Alice Benjamin

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Publications (31)83.05 Total impact

  • Article: Effect of induced abortions on early preterm births and adverse perinatal outcomes.
    Ghislain Hardy, Alice Benjamin, Haim A Abenhaim
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    ABSTRACT: Objectives: To examine the association between prior induced abortions and prematurity and to explore potential mechanisms for a relationship, including second trimester pregnancy losses and infections. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of all women who delivered between April 2001 and March 2006 using data from the McGill Obstetric and Neonatal Database. Exposure was categorized as having had no prior induced abortions, one prior induced abortion, or two or more prior induced abortions. Our primary outcome was gestational age at delivery, categorized as < 24 weeks, < 26 weeks, < 28 weeks, < 32 weeks and < 37 weeks. Secondary outcomes were intrapartum fever, NICU admission, and use of tocolysis. Results: A total of 17 916 women were included in the study. Of these 2276 (13%) had undergone one prior induced abortion, and 862 (5%) had undergone two or more prior induced abortions. Women with a prior induced abortion were more likely to be smokers and to consume alcohol, and were less likely to be married. Women who reported one prior induced abortion were more likely to have premature births by 32, 28, and 26 weeks; adjusted odds ratios were 1.45 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.90), 1.71 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.42), and 2.17 (95% CI 1.41 to 3.35), respectively. This association was stronger for women with two or more previous induced abortions. Prior induced abortion was associated with an increased requirement for tocolysis in subsequent pregnancies, but there was no association between prior induced abortions and NICU admission, intrapartum fever, and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Conclusion: Our study showed a significant increase in the risk of preterm delivery in women with a history of previous induced abortion. This association was stronger with decreasing gestational age.
    Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada: JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada: JOGC 02/2013; 35(2):138-43.
  • Article: Increased Risk of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes at Early Gestational Ages among Maternal Cigarette Smokers.
    Mary C England, Alice Benjamin, Haim A Abenhaim
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    ABSTRACT: Objective To examine the effect of cigarette smoking during pregnancy on the development of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) categorized by gestational age.Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 17,961 births using data from the McGill Obstetric and Neonatal Database between years 2001 and 2006. Our exposure was defined according to self-reported maternal cigarette smoking status categorized as nonsmoker, smoker of 1 to 10 cigarettes per day, and smoker of > 10 cigarettes per day. The outcome was measured as incidence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) among gestational age categories of < 28, < 32, < 37, and > 37 weeks. Unconditional logistic regression analysis and Wald test for trend were used to estimate the adjusted risk of PPROM according to smoking status.Results Among the study population, 640 cases of PPROM (<37 weeks) and 40 cases of PROM (>37 weeks). After adjusting for confounding variables, smoking > 10 cigarettes per day was associated with an increased risk of PPROM at < 28 weeks (odds ratio [OR] 5.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.20 to 12.7); < 32 weeks (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.09 to 5.11; < 37 weeks (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.94); and > 37 weeks (OR 3.19; 95% CI 0.92 to 11.0). Smoking 1 to 10 cigarettes per day was not associated with a significant risk of PPROM at any gestational age.Conclusion Heavy cigarette smoking increases the risk of PPROM more so at early gestational age than at term.
    American Journal of Perinatology 01/2013; · 1.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Incidence, risk factors, and obstetrical outcomes of women with breast cancer in pregnancy.
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    ABSTRACT: Breast cancer in pregnancy is a rare condition. The objective of our study was to describe the incidence, risk factors, and obstetrical outcomes of breast cancer in pregnancy. We conducted a population-based cohort study on 8.8 million births using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project - Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999-2008. The incidence of breast cancer was calculated and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent effects of demographic determinants on the diagnosis of breast cancer and to estimate the adjusted effect of breast cancer on obstetrical outcomes. There were 8,826,137 births in our cohort of which 573 cases of breast cancer were identified for an overall 10-year incidence of 6.5 cases per 100,000 births with the incidence slightly increasing over the 10-year period. Breast cancer appeared to be more common among women >35 years of age, odds ratio (OR) = 3.36 (2.84-3.97); women with private insurance plans, OR = 1.39 (1.10-1.76); and women who delivered in an urban teaching hospital, OR = 2.10 (1.44-3.06). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, women with pregnancy-associated breast cancer were more likely to have an induction of labor, OR = 2.25 (1.88, 2.70), but similar rates of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, instrumental deliveries, and placental abruption. The incidence of breast cancer in pregnancy appears higher than previously reported with women over 35 being at greatest risk. Aside from an increased risk for induction of labor, women with breast cancer in pregnancy have similar obstetrical outcomes.
    The Breast Journal 11/2012; 18(6):564-8. · 1.64 Impact Factor
  • Article: Placental weight for gestational age and adverse perinatal outcomes.
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    ABSTRACT: The fetoplacental ratio has been used conventionally to study the contribution of the placenta to fetal growth restriction. However, this measure is problematic because a normal fetoplacental ratio can reflect birth weight and placental weight that are both normal, both low, or both high. The objective of this study was to examine the independent association between placental weight for gestational age and perinatal mortality or serious neonatal morbidity. A sex- and gestational age-specific placental weight z score was calculated for a cohort of 87,600 singleton births at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, 1978-2007. The relationship between placental weight z score and adverse perinatal outcomes (stillbirth, neonatal death, 5-minute Apgar score lower than 7, seizures, or respiratory morbidity) was examined using logistic regression. Multivariable models examined whether the relationship was independent of birth weight and other pregnancy risk factors. : After controlling for birth weight, fetuses with a low placental weight z score were at significantly increased risk of stillbirth (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.6, percent population attributable risk 17.8%). In contrast, adverse neonatal outcomes were significantly more likely among those with high placental weight z scores (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7, percent population attributable risk 5% for any serious neonatal morbidity). Similar trends were observed after further adjusting for pregnancy risk factors. Placental weight for gestational age is an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes, above and beyond the known association with birth weight. The mechanisms behind the opposing effects of placental weight z score on risk of stillbirth compared with adverse neonatal outcomes require further elucidation. III.
    Obstetrics and Gynecology 06/2012; 119(6):1251-8. · 4.73 Impact Factor
  • Article: Anti-D in Rh(D)-negative pregnant women: are at-risk pregnancies and deliveries receiving appropriate prophylaxis?
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    ABSTRACT: Although anti-D prophylaxis has greatly reduced the rate of Rh-immunization, there remain women who sensitize during or after pregnancy because of inadequate prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to compare adherence to prophylaxis recommendations for antenatal and postnatal anti-D immunoglobulin administration. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all pregnancies recorded at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 2001 and 2006 to determine the rates of antenatal and postnatal prophylaxis in Rh(D)-negative women. We compared adherence to anti-D prophylaxis recommendations between our institution's physician-dependent antenatal approach and the protocol-based postpartum approach. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of determinants of non-adherence to current recommendations for anti-D prophylaxis. Antenatal administration was analyzed in 1868 pregnancies in eligible Rh-negative women. Among these women, 85.7% received appropriate antenatal prophylaxis and 98.5% of eligible women received appropriate postnatal prophylaxis. Factors independently associated with non-adherence to antepartum prophylaxis included first visit in the third trimester (P < 0.001), transfer from an outside hospital (P = 0.03), and physician licensing before 1980 (P = 0.04). Unlike hospital-based protocol-dependent systems, physician-dependent systems for antenatal anti-D prophylaxis remain subject to errors of omission. A more standardized system is needed to ensure effective antenatal prophylaxis.
    Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada: JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada: JOGC 05/2012; 34(5):429-35.
  • Article: Effect of maternal age on the risk of stillbirth: a population-based cohort study on 37 million births in the United States.
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    ABSTRACT: The objective of our study was to evaluate the incidence and effect of maternal age on the risk of stillbirth. We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Linked Birth-Infant Death" and "Fetal Death" data files. We excluded all births of gestational age under 24 weeks and those with reported congenital malformations. We estimated the adjusted effect of maternal age on the risk of stillbirth using logistic regression analysis. There were 37,504,230 births that met study criteria, of which 130,353 (3.5/1,000) were stillbirths. Rates of stillbirth remained constant throughout the 10 years. As compared with women between the ages of 25 and 30, decreasing maternal age was associated with the following risk of stillbirth: odds ratio (OR) 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93 to 0.97) for ages 20 to 25; OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94 to 0.99) for ages 15 to 20; and OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.47) for ages <15. Increasing maternal age was associated with an increasing risk of stillbirth: OR 1.02 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.04) for ages 30 to 35, OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.21 to 1.28) for ages 35 to 40, OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.53 to 1.67) for ages 40 to 45, and OR 2.22 (95% CI 1.91 to 2.53) for ages >45. Although the overall risk is low, the risk of stillbirth increases considerably in women at the extremes of the reproductive age spectrum. Antenatal surveillance may be justified in these women.
    American Journal of Perinatology 05/2011; 28(8):643-50. · 1.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Higher caesarean section rates in women with higher body mass index: are we managing labour differently?
    Haim A Abenhaim, Alice Benjamin
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    ABSTRACT: Higher body mass index has been associated with an increased risk of Caesarean section. The effect of differences in labour management on this association has not yet been evaluated. We conducted a cohort study using data from the McGill Obstetrics and Neonatal Database for deliveries taking place during a 10-year period. Women's BMI at delivery was categorized as normal (20 to 24.9), overweight (25 to 29.9), obese (30 to 39.9), or morbidly obese (≥ 40). We evaluated the effect of the management of labour on the need for Caesarean section using unconditional logistic regression models. Data were available for 11 922 women, of whom 2289 women had normal weight, 5663 were overweight, 3730 were obese, and 240 were morbidly obese. After adjustment for known confounding variables, increased BMI category was associated with an overall increase in the use of oxytocin and in the use of epidural analgesia, and with a decrease in use of forceps and vacuum extraction among second stage deliveries. Higher BMI was also found to be associated with earlier decisions to perform a Caesarean section in the second stage of labour. When adjusted for these differences in the management of labour, the increasing rate of Caesarean section observed with increasing BMI category was markedly attenuated (P < 0.001). Women with an increased BMI are managed differently in labour than women of normal weight. This difference in management in part explains the increased rate of Caesarean section observed with higher BMI.
    Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada: JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada: JOGC 05/2011; 33(5):443-8.
  • Article: Pregnancy-associated breast cancer: a review for the obstetrical care provider.
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    ABSTRACT: Breast cancer is uncommon in pregnancy, but obstetrical care providers should nevertheless be familiar with the presenting signs and symptoms. The incidence of breast cancer in pregnancy and the postpartum period ranges from 2.3 to 40 cases per 100 000 women. Over 90% of patients with breast cancer in pregnancy or during lactation present with a palpable mass, and most often (84%) these are self-reported by patients. Less frequently, breast cancer will present as breast erythema, breast swelling, bloody nipple discharge, or local or distant metastasis. The histology of tumours appears to be similar in women who are pregnant or recently delivered and in age-matched women who are not pregnant. However, the stage of disease at diagnosis is more advanced in women who are pregnant or recently delivered and consequently incurs a worst prognosis, likely due to a delay in diagnosis. Although the majority of palpable breast masses are benign, breast examinations should routinely be performed in pregnant women, and identified masses should be promptly evaluated.
    Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada: JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada: JOGC 04/2011; 33(4):330-7.
  • Article: Effect of prior cesarean delivery on neonatal outcomes.
    Haim A Abenhaim, Alice Benjamin
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    ABSTRACT: To examine the effect of a prior cesarean delivery on neonatal outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on all women with a prior livebirth who delivered at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 2001 and 2006. We defined our exposure as a positive history for cesarean delivery and used unconditional logistic regression analysis to estimate the adjusted effect of a previous cesarean delivery on adverse neonatal outcomes. A total of 18,673 births took place of which 9708 were in women with a prior livebirth (77.0% with no previous cesarean delivery and 23.0% with a previous cesarean delivery). As compared to newborns delivered by mothers with no prior cesarean delivery, increasing number of prior cesarean deliveries was associated with an increasing risk of preterm birth [odds ratio (OR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.39]; respiratory distress syndrome (OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.02-5.91); and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.25-1.60). These findings were predominantly due to differences in gestational age and mode of delivery. Having a prior cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. Adverse neonatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancies is additional evidence to suggest that unless specifically indicated, cesarean delivery should be avoided.
    Journal of Perinatal Medicine 03/2011; 39(3):241-4. · 1.70 Impact Factor
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    Article: Does education level influence the decision to undergo elective repeat caesarean section among women with a previous caesarean section?
    Audrey Gilbert, Alice Benjamin, Haim A Abenhaim
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    ABSTRACT: Patient education level has been shown to affect health care outcomes in a variety of clinical contexts. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether maternal education level influences women to plan elective repeat Caesarean section rather than attempt a vaginal birth after Caesarean. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women with a previous Caesarean section who delivered at the Royal Victoria Hospital between 2001 and 2006. Education level was stratified as follows: </= 11 years (up to and including a high school diploma), 12 to 15 years (some college or university education), and >/= 16 years (university degree). We used unconditional logistic regression to calculate age-adjusted estimates of the risk of having a planned Caesarean section. Among 18 673 deliveries in our cohort, 1915 were in women with a previous Caesarean section. Of these, 12.6% had a high school degree or less, 38.3% had some college or university education, and 49.1% had a university degree. Compared with women whose maximum education was a high school diploma, there was a higher rate of planned Caesarean section in women with some college or university education (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.89, P = 0.047) and in women with a university degree (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.94, P = 0.03). Higher education appears to be associated with an increased rate of elective repeat Caesarean section. Whether this is due to patient differences or physician bias, physicians should be aware of this disparity and should attempt to provide unbiased informed consent for all women regardless of their level of education.
    Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada: JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada: JOGC 10/2010; 32(10):942-7.
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    Article: An international trial of antioxidants in the prevention of preeclampsia (INTAPP).
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    ABSTRACT: We sought to investigate whether prenatal vitamin C and E supplementation reduces the incidence of gestational hypertension (GH) and its adverse conditions among high- and low-risk women. In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, women were stratified by the risk status and assigned to daily treatment (1 g vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin E) or placebo. The primary outcome was GH and its adverse conditions. Of the 2647 women randomized, 2363 were included in the analysis. There was no difference in the risk of GH and its adverse conditions between groups (relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.26). However, vitamins C and E increased the risk of fetal loss or perinatal death (nonprespecified) as well as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. Vitamin C and E supplementation did not reduce the rate of preeclampsia or GH, but increased the risk of fetal loss or perinatal death and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.
    American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 03/2010; 202(3):239.e1-239.e10. · 3.28 Impact Factor
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    Article: Investigating socio-economic disparities in preterm birth: evidence for selective study participation and selection bias.
