Assessment of the clinical outcomes and complications of hysteroscopic and laparoscopic approaches in the treatment of symptomatic isthmocele: An observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic or hysteroscopic approaches for isthmoplasty. METHODS: A total of 99 isthmocele patients with an average age of 38.45 ± 4.72 years were included in the 2 years of this retrospective cohort study. Forty-five underwent laparoscopic and 54 underwent hysteroscopic isthmocele excision and myometrial repair. RESULTS: Pain scores were significantly higher in the hysteroscopy group before the procedure, but there were no significant pain score differences after the surgery. In 1 year of follow up, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia were higher among hysteroscopy patients. Furthermore, hysteroscopy significantly improved postmenstrual spotting after surgery better than laparoscopy, but in the follow up, there was no significant difference between the two groups in this regard (mean rank for hysteroscopy vs. laparoscopy: 32.30 vs. 37.48, U = 418, P = 0.29). CONCLUSION: In patients with a history of infertility, ectopic pregnancy, lower gravidity, lower parity, and a lower number of cesarean sections, laparoscopic isthmoplasty is preferred over the hysteroscopic approach. Both methods have similar effects on midcycle vaginal bleeding, duration of postmenstrual spotting, and pain. However, a higher rate of dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea could be associated with hysteroscopy.

Immunohistochemical results and case report of an incidental finding of uterine polypoid adenomyoma after long-time therapy for metrorrhagia.

We present a 25-year-old female woman with a 9-year history of metrorrhagia, in whom a uterine polypoid adenomyoma (UPA) was incidentally detected. Intense nuclear staining in the uterine adenomyoma tissue showed an immunoreaction with BAF250a/ARID1A, Arginase-2 as well as 1LRH-2E1/NR5A2, suggesting a role of these proteins and transcriptional activity of their genes in uterine polypoid adenomyoma development. Neither Nidogen-2 nor SF-1/NR5A1 were expressed in UPA.

Hysteroscopic endometrial resection vs. hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding: impact on quality of life and sexuality. Evidence from a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of hysterectomy and hysteroscopic endometrial resection in improving quality of life (QoL), sexual function and psychological wellbeing of women abnormal uterine bleeding. RECENT FINDINGS: We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase for original studies written in English (registered in PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019133632), using the terms 'endometrial ablation', 'endometrial destruction', 'endometrial resection', 'hysterectomy', 'menorrhagia', 'dysfunctional uterine bleeding', 'quality of life', 'sexuality' published up to April 2019. Our literature search produced 159 records. After exclusions, nine studies were included showing the following results: both types of treatment significantly improve QoL and psychological wellbeing; hysterectomy is associated with higher rates of satisfaction; hysterectomy is not associated with a significant deterioration in sexual function. SUMMARY: Hysterectomy is currently more advantageous in terms of improving abnormal uterine bleeding and satisfaction rates than hysteroscopic endometrial destruction techniques. Furthermore, there is some evidence of a greater improvement in general health for women undergoing hysterectomy. However, high-quality prospective randomized controlled trials should be implemented to investigate the effectiveness of hysterectomy and endometrial ablation in the improvement of QoL outcomes in larger patient cohorts.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Is Associated With Increased BMP7 Expression in Human Endometrium.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), a common health concern of women, is a heterogeneous clinical entity that is traditionally categorized into organic and nonorganic causes. Despite varied pharmacologic treatments, few offer sustained efficacy, as most are empiric, unfocused, and do not directly address underlying dysregulated molecular mechanisms. Characterization of such molecular derangements affords the opportunity to develop and use novel, more successful treatments for AUB. Given its implication in other organ systems, we hypothesized that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) expression is altered in patients with AUB and hence comprehensively investigated dysregulation of BMP signaling pathways by systematically screening 489 samples from 365 patients for differences in the expression of BMP2, 4, 6, and 7 ligands, BMPR1A and B receptors, and downstream SMAD4, 6, and 7 proteins. Expression analysis was correlated clinically with data abstracted from medical records, including bleeding history, age at procedure, ethnicity, body mass index, hormone treatment, and histological diagnosis of fibroids, polyps, adenomyosis, hyperplasia, and cancer. Expression of BMP7 ligand was significantly increased in patients with AUB (H-score: 18.0 vs 26.7; P < .0001). Patients reporting heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) as their specific AUB pattern demonstrated significantly higher BMP7 expression. Significantly, no differences in the expression of any other BMP ligands, receptors, or SMAD proteins were observed in this large patient cohort. However, expression of BMPR1A, BMPR1B, and SMAD4 was significantly decreased in cancer compared to benign samples. Our study demonstrates that BMP7 is a promising target for future investigation and pharmacologic treatment of AUB.

