control these conditions exist, concerns regarding their safety often unnecessarily limit their use.
Objective: We aim to review the current evidence available describing the use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics in pregnancy and postpartum and understand the impact of their use on the developing fetus and neonate.
Evidence acquisition: Original research articles, review articles, case series and case reports, and pregnancy guidelines were reviewed.
Results: Multiple retrospective (including 1924 patients) and prospective studies (including 899 patients) of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agent use in pregnancy found no significant increase in rates of miscarriage, preterm birth, or congenital anomalies compared with controls. Most societies, including American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recommend initiation or continuation of TNF-α inhibitors during pregnancy for patients with autoimmune diseases. An increased risk of mild infections in newborns has been reported, although infections requiring hospitalizations are rare. Data suggest that breastfeeding while taking anti-TNF agents is safe for neonates. Less data exist for the use of other mAbs including anticytokine, anti-integrin, and anti-B-cell agents during pregnancy and postpartum.
Conclusions and relevance: Current evidence suggests that the use of mAbs, particularly anti-TNF agents, is safe in pregnancy and postpartum, without significant adverse effects on the pregnant patient or infant. The benefits of ongoing disease control in pregnant patients result in favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes.