Psychological impact over time of women with pregnancy loss due to gestational trophoblastic disease compared with miscarriage.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy loss, occurring after miscarriage or after gestational trophoblastic disease, has a psychological impact. Besides pregnancy loss, women diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic disease have to deal with a prolonged period of follow-up and potential advice to postpone a future pregnancy. We studied the severity and course of the psychological impact after gestational trophoblastic disease and miscarriage, to identify whether women with gestational trophoblastic disease need different psychological care. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study using online questionnaires was performed. Women diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic disease or miscarriage received the following questionnaires directly after diagnosis, and after 6, 6, and 12 months: a self-report questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Impact of Event Scale, and the Reproductive Concerns Scale. RESULTS: 74 women with gestational trophoblastic disease and 76 women with miscarriage were included. At baseline, the proportion of women scoring above the cut-off level for the anxiety subscale of the HADS and for the Impact of Event Scale was significantly higher for women with gestational trophoblastic disease than for women after miscarriage (43.2% vs 28.9%, p=0.02 and 87.8% vs 78.9%, p=0.03, respectively). During follow-up, the differences between both groups vanished and only the Impact of Event Scale after 12 months remained significantly different between women with gestational trophoblastic disease and women after miscarriage (62.7% vs 37.3%, p=0.005). All outcomes, except the Reproductive Concerns Scale, showed a significant decline. However, in women who scored above the cut-off level on the HADS-total or Impact of Event Scale at baseline, and women with psychological or psychiatric history, significant higher scores persisted. CONCLUSION: Although women with gestational trophoblastic disease at baseline had more anxiety and distress than women after miscarriage, no significant differences were seen using the HADS-total after 12 months. Using the HADS or Impact of Event Scale directly after pregnancy loss is helpful to identify women at risk of remaining psychological symptoms to provide them with extra psychological support.

Serum Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Normogram for the Detection of Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) normogram for both uneventful complete and partial hydatidiform moles in the first-trimester ultrasound era. METHODS: An hCG normogram for both complete and partial hydatidiform moles was constructed, based on 639 patients with uneventful serum hCG regression after evacuation between 1990 and 2014. Serum hCG was measured by an in-house-developed radioimmunoassay, detecting both intact hCG and free ß-subunit. It has been in use for all serum measurements sent to the Dutch Central Registry for Hydatidiform Moles since 1977. RESULTS: Since introduction of routine first-trimester ultrasonography, lower pre-evacuation and follow-up serum hCG concentrations were observed. When compared with complete hydatidiform moles, patients with a partial hydatidiform mole had significantly lower pre-evacuation serum hCG concentration (median, 4400 and 875 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.001) and earlier hCG normalization (median, 7 and 6 weeks, respectively; P < 0.001) but higher gestational age (mean, 11.5 and 13.0 weeks, respectively; P < 0.001). For both complete and partial hydatidiform moles, 95% of patients reached normal serum hCG concentrations within 14 weeks after evacuation. CONCLUSIONS: A normogram for the detection of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia was developed for complete and partial hydatidiform moles. Although interesting from a scientific perspective, the small divergence in hCG regression between complete and partial hydatidiform moles will be of little importance in clinical practice, as actual differences in regression will encompass only days. To promote clarity and unity in daily practice, we therefore propose a combined normogram to be used as a reference guideline for follow-up after evacuation of a hydatidiform mole. This normogram will be compliant with patients in today's clinical practice.

Dutch Risk Classification and FIGO 2000 for Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia Compared.

OBJECTIVE: Over the years, there has been a wide variety of classification systems in use worldwide to stratify patients between single-agent versus multi-agent chemotherapy, hindering comparison of international research results. The study presents a retrospective comparison of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2000 and Dutch risk classification system for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: All patients diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia between January 2003 and December 2012 at the trophoblastic disease centre in London were retrospectively scored according to the Dutch classification system (N = 813). RESULTS: An extensive overlap between both scoring systems was seen, even though items and relative value of items were quite distinct. The Dutch system seems to be simpler and easier to apply in all situation; a degree of overtreatment can however be presumed with the use of either system. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is likely that outcome is indeed affected by the individual factors used in both systems, many factors relate to tumor bulk and may not be independently prognostic. We therefore believe that further refinement of the classification systems and their underlying prognostic items plus any new items that seem promising would be useful.

Stimulant medication in pre-school children in New South Wales.

AIMS: The aims of this study were: (i) to examine the annual treatment rate of children under 4 years from 1997 to 2006; (ii) to compare their treatment rate and attrition with that of children starting treatment at the modal age; (iii) to describe the clinical characteristics of children aged less than 4 years and their response to stimulant medication for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. METHODS: Retrospective study of electronic prescription and authority records of the New South Wales Department of Health and a review of clinical reports. RESULTS: The annual treatment initiation rate for children under 4 years showed a progressive decline over the decade. In 2001, 13.6% of the children starting treatment were aged 7 years (modal age); those aged <4 years represented 1.1% of the total. There was no significant difference in attrition rate between these two groups. For those aged <4 years with clinical reports available (n= 235), oppositional behaviour and developmental problems were reported frequently (78 and 43%, respectively). Non-pharmacological interventions were implemented in 77% and non-stimulant medications were prescribed in 50%. For 76% of children, an improvement in behaviour was reported after stimulant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Children treated with stimulant medication aged <4 years were a small subgroup with a high rate of co-morbidity. The majority were perceived to have a favourable response to stimulant medication. However, there was a disturbingly high rate of prescribing of other psychotropic medications of known toxicity and unproven efficacy.