Correlation between transvaginal ultrasound measured endometrial thickness and histopathological findings in Turkish women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

AIM: The present study aims to determine how transvaginal ultrasonography and histopathological examination findings are correlated in a cohort of premenopausal and postmenopausal Turkish women with abnormal uterine bleeding. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 350 Turkish women who underwent transvaginal ultrasonography and suction curettage as a result of abnormal uterine bleeding. RESULTS: Sonographic appearance of the endometrium was normal in 244 patients (69.7%), while homogeneous thickening was detected in 47 patients (13.4%) and cystic thickening in 21 patients (6.0%). A sonographic diagnosis of endometrial polyp was made in 38 patients (10.9%). Histopathological analysis of endometrial samplings revealed proliferative endometrium (36%), secretory endometrium (24.6%), decidualization (10.9%), endometrial polyp (8.3%), endometritis (6.8%), endometrial hyperplasia (4.6%), irregular shedding (3.7%), atrophic endometrium (3.1%), endometrial cancer (1.1%) and placental retention (0.9%). The sonographic and histopathological findings correlated significantly (χ(2) = 122 768, P = 0.001; r = 0.215, P = 0.001). Approximately 51% of the women with homogeneous endometrial thickening had proliferative endometrium. Only 44.7% of the women with ultrasonographically visualized endometrial polyps had histopathologically diagnosed endometrial polyps. Nearly 57% of the women with cystic endometrial thickening had proliferative endometrium. CONCLUSION: If there is no facility for hysteroscopy or hysteroscopy-guided endometrial biopsy for women with abnormal uterine bleeding, transvaginal ultrasonography findings can be efficiently used to make a preliminary diagnosis and, thus, notify the pathologists.

Risk factors for adenomyosis, leiomyoma and concurrent adenomyosis and leiomyoma.

AIM: To evaluate the risk factors for adenomyosis, leiomyoma and concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma in patients with treatment-resistant menometrorrhagia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 129 women who underwent abdominal hysterectomy for treatment-resistant menometrorrhagia. The patients were divided into four groups according to the postoperative histopathology: concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma (n = 33), adenomyosis only (n = 26), leiomyoma only (n = 48) and controls (n = 22). Patients without any organic uterine pathology constituted the control group. RESULTS: Age at menarche was higher in the concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma group compared to the adenomyosis only group (P = 0.006). The mean age (P = 0.007), age at menarche (P = 0.001) and gravidity (P = 0.001) were higher in the concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma group compared to the leiomyoma only group. Preoperative hemoglobin was lower in the concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma, adenomyosis only, and leiomyoma only groups than the control group (P < 0.008). On receiver operating characteristic analysis, hemoglobin <10.9 mg/dL had a sensitivity and specificity of 77% and 70%, respectively, in discrimination of any uterine organic pathology, including adenomyosis only, leiomyoma only, and concomitant adenomyosis and leiomyoma, from the control group. Patients in the adenomyosis group were older (OR, 1.20; 95%CI: 1.05-1.50) and had a lower age at menarche (OR, 0.42; 95%CI: 0.19-0.89) than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative anemia may be a useful predictor of adenomyosis. Older patients, and patients who had a lower age at menarche, were also more likely to have adenomyosis.