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    ABSTRACT: Selective study participation can theoretically lead to selection bias. We explored this issue in the context of a multicentre cohort study of socio-economic disparities in preterm birth. Women with singleton pregnancies were recruited from four large Montreal maternity hospitals and invited to return for an interview, vaginal examination and venepuncture at 24-26 weeks of gestation. We compared the observed preterm birth rate (ultrasound confirmed) among the 5146 cohort women to that expected based on all 108 724 Montreal Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) singleton births for 1998-2000. The observed preterm birth rate in the study cohort was 5.1%, compared with 6.3% in the CMA (P < 0.001) (unadjusted morbidity ratio [95% CI] = 0.80 [0.71, 0.90]). Within each stratum of maternal education and neighbourhood income (the latter based on postal code matched links to the 2001 Canadian census), cohort women had substantially lower rates of preterm birth than women from the CMA. No significant association between socio-economic status (SES) and preterm birth was observed in the study cohort, except among 'indicated' (non-spontaneous) cases. The association between neighbourhood income and preterm birth was biased to the null in the study cohort, with adjusted odds ratios in the poorest vs. richest quintiles of 1.01 [0.63, 1.64] in the cohort vs. 1.28 [1.18, 1.39] in the CMA, although no such bias was observed for the association with maternal education assessed at the individual level. We speculate that the lower-than-expected preterm birth rate and attenuated association between neighbourhood income and preterm birth may be related to selective participation by women more psychologically invested in their pregnancies. Investigators should consider the potential for biased associations in pregnancy/birth cohort studies, especially associations based on SES or race/ethnicity, and carry out sensitivity analyses to gauge their effects.
    Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 08/2009; 23(4):301-9. · 2.31 Impact Factor
  • Article: Common variants of the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor gene do not influence kidney size of the healthy newborn.
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    ABSTRACT: Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays an important role in renal development, serving as a trophic factor for outgrowth of the ureteric bud and its continued arborisation. Our previous studies have shown that common variants of the human paired-box 2 (PAX2) gene (a transcriptional activator of GDNF) and rearranged during transfection (RET) gene (encoding the cognate receptor for GDNF) are associated with a subtle reduction in the kidney size of newborns. Since heterozygosity for a mutant GDNF allele causes mild renal hypoplasia and modest hypertension in mice, we considered the possibility that common variants of the GDNF gene might also contribute to renal hypoplasia in humans. We studied the relationship between newborn renal size or umbilical cord cystatin C and 19 common GDNF gene variants [minor allele frequency (MAF) >5%], three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to a putative PAX binding site and one rare SNP (rs36119840 A/G) which changes an amino acid (R93W), based on data from the haplotype map of the human genome (HapMap). However, none of these 23 SNPs was associated with reduced newborn kidney size or function. Among the 163 Caucasians in our cohort, none had the R93W allele.
    Pediatric Nephrology 01/2009; 24(6):1151-7. · 2.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inherited thrombophilia and preeclampsia within a multicenter cohort: the Montreal Preeclampsia Study.
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    ABSTRACT: We sought to evaluate the association between inherited thrombophilia and preeclampsia. From a multicenter cohort of 5337 pregnant women, we prospectively identified 113 women who developed preeclampsia and selected 443 control subjects who did not have preeclampsia or nonproteinuric gestational hypertension. Blood samples were tested for DNA polymorphisms affecting thrombophilia (factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin G20210A mutation, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism), homocysteine, and folate levels, and placentae underwent pathological evaluation. Thrombophilia was present in 14% of patients and 21% of control subjects (adjusted logistic regression odds ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-1.3). Placental underperfusion was present in 63% of patients vs 46% of control subjects (P < .001) and was more frequent in women with folate levels in the lowest quartile (P = .04), but was not associated with thrombophilia. We did not find evidence to support an association between inherited thrombophilia and increased risk of preeclampsia. Placental underperfusion is associated with preeclampsia, but this does not appear to be consequent to thrombophilia.
    American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 12/2008; 200(2):151.e1-9; discussion e1-5. · 3.28 Impact Factor
  • Article: A common RET variant is associated with reduced newborn kidney size and function.
