Different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome in Turkish women: clinical and endocrine characteristics.

This study presents the differences in clinical, endocrine and metabolic parameters among different polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes in Turkish women. Four hundred and ten women with PCOS were evaluated, while 97 healthy women served as controls. PCOS were defined by oligo-anovulation (OA), hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (PCO). Patients were subdivided into four phenotypes: OA + HA + PCO (phenotype 1), OA + HA (phenotype 2), HA + PCO (phenotype 3), OA + PCO (phenotype 4). Phenotypes 1-4 were present in 47.1%, 13.2%, 21.2% and 18.5% of patients, respectively. They were also divided into three groups according to the BMI (<25 kg/m(2); 25≤ and ≤30 kg/m(2); and >30 kg/m(2)). ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc HSD tests were used. The LH levels and LH/FSH ratio were higher in phenotype 1 and 2 than phenotype 3. The LDL-C levels were higher in women with phenotype 1 and 4 than in women with phenotype 2. Women with BMI <25 kg/m(2) had higher levels of LH, LH/FSH ratio, and the HDL-C than other two groups. The levels of TG, LDL, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR increased with increasing BMI in four phenotypes. Results suggest that obesity seems to be the primary cause of metabolic disturbances in PCOS women.

Efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss after elective cesarean section: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TA) in reducing blood loss during elective cesarean section (CS). We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 660 women who underwent elective CS. The patients were randomly selected to receive an intravenous infusion of either TA (1 g/10 mL in 20 mL of 5% glucose; N = 330) or 30 mL 5% glucose prior to surgery. The primary outcome was the estimated blood loss following CS. No demographic difference was observed between groups. The mean estimated blood loss was significantly lower in women treated with TA compared with women in the placebo group (499.9 ± 206.4 mL versus 600.7 ± 215.7 mL, respectively; P < 0.001), and the proportion of women in the TA group who had an estimated blood loss >1000 mL was significantly lower than in the placebo group (7 [2.1%] versus 19 [5.8%], respectively; relative risk [RR] 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 6.3; P < 0.03). Furthermore, more women in the placebo group than in the TA group required additional uterotonic agents (48 [14.5%] versus 28 [8.5%], respectively; RR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6; P = 0.02). Maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly. TA significantly reduced bleeding during CS, the percentage of patients with blood loss >1000 mL, and the need for additional uterotonic agents. Furthermore, the incidence of thromboembolic events did not increase. Our results suggest that TA can be used safely and effectively to reduce CS bleeding.

When should we perform prophylactic antibiotics in elective cesarean cases?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether the timing of prophylactic antibiotics at cesarean delivery influences maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective, randomized trial. Four hundred patients that underwent elective cesarean section between June and December 2007 formed the study population. Eleven patients were excluded from the study because they needed transfusion during the cesarean section. The population was divided into two groups: Group A, antibiotic prophylaxis was applied to 194 women before skin incision and Group B, antibiotic prophylaxis was applied to 195 women after umbilical cord clamping. The occurrence of endomyometritis/endometritis, wound infection, febrile morbidity, total infectious morbidity, and neonatal complications were compared. RESULTS: There were 389 patients enrolled. No demographic differences were observed between groups. No significant difference was found between the groups for total infectious morbidity [relative risk (RR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-2.69] and endometritis (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.43-4.51). There was no increase in neonatal sepsis (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.61-3.53), sepsis workup (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.75-2.42), need for neonatal intensive care (RR 1.77, 95% CI 0.51-6.16), and intensive care stay period (P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Time of antibiotic prophylaxis application does not change maternal infectious morbidity in cesarean section deliveries. Preoperative prophylaxis application does not affect neonate morbidity rates as stated in literature.

First trimester diagnosis of sirenomelia: a case report and review of the literature.

Sirenomelia sequence is a rare lethal pattern of congenital anomalies characterized by a number of hallmark skeletal anomalies, including fusion of the lower extremities or a single lower limb, bilateral renal agenesis or dysgenesis with absent or hypoplastic renal arteries, oligohydramnios, and the presence of aberrant vasculature. The etiology is still controversial. Prognosis is very poor, with the babies being stillborn or succumbing soon after birth. In the second trimester, oligohydramnios due to renal agenesis makes the diagnosis of sirenomelia difficult. Conversely, in the first trimester, the amniotic fluid volume is usually normal, unrelated to the fetal urine production. Therefore, a first-trimester or early second trimester anatomic survey of the fetus is proposed as preferable and more accurate for the diagnosis of this rare anomaly. In this article, we report a case of sirenomelia detected by two- and three-dimensional ultrasound in the 11th week of gestation and the associated literature is discussed.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a preeclamptic woman.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) are two rare diseases which may present with similar symptoms and signs. We report a case with coexisting PRES and CVST in a preeclamptic woman. A 24-year-old woman, G2 P1, at 33 wk and 5 d of pregnancy presented with headache. Her blood pressure was 180/120 mmHg and urinary test revealed +3proteinuria. Cesarean section was performed with indications of severe preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation and fetal distress. Cranial MR venography of the patient revealed thrombiin superior sagittal sinus, confluenssinuum, right transverse and right sigmoid sinus and diffusion MRI showed increased signal intensity (vasogenicoedema) in cortical and subcortical areas of parietooccipital and posterior frontal lobes.The patient was treated with magnesium sulfate and heparin successfully. After treatment period, control cranial MRI and diffusion MRI were normal. Thrombi within the sinuses were totally regressed. Albeit rare, these two diseases should be kept in mind especially in preeclamptic/eclamptic patients that present with neurological symptom and/or sign.