Preoperative uterine bleeding pattern and risk of endometrial ablation failure.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the study were to compare among women who had an endometrial ablation the risks of treatment failure and subsequent gynecological procedures between women with regular and irregular heavy uterine bleeding and to determine other characteristics associated with the risk of treatment failure. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a retrospective cohort of 968 women who underwent endometrial ablation between January 2007 and July 2009. Preoperative bleeding pattern was categorized as regular or irregular. Treatment failure was defined as reablation or hysterectomy. Subsequent gynecological procedures included endometrial biopsy, dilation and curettage, hysteroscopy, reablation, or hysterectomy. We calculated the odds of treatment failure and gynecological procedures using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Bleeding pattern prior to ablation was heavy and regular in 30% (n = 293), heavy and irregular in 36% (n = 352), and unspecified in 30% (n = 286). We found no differences in treatment failure (13% vs 12%, P = .9) or subsequent procedures (16% vs 18%, P = .7) between women with regular and irregular bleeding. Compared with the women with regular bleeding, the women with irregular bleeding were not at increased odds of treatment failure or subsequent procedures (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-1.74 and OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.76-1.80, respectively). Factors associated with an increased odds of treatment failure and subsequent procedures included tubal ligation (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.30-2.91 and OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.20-2.43, respectively); dysmenorrhea (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.44-4.06 and OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.20-3.13, respectively); and obesity (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.21-2.73 and OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22-2.50, respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative bleeding pattern did not appear to affect failure rates or the need for gynecological procedures after endometrial ablation. Other risk factors for ablation failure identified included preoperative dysmenorrhea, prior tubal ligation, and obesity.

Clinical profiles of 710 premenopausal women with adenomyosis who underwent hysterectomy.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of various symptoms and their associated characteristics in women with adenomyosis who underwent hysterectomy, and to determine which symptoms are likely to go with which others in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2007, 1697 consecutive patients underwent hysterectomy in our hospital. Among them, 734 (43.3%) were histologically confirmed to have adenomyosis, and 710 of them were premenopausal. The medical charts of all 734 patients were retrieved, and their demographic, clinical information and postoperative findings were recorded. We used the Verbal Descriptor Scale to measure the preoperative severity of dysmenorrhea. The Apriori Algorithm was used for mining the association of different symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 710 premenopausal patients, only 4.5% of them had no symptoms. Dysmenorrhea was the most common complaint, occurring in 81.7% of patients. Dysmenorrhea co-occurred most frequently with menorrhagia. The presence of adhesion, presence of endometriosis, complaint of menorrhagia, longer duration of disease, gravidity, palpable pain during pelvic examination, and diffuse adenomyosis were positively associated with the severity of dysmenorrhea. Age, severity of dysmenorrhea, and complaint of metrorrhagia were positively associated with the risk of menorrhagia. CONCLUSIONS: Dysmenorrhea is the most common complaint in women with adenomyosis, which often goes with that of menorrhagia. Adenomyosis often co-occurs with endometriosis and leiomyomas. Various factors are associated with the risk of having different symptoms.

A comparison of the effect of levonorgestrel IUD with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate on abnormal uterine bleeding with simple endometrial hyperplasia and fertility preservation.

OBJECTIVE: Endometrial hyperplasia is clinically important, because it can lead to abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) which itself can precede endometrial cancer. Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract, occurring in about 75%-85% younger, perimenopausal women as endometrial hyperplasia. The treatment is hysterectomy or hormone therapy with progesterone. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare the effect of levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) on simple endometrial hyperplasia for fertility preservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty women in reproductive age (22-47 years) with AUB with endometrial biopsies confirming simple hyperplasia, were enrolled in this study and then randomly divided into two groups. All patients presented with designed special checklist which was filled with satisfaction. Complete history and physical examination especially blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), breast examination, bimanual vaginal examination, and transvaginal sonography (to measure the thickness of endometrial and exclude the other pathologic lesions) were performed. In the first group, treatment was performed with MPA (20 mg/daily) for ten days and in other group with LNG-IUD was prescribed. After three months, transvaginal sonography and biopsy of endometrium were done. The status of AUB and side-effects of two methods,along with the rate of satisfactory were evaluated. RESULT: The findings showed the significant differences in the treatment of simple hyperplasia between two groups (LNG-IUD group vs. MPA group) (p < 0.047). Recovery of AUB in the group LNG was enhanced (p < 0.047). Endometrial thickness was reduced in both groups (p < 0.001), but further reduction in LNG group was seen. Also, LNG was tolerated more than MPA. Side-effects of MPA were more and reached significance (p < 0.003). The rate of satisfaction with LNG was higher than MPA and reached significance (p < 0.048). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that LNG-IUD is more effective than MPA in treatment of simple endometrial hyperplasia and can be helpful in young women who want to preserve their fertilities.