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    ABSTRACT: Congenital nephron number varies five-fold among normal humans, and individuals at the lower end of this range may have an increased lifetime risk for essential hypertension or renal insufficiency; however, the mechanisms that determine nephron number are unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that common hypomorphic variants of the RET gene, which encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor critical for renal branching morphogenesis, might account for subtle renal hypoplasia in some normal newborns. A common single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs1800860 G/A) was identified within an exonic splicing enhancer in exon 7. The adenosine variant at mRNA position 1476 reduced affinity for spliceosome proteins, enhanced the likelihood of aberrant mRNA splicing, and diminished the level of functional transcript in human cells. In vivo, normal white newborns with an rs1800860(1476A) allele had kidney volumes 10% smaller and cord blood cystatin C levels 9% higher than those with the rs1800860(1476G) allele. These findings suggest that the RET(1476A) allele, in combination with other common polymorphic developmental genes, may account for subtle renal hypoplasia in a significant proportion of the white population. Whether this gene variant affects clinical outcomes requires further study.
    Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 11/2008; 19(10):2027-34. · 9.66 Impact Factor
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    Article: Live birth after vitrification of in vitro matured human oocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: To report the first healthy live birth from immature oocytes retrieved in a natural menstrual cycle, followed by in vitro maturation (IVM) and cryopreservation of the oocytes by vitrification. Case report. University-based tertiary medical center. A 27-year-old woman with tubal disease and polycystic ovaries. Immature oocytes were retrieved by transvaginal ultrasound guided follicle aspiration on day 13 of her natural menstrual cycle, matured in vitro and vitrified. The oocytes were thawed in a subsequent menstrual cycle, inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and the resulting embryos transferred. Oocyte maturation and survival rates, pregnancy, and live birth. One metaphase II and 18 germinal vesicle stage oocytes were collected; 16 out of 18 germinal vesicle oocytes matured, and a total of 17 oocytes were vitrified. After thawing, four IVM oocytes survived; three embryos were transferred. The woman went on to deliver a single healthy live baby at term. We provide proof-of-principle evidence that the novel fertility preservation strategy of immature oocyte retrieval, IVM, and vitrification of oocytes can lead to successful pregnancy and healthy live birth.
    Fertility and sterility 06/2008; 91(2):372-6. · 3.97 Impact Factor
  • Article: Evaluating the role of bedrest on the prevention of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and growth restriction.
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    ABSTRACT: Evaluating the effect of restricted activity on the development of preeclampsia under experimental clinical settings has been compromised by inherent selection bias and differential misclassification. The aim of our study was to overcome such limitations by using hospitalized bedrest for preterm labor/birth-related indications as an unbiased measure of restricted activity and evaluate its effect on the development of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the McGill Obstetrical and Neonatal Database on all pregnancies that took place between 1991 and 2001. We defined "exposure" as hospitalized bed rest for preterm labor/birth related indications and used unconditional logistic regression models to estimate its adjusted effect on the development of hypertensive diseases of pregnancy. Data were available on 36,140 pregnancies. 677 women were hospitalized and prescribed bedrest for either preterm contractions (71%), preterm premature rupture of membranes (18%), an incompetent cervix (8%), or other indications. Among all women, bedrest was associated with a significant reduced risk for developing preeclampsia, 0.27 (0.16-0.48). In a stratified analysis, women delivering prior to 34 weeks of gestation had an even more pronounced reduced risk for developing preeclampsia 0.12 (0.03-0.50) as well as a reduced risk for developing intrauterine growth restriction 0.38 (0.18-0.84). When strictly adhered to, bedrest may be an effective measure in the prevention of preeclampsia and early intrauterine growth restriction.
    Hypertension in Pregnancy 02/2008; 27(2):197-205. · 1.69 Impact Factor
  • Article: Effect of instrument preference for operative deliveries on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.
