Hypercoagulability and Inflammatory Markers in a Case of Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Complicated by Fetal Demise.

BACKGROUND: Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (cTTP) is a rare disorder caused by an inherited genetic deficiency of ADAMTS13 and affects less than one per million individuals. Patients who are diagnosed with TTP during pregnancy are at increased risk of maternal and fetal complications including fetal demise. We present a case of a 32-year-old G3P0 (gravida 3, para 0) who presented at 20 weeks gestation with a new diagnosis of congenital TTP (cTTP) and fetal demise. METHODS: We describe the pathophysiology of pregnancy complications in a patient with cTTP using platelet procoagulant membrane dynamics analysis and quantitative proteomic studies, compared to four pregnant patients with gestational hypertension, four pregnant patients with preeclampsia, and four healthy pregnant controls. RESULTS: The cTTP patient had increased P-selectin, tissue factor expression, annexin-V binding on platelets and neutrophils, and localized thrombin generation, suggestive of hypercoagulability. Among 15 proteins that were upregulated, S100A8 and S100A9 were distinctly overexpressed. CONCLUSIONS: There is platelet-neutrophil activation and interaction, platelet hypercoagulability, and proinflammation in our case of cTTP with fetal demise.

The risk of diagnostic hysteroscopy in women with endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate whether hysteroscopy in patients with endometrial cancer had an effect on disease stage or mortality. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of data linked between a registry of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer and physician billing data on hysteroscopy. RESULTS: A 99.8% match rate was obtained. Eighty-five percent of cases had complete data on staging. Of these 1972 cases, 672 (34.1%) had undergone hysteroscopy. There was no difference in stage III disease between the hysteroscopy (7.1%) vs no hysteroscopy (6.5%) group (P = .38). There was also no difference in death rates, 13.2% vs 15.2% (P = .25), or in the proportion of women dying of female genital organ cancer, 46.1% vs 42.1% (P = .53), respectively. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy is not associated with a higher rate of stage III disease or mortality. It allows for accurate diagnosis with direct visualization and biopsy, and should be considered a safe diagnostic tool.

Neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in term twins with advancing gestational age.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the gestational age with the lowest morbidity and mortality rates for twin pregnancies that reach term. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study carried out with 60,443 twin pairs from the United States (1995-1997). Analysis was restricted to pregnancies that had reached at least 37 weeks of gestation; groups were created on the basis of the gestational ages of 37, 38, 39, and > or = 40 weeks. The incidence of death and morbidity were calculated; multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the independent effect of gestational age for twin A and B. RESULTS: The neonatal mortality rate increased significantly after 40 weeks of gestation (twin A: odds ratio, 3.47 [95% CI, 2.29, 5.38]; twin B, odds ratio, 2.52 [95% CI, 1.75, 3.67]). There was also an increased risk of neonatal morbidity in the > or = 40 weeks of gestation group for twin A and B (Apgar score, < or = 3; odds ratio, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.18, 3.02], 1.74 [95% CI, 1.21, 2.52], respectively). There was a decreased risk of assisted ventilation in the 38 and 39 weeks of gestation group for twin A (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.77, 0.97], odds ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.72, 0.95], respectively) and a decreased risk in the 39 and > or = 40 weeks of gestation groups for twin B (assisted ventilation: odds ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.73, 0.93], odds ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.72, 0.92], respectively). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the optimal date of delivery for twins should be <40 weeks of gestation; there was no compelling evidence for delivering at <38 weeks of gestation.

The Ontario Uterine Fibroid Embolization Trial. Part 1. Baseline patient characteristics, fibroid burden, and impact on life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine baseline characteristics of women undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, single-arm clinical treatment trial. SETTING: Eight Ontario university and community hospitals. PATIENT(S): Five hundred fifty-five women undergoing UAE for fibroids. INTERVENTION(S): Baseline questionnaires completed before UAE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Questionnaires were analyzed for demographic, medical, and gynecologic histories. Fibroid symptoms, impact of symptoms, previous consultations, and treatments were also analyzed. RESULT(S): The Ontario cohort (66% white, 23% black, 11% other races) had an average age of 43. Thirty-one percent were under age 40. Most women were university educated (68%) and working outside the home (85%). Women reported heavy menstrual bleeding (80%), urinary urgency/frequency (73%), pain during intercourse (41%), and work absences (40%). They experienced fibroid-related symptoms for an average of 5 years and consulted with on average of three gynecologists before UAE. High fibroid life-impact scores were reported by 58%. Black women were significantly younger (40.7 vs. 44.0 years), more likely to experience symptoms longer (7 vs. 5 years), and more likely to undergo myomectomy before UAE (24% vs. 9%) than white women. CONCLUSION(S): Our study illustrates that large numbers of women with highly symptomatic fibroid disease are averse to surgery despite their burden of suffering and are actively seeking alternatives to hysterectomy.