[Long-term effect on radiofrequency heat-coagulation endometrial ablation in the treatment of anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term effect on radiofrequency heat-coagulation (RF) endometrial ablation in treatment of anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB). METHODS: From Jul. 2001 to Nov. 2009, 1196 patients with DUB who were failed by medical treatment (including 127 patients with dysmenorrheal) were enrolled into this study in Jinan Millitary General Hospital. Those patients were divided into two groups according to age: 427 patients at age of or more than 45 years (average age 48 years) in Group A who were treated by RF procedure for amenorrhea;769 patients at age of less than 45 years old (average 37 years) in group B were treated by RF for controlling excessive menstrual bleeding. All the patients had the results of menstrual score (pictorial blood loss assessment chart, PBAC), hemoglobin (Hb), endometrial curettage pathology and hysteroscopy examination immediately after RF procedure; Some patients still had another endometrial curettage pathology and clinical results in 6 months after RF. The mean follow-up time was 72 months (range: 6 to 100 months). The evaluation criterion for RF treatment was to use optimal and significant effect measurements. For group A, the optimal treatment effect (cure) was defined as bleeding cessation and achieving amenorrhea that continued for more than 12 months after treatment. For group B, the optimal treatment effect(cure) was also defined as bleeding cessation and resuming normal menstruation which continued for more than 12 months after treatment. Significant treatment effect was defined as irregular, minor bleeding, but PBAC score less than 100 within 12 months. If patient symptoms and PBAC scores did not change compared with those before treatment, the treatment was defined as failure. For dysmenorrhea, the optimal treatment effect was disappearance for more than 12 months, the significant treatment effect was remission, and treatment failure was not changed from the pre-treatment baseline. The effective rate was the sum of that of the optimal and significant effect. One hundred and twenty-five patients with DUB treated by agents at the same time were chosen as control group. RESULTS: (1) The recent and long-term effective rates for bleeding cessation by RF:the total recent effective rates within 1 months were 94.82% (1134/1196), including 96.5% (412/427) in group A and 93.9% (722/769) in group B. The total curative rates for dysmenorrheal were 82.7% (105/127), including 86.4% (38/44) in group A and 80.7% (67/83) in group B. Pathology examination after hysteroscopy immediately after RF showed a completely and whole destroyed endometrium in group A, and a little rested endometrium in group B. The long-term effect rates for bleeding cessation by RF after 12, 24 and 36 months were 92.55% (969/1047), 93.9% (866/922) and 93.7% (609/650), respectively. PBAC and Hb in group A and group B within 12, 24, 36 and more than 36 months were improved significantly (P < 0.05). (2) COMPLICATIONS: the major complication was irregular minor bleeding in 1 to 2 months after treatment, the rate was 8.03% (96/1196). The second one was menorrhea in 3 months after RF, the rate was 5.18% (62/1196). This condition was corrected by the second RF. No hysterectomy was performed on those patients. CONCLUSION: RF is the safe, efficient and minimal invasive procedure in treatment for DUB. The mechanism of keeping long-term curative effect and preventing recurrence is due to endometrium inactivation and fibrosis by thermocoagulation.

The management of iron deficiency in menometrorrhagia.