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    ABSTRACT: To examine the relationship between physicians' instrument preference and obstetrical and neonatal outcomes. A retrospective cohort study comparing obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of second stage deliveries between obstetricians who prefer forceps (forceps >/=90%) with obstetricians with no preference to forceps (either instrument <90%) was completed using the McGill Obstetrical and Neonatal Database. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain an adjusted odds ratio controlling for maternal, intrapartum and neonatal confounders. Two thousand and three hundred thirteen infants were delivered by 5 obstetricians who preferred forceps, and 9261 infants were delivered by 15 obstetricians with no instrument preference. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. As compared to obstetricians who preferred forceps, obstetricians with no instrument preference had a higher rate of operative vaginal deliveries 1.5 (1.1-2.0), a higher cesarean section rate 2.5 (1.3-4.9) and a higher episiotomy rate in non-operative vaginal deliveries 3.4 (2.7-4.3). Infants delivered by obstetricians with no instrument preference were less likely to have significant bruising 0.3 (0.2-0.6) but more likely to have a cephalohematoma 3.0 (1.1-8.3). Physician instrument preference is an important determinant of outcomes that should be considered in studies evaluating instrumental deliveries.
    European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 11/2007; 134(2):164-8. · 1.97 Impact Factor
  • Article: Comparison of obstetric outcomes between on-call and patients' own obstetricians.
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    ABSTRACT: The question "will you be delivering my baby?" is one that pregnant women frequently ask their physicians. We sought to determine whether obstetric outcomes differed between women whose babies were delivered by their own obstetrician (regular-care obstetrician) and those attended by an on-call obstetrician who did not provide antenatal care. We performed a cohort study of all live singleton term births between 1991 and 2001 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montréal. We excluded breech deliveries, elective cesarean sections and deliveries with placenta previa or prolapse of the umbilical cord. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare obstetric outcomes (e.g., cesarean delivery, instrumental vaginal delivery and episiotomy) between the regular-care and on-call obstetricians after adjustment for potential confounders. A total of 28,332 eligible deliveries were attended by 26 obstetricians: 21,779 (76.9%) by the patient's own obstetrician and 6553 (23.1%) by the on-call obstetrician. Compared with women attended by their regular-care obstetrician, those attended by an on-call obstetrician had higher rates of cesarean delivery (11.9% v. 11.4%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.24, p < 0.01) and of third-or fourth-degree tears (7.9% v. 6.4%, adjusted OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.36, p < 0.01) but lower rates of episiotomy (38.5% v. 42.9%, OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.72-0.82, p < 0.001). No differences were observed between the groups in the rate of instrumental vaginal delivery. The increase in the overall rate of cesarean delivery among women attended by an on-call obstetrician was due mainly to an increase in cesarean deliveries during the first stage of labour because of nonreassuring fetal heart tracing (2.9% v. 1.7%, adjusted OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.49-2.15, p < 0.001). The time of day of delivery did not modify the observed effects. The type of attending obstetrician (regular care v. on call) had a minor effect on obstetric outcomes.
    Canadian Medical Association Journal 08/2007; 177(4):352-6. · 8.22 Impact Factor
  • Article: A common variant of the PAX2 gene is associated with reduced newborn kidney size.
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    ABSTRACT: Congenital nephron number ranges widely in the human population. Suboptimal nephron number may be associated with increased risk for essential hypertension and susceptibility to renal injury, but the factors that set nephron number during kidney development are unknown. In renal-coloboma syndrome, renal hypoplasia and reduced nephron number are due to heterozygous mutations of the PAX2 gene. This study tested for an association between a common haplotype of the PAX2 gene and subtle renal hypoplasia in normal newborns. A PAX2 haplotype was identified to occur in 18.5% of the newborn cohort, which was significantly associated with a 10% reduction in newborn kidney volume adjusted for body surface area. This haplotype was also associated with reduced allele-specific PAX2 mRNA level in a human renal cell carcinoma cell line. Subtle renal hypoplasia in normal newborns may be partially due to a common variant of the PAX2 gene that reduces mRNA expression during kidney development.
    Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 07/2007; 18(6):1915-21. · 9.66 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2013
    • Dalhousie University
      Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 2001–2013
    • McGill University
      • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
      Montréal, Quebec, Canada
  • 2012
    • University of British Columbia - Vancouver
      • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
      Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 2008
    • McGill University Health Centre
      Montréal, Quebec, Canada