Effect of GnRH antagonists on clinical pregnancy rates in ovulation induction protocols with gonadotropins and intrauterine insemination.

INTRODUCTION: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was applied to selected infertile patients to determine the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists in IUI cycles, in which recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) had been used for COH. METHODS: This study was conducted between April 1, 2009 and June 10, 2009, and involved a total of 108 patients. These patients had primary or secondary infertility, which resulted in an indication for IUI, and they each received two cycles of ovarian stimulation treatment with clomiphene citrate. The patients were randomised into two groups--patients in group A received rFSH + GnRH antagonist (n = 45), while those in group B received only rFSH (n = 63). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 31.84 ± 3.73 years and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.40 ± 1.88 kg/m(2). The mean age and BMI of the patients in groups A and B were not significantly different. There was no significant difference in the mean total rFSH dose administered (988.33 IU in group A and 871.83 IU in group B). When compared to group B, the mean number of follicles that were > 16 mm on the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) trigger day was significantly higher in group A (1.58 and 1.86, respectively; p < 0.05). When the two groups were compared, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of cancelled cycles due to premature luteinisation (none in group A vs. two in group B) and the rate of clinical pregnancy (8.9% in group A vs. 7.9% in group B). CONCLUSION: No significant improvement in the clinical pregnancy rates was observed when GnRH antagonists were used in COH + IUI cycles, despite the significant increase in the number of follicles that were > 16 mm on HCG trigger day.

Can CA-125 predict lymph node metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancers in Turkish population?

OBJECTIVE: The role of single preoperative serum CA-125 levels in predicting pelvic or paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients operated for epithelial ovarian cancer has been investigated. METHODS: 176 patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian carcinoma after staging laparotomy between January 2002 and May 2010 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean, geometric mean, and median of preoperative serum CA-125 levels were 632,6, 200,29, and 191,5 U/mL, respectively. The cut-off value predicting lymph node metastases in the ROC curve was 71,92 U/mL, which is significant in logistic regression analysis (P = 0.005). The preoperative log CA-125 levels were also statistically significant in predicting lymph node metastasis in logistic regression analysis (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The tumor marker CA-125, which increases with grade independent of the effect of stage in EOC, is predictive of lymph node metastasis with a high rate of false positivity in Turkish population. The high false positive rate may obscure the predictive value of CA-125.

HELLP syndrome: 8 years of experience from a tertiary referral center in western Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the incidence, symptomatology, complications, mode of delivery, treatment modalities, and risk factors for maternal outcome and perinatal outcome in women with HELLP syndrome. METHODS: A total of 303 pregnancies with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome diagnosed antenatally were reviewed between 2002 and 2009. Demographic data, including age, parity, gestational age, and clinical and laboratory findings, were recorded from the medical files. In addition, delivery route, indication of cesarean section, and fetal and maternal complications were determined. RESULTS: Acute renal failure (20.5%) was the most common complication. Eclampsia was present in 303 women with HELLP syndrome (52%). There were four maternal deaths (1.4%). The perinatal mortality rate was 20.3%. The percentages of intracerebral hemorrhage and maternal death were higher in women with eclampsia than in those without (6.3% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.01 and 4.8% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.02, respectively). A nadir platelet count of ≤50,000 cells/mm(3), a peak serum AST of >150 IU/L, and a peak serum LDH of ≥1400 IU/L were not independent risk factors of an adverse outcome. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the incidence rates of serious maternal and fetal morbidities and mortalities are increased in HELLP syndrome. Laboratory parameters of HELLP syndrome are not independent risk factors for adverse neonatal-maternal outcome. Adequate and prompt diagnosis and management are crucial in patients with HELLP syndrome.

Uterine adenosarcoma with ovarian sex cord-like differentiation: a case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prognosis of uterine adenosarcoma with ovarian sex cord like-differentiation after treatment and to review the literature. CASE REPORT: A 47-year-old premenopausal unmarried woman presented with irregular menstrual bleeding and uterine mass. Sonographic examination, suggested two uterine fibroids located in the uterine fundus and cervix measuring 4 × 3 cm and 3 × 3 cm, respectively. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy was performed and the histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis of uterine adenosarcoma with ovarian sex cord like-differentiation. The patient received neither chemotherapy nor other adjuvant therapy because the tumor had low malignant potential, and the extent of myometrial invasion was less than half of the whole myometrium. The patient had an uneventful recovery, and no recurrence was detected for 2 years in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Uterine adenosarcomas mostly have relatively low malignant potential. Surgery is the optimal standard treatment for patients. Although there is not enough data in the present literature, benign epithelial differentiations, such as sex cord-like elements may reflect the behaviour of the tumour and shows the tendency to have a benign course in most of cases.

Prenatal diagnosis of imperforate hymen with hydrometrocolpos.

Imperforate hymen is one of the most simple and most common anomalies in the female genital organs, occurring in 0.1% of girls born at term. Some are recognized because of mucocolpos at birth, but the diagnosis is usually not detected before puberty. Rarely, obstetric sonography may prenatally detect imperforate hymen due to presentation of hydrocolpos or hydrometrocolpos in the fetus if fetal cervical and vaginal secretions accumulate in response to circulating maternal estrogens. Nonetheless, reports of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos are still very rare. In this article we report a prenatally diagnosed of imperforate hymen with hydrometrocolpos.