Iron-deficiency anaemia, the condition in which anaemia occurs due to a lack of iron, develops when the amount of available iron is insufficient to support normal red blood cell production. Iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia, very prevalent conditions in premenopausal women, are often associated with menometrorrhagia (present in more than two-thirds of cases of iron-deficiency anaemia in premenopausal women). Appropriate identification and treatment of iron deficiency is imperative as iron deficiency can induce important specific clinical manifestations (including fatigue, atrophic changes in the epithelium, oral lesions, dysphagia, nail lesions, reduced immune response). Iron supplementation is the most common strategy used to control iron deficiency. Based on World Health Organisation recommendations, the most appropriate treatment is with an oral ferrous salt in a prolonged-release tablet form, to provide a dose of elemental iron equivalent to 60 mg per intake, in the range of 60 and 120 mg/day according to the severity of iron-deficiency anaemia. When haemoglobin levels have returned to normal, treatment should continue for about 3 months to fill iron stores. An extended-release formulation of ferrous sulphate with mucoproteose has been shown to be associated with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects compared with other ferrous and ferric salts.

Predictors of hysterectomy use and satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To identify static and time-varying sociodemographic, clinical, health-related quality-of-life and attitudinal predictors of use and satisfaction with hysterectomy for noncancerous conditions. METHODS: The Study of Pelvic Problems, Hysterectomy, and Intervention Alternatives (SOPHIA) was conducted from 1998 to 2008. English-, Spanish-, or Chinese-speaking premenopausal women (n=1,420) with intact uteri who had sought care for pelvic pressure, bleeding, or pain from an academic medical center, county hospital, closed-panel health maintenance organization, or one of several community-based practices in the San Francisco Bay area were interviewed annually for up to 8 years. Primary outcomes were use of and satisfaction with hysterectomy. RESULTS: A total of 207 women (14.6%) underwent hysterectomy. In addition to well-established clinical predictors (entering menopause, symptomatic leiomyomas, prior treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, and less symptom resolution), greater symptom impact on sex (P=.001), higher 12-Item Short Form Health Survey mental component summary scores (P=.010), and higher scores on an attitude measure describing "benefits of not having a uterus" and lower "hysterectomy concerns" scores (P<.001 for each) were predictive of hysterectomy use. Most participants who underwent hysterectomy were very (63.9%) or somewhat (21.4%) satisfied in the year after the procedure, and we observed significant variations in posthysterectomy satisfaction across the clinical sites (omnibus P=.036). Other determinants of postsurgical satisfaction included higher pelvic problem impact (P=.035) and "benefits of not having a uterus" scores (P=.008) before surgery and greater posthysterectomy symptom resolution (P=.001). CONCLUSION: Numerous factors beyond clinical symptoms predict hysterectomy use and satisfaction. Providers should discuss health-related quality of life, sexual function, and attitudes with patients to help identify those who are most likely to benefit from this procedure.

Enhanced expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and increased microvascular density in the endometrial hyperplasia of women with anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of endometrial matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), and microvascular density (MVD) in the occurrence of anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB). DESIGN: A prospective analytical design. SETTING: The obstetrics and gynecology department of an academic training hospital. PATIENT(S): Sixty women with anovulatory DUB and 20 control women. INTERVENTION(S): Endometrial biopsies were obtained for the assessment of immunohistochemical staining of MMP-2 and -9, VEGF, and endometrial MVD using an antibody to CD34. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The results were determined through the expressions of MMP-2 and -9, VEGF, and CD34. RESULT(S): The frequencies of MMP-2 and -9 expression in endometrial stroma and of VEGF expression in endometrial glands were all significantly higher in the endometrial hyperplasia of women with anovulatory DUB than they were in the control group. Additionally, the mean score of endometrial MVD was significantly higher in the endometrial hyperplasia of women with anovulatory DUB than it was in the control group. In women with anovulatory DUB, VEGF expression in endometrial glands was statistically correlated with MMP-2 and -9 expressions in endometrial stroma and endometrial MVD. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that enhanced expressions of MMP-2 and -9, VEGF, and increased MVD in endometrial hyperplasia may play important roles in the pathogenesis of women with anovulatory DUB.

Uterine leiomyomata-related thromboembolic disease: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolic disease rarely presents as a complication of uterine leiomyomata via inferior vena cava compression. CASE REPORT: We describe a case associated with venous thrombotic disease and subsequent pulmonary emboli and discuss the complexities of Emergency Department (ED) management. CONCLUSION: This case typifies the challenge of caring for the ill patient with multiple, potentially related disease processes whose treatments may actually conflict with one another.

Office endometrial ablation with local anesthesia using the HydroThermAblator system: Comparison of outcomes in patients with submucous myomas with those with normal cavities in 246 cases performed over 5(1/2) years.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the safety and efficacy of the HydroThermAblator (HTA) system for performance of endometrial ablation in the medical office setting using local anesthesia and minimal oral sedation and to compare results obtained in patients with submucous myomas with those in patients with normal endometrial cavities. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis of 246 HTA procedures (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Medical offices of a suburban community medical center that is part of a large health maintenance organization. PATIENTS: Two hundred forty-six women aged 28 to 63 years (mean [SD], 45.1 [6.0] years) with abnormal uterine bleeding unresponsive to conservative management, including 104 patients (42.3%) with submucous myomas. Type 0 or type I myomas were present in at least 86 patients with submucous myomas (82.7%) and ranged from 1 to 4 cm in greatest diameter. In the other 18 patients, submucous myomas were not classified by type. Patients were evaluated at 2 to 70 months after the procedure (median follow-up, 31.0 months). Three patients were lost to follow-up, and 12 patients underwent hysterectomy for indications other than abnormal bleeding and were excluded from the analysis. Thus, 231 patients were included in the analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Endometrial ablation was performed using the HTA system with paracervical or intracervical block after oral premedication with ibuprophen, diazepam, and acetominophen or hydrocodone and intramuscular ketorolac. No intravenous or intramuscular narcotics were used. The anesthesia regimen was the same in patients with submucous myomas as in those with normal cavities, and the procedure was performed in exactly the same manner. All procedures were performed in the medical office procedure room by 7 board-certified gynecologists; most procedures were performed by the authors. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 231 patients included in the analysis, 121 (53.4%) reported postablation amenorrhea, 62 (26.8%) reported light menses or spotting, 21 (9.1%) reported normal menses, 15 (6.5%) reported menorrhagia, and 12 (5.2%) underwent hysterectomy because of bleeding. In the 136 patients with normal cavities, amenorrhea was achieved in 84 patients (61.8%), oligomenorrhea in 35 (25.7%), and eumenorrhea in 12 (8.8%). Four patients (2.9%) continued to have menorrhagia requiring medical treatment. In the 95 patients with submucous myomas, amenorrhea was reported by 37 patients (38.9%), oligomenorrhea by 27 (28.4%), eumenorrhea by 9 (9.5%), and menorrhagia by 11 (11.6%). In 11 patients (11.6%), hysterectomy was performed because of menorrhagia. All patients who underwent hysterectomy had multiple myomas, and 9 (81.8%) also had adenomyosis. The failure rate, defined as patients with menorrhagia or undergoing hysterectomy because of bleeding, was 11.7% overall. The failure rate in patients with submucous myomas and normal cavities was 23.2% and 3.7%, respectively (relative risk, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-16.0). While the failure rate in the group with myomas was statistically significantly higher than in the group without myomas, the failure rate in the myoma group was still comparable to that achieved using electrosurgical resection and ablation of similar types of myomas as reported in the literature. The amenorrhea rate achieved in the myoma group (38.9%) was also comparable to that achieved in US Food and Drug Administration pivotal trials in patients with normal cavities treated using all of the nonhysteroscopic global ablation devices as well those treated using rollerball endometrial ablation. The rate of hysterectomy because of bleeding was 5.2% overall. The hysterectomy rate in patients with submucous myomas and normal cavities was 11.6% and 0.7%, respectively. Only 1 procedure was discontinued (at 8 minutes) because of pain. Four patients had postoperative endometritis, with 2 requiring hospitalization for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Two false passages were created while dilating the cervix, with subsequent inability to perform the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrothermablation performed in the medical office using local anesthesia seems to be a safe, effective, and cost-saving procedure for treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding in women with both normal and myomatous uteri. Although the success rate in patients with normal cavities was higher than that achieved in patients with submucous myomas, hysterectomy because of abnormal bleeding related to myomas was avoided in 88.4% of the group with myomas.

[Screening and identification of serum biomarker of anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding and its expression in the menses].

OBJECTIVE: To screen and identify the serum biomarker of anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding (ADUB), to determine the expression of biomarker protein in menses of ADUB patients, and to investigate the relation between ADUB and the biomarker proteins. METHODS: Subjects included 128 ADUB patients and 93 age-matched controls(normal women). Their serum and supernatant of mense were collected and stored for use at -80 degree. The differential proteins in the serum of the 2 groups were detected by CM10 and analyzed by Biomarker Wizard 3.2 software. Then, the differential proteins were identified by Tricine-SDS-PAGE gel separation, spectrometry identification, and immunoprecipitation. The expression of the protein identified above in the menses was tested by ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blotting. SPSS 14.1 was applied for statistical analysis and chart drawing. RESULTS: Five differential protein peaks were screened and their peak values were 11.80, 13.59, 13.79, 13.85, and 14.20 km/z, respectively. The intensity of protein peak (11.80 km/z) which was identified as serum amyploid protein A (SAA) of ADUB was significantly higher than that of the controls (P<0.05). While the intensity of protein peak (13.59 km/z ) which was identified as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of ADUB was obviously lower than that of the controls (P<0.05). The intensity of protein peak 13.08, 13.85, and 14.20 was not different between the cases and controls. SAA expressed highly in the menses of ADUB but low in that of the controls. Conversely, VEGF expressed highly in the menses of the control but low in that of the ADUB. CONCLUSION: Two biomarkers which might be related with ADUB have been correctly screened and identified as SAA and VEGF. It needs further study whether the increased expression of SAA and reduced expression of VEGF are the cause or result of ADUB.

The levonorgestrel intrauterine system is an effective treatment in women with abnormal uterine bleeding and anticoagulant therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of levonorgestrel intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS) in obese women with AUB on anticoagulant therapy. DESIGN: Prospective observational case series (Canadian Task Force Classification II-3). SETTING: University affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Premenopausal women on Warfarin therapy. INTERVENTIONS: From January 2002 through January 2007, 10 women were identified from the senior author's clinical practice (G.A.V.). After clinical assessment, including Papanicolaou smear, endometrial biopsy, and pelvic sonography, the LNG-IUS was placed to treat their AUB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median and range of age, parity, and body mass index were 45 years (34-49), 1 (0-4), and 38 kg/m(2) (26-52), respectively. All women were receiving warfarin therapy (4-12.5 mg/d) for previous venous thromboembolism. Some patients had additional comorbid conditions and were at high risk for traditional medical or surgical therapies. After placement of the LNG-IUS, all women reported menstrual reduction at 3 and 6 months. By 12 months, 1 woman with large fibroids expelled the LNG-IUS and was treated with transfemoral uterine artery embolization. Two women had amenorrhea, and 7 had hypomenorrhea. At 2 to 5 years, 1 woman expelled the LNG-IUS and hysterectomy indicated extensive adenomyosis in a 195-g uterus, and 1 woman had hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, 4 were menopausal, 2 had amenorrhea, and 1 had hypomenorrhea. In the 5 women with uterine fibroids measuring 4.2 to 147 cm(3), the fibroids were reduced in volume by approximately 75% in 2, were no longer detectable in 1, were subsequently shown to be adenomyoma in 1, and required uterine artery embolization in 1. CONCLUSION: In properly assessed and selected obese, premenopausal women with AUB receiving warfarin therapy and at high risk for traditional therapies, the LNG-IUS was an effective treatment in 70% of patients.