Embolization of uterine fibroids from the point of view of the gynecologist: pros and cons.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive procedure with large symptomatic potential in treatment of women with uterine leiomyomas. Due to specificities of this method and possible complications the appropriate indication is crucial. Patient' symptoms, age, plans for pregnancy, and surgical and reproductive history play a major role in decision-making regarding appropriate subjects for UAE. Close cooperation between the gynecologist and the interventional radiologist is necessary. UAE is usually offered as an alternative to surgical treatment. In patients with no fertility plans, it is a less invasive option than abdominal hysterectomy, with a comparable effect on fibroid-related symptoms and quality of life. The need for reintervention is markedly greater in patients after UAE (up to 35% within 5 years) than after hysterectomy. Women with large symptomatic fibroids wishing to retain the uterus and ineligible for minimally invasive (laparoscopic or vaginal) hysterectomy are good candidates for UAE. However, studies comparing UAE with minimally invasive hysterectomy are lacking. Use of UAE in younger women desiring pregnancy is more controversial, mainly because of the significant risk of miscarriage (as high as 64% in some studies) as well as the increased risk of other complications of pregnancy, such as preterm delivery, abnormal placentation, and post-partum hemorrhage. The risk of infertility or subfertility following UAE is unknown. Even poor candidates for myomectomy should be carefully selected for UAE after counseling about all possible adverse effects on fertility. Good prospective studies focused on fertility comparing UAE with no treatment or with myomectomy are needed but would be ethically questionable. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the benefits and potential risks of UAE from the point of view of the gynecologist, who should be responsible for proper indication of this treatment.

Hysteroscopic management of displaced levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

AIM: This study was designed to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of hysteroscopic intervention in the management of symptoms related to the displaced levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and thirteen patients with displaced LNG-IUS presenting with irregular uterine bleeding, pelvic pain or asymptomatic displacement were recruited for hysteroscopic examination. Displaced LNG-IUS was relocated by hysteroscopic intervention and the effect on symptoms and LNG-IUS position was followed. RESULTS: The displaced LNG-IUS was successfully relocated by hysteroscope in 112 (99.1%) of 113 cases. Following LNG-IUS relocation, 71 (79.8%) patients of 89 with preoperative irregular uterine bleeding had amenorrhea or vaginal spotting, and 14 of 15 (93.3%) patients with preoperative pelvic pain became asymptomatic. LNG-IUS expulsion was recorded in two patients 7 and 21 days after hysteroscopy. CONCLUSION: Displaced LNG-IUS can cause clinical symptoms (e.g. irregular bleeding, pain). Hysteroscopic relocation of displaced LNG-IUS is a feasible method in the management of these symptoms. Risk of spontaneous expulsion associated with hysteroscopy is low.

Fumarate hydratase gene mutation in two young patients with sporadic uterine fibroids.

Fumarate hydratase (FH) is a key enzyme of the Krebs cycle. Germline mutations in the FH gene encoding fumarate hydratase cause autosomal dominant syndromes multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomata and hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). Few data have been published on the role of FH gene mutation in development of uterine fibroids outside the context of multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomata /HLRCC. We report two FH gene mutations, one novel and one previously described, in two young patients with sporadic uterine fibroids and decreased fumarate hydratase activity in lymphocytes. In patient 1, a novel heterozygous mutation c.892G>C was found. In patient 2 we detected heterozygous mutation c.584T>C. Both the patients had a negative family history for renal cancer and cutaneous leiomyomatosis. None of the relatives, however, underwent renal imaging at the time of writing. FH mutation carriers may be easily identified by analysis of fumarate hydratase activity in blood lymphocytes. We suggest performing fumarate hydratase activity or FH mutation screening in women with onset of uterine fibroids in their 20s and family history of uterine fibroids or other HLRCC-associated malignancies.

Effect of a selective progesterone receptor modulator on induction of apoptosis in uterine fibroids in vivo.

Aim. To determine if hormonal treatment induces apoptosis in uterine fibroids. Methods. Immunohistochemical examination of fibroid tissue, using avidin-biotin complex and cleaved caspase-3 antibody for detecting apoptosis, was performed in premenopausal women who underwent 12-week treatment with oral SPRM (6 patients with 5 mg and 5 patients with 10 mg of ulipristal acetate per day) or gonadoliberin agonist (GnRHa, 17 patients) and subsequent myomectomy or hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Ten patients with no presurgical hormonal treatment were used as controls. Results. Apoptosis was present in a significantly higher proportion of patients treated with ulipristal acetate compared to GnRHa (P = 0.01) and to patients with no hormonal treatment (P = 0.01). In contrast to an AI of 158.9 in SPRM patients, the mean AI was 27.5 and 2.0 in GnRHa and control groups, respectively. No statistical difference in the AI was observed between the two groups of patients treated with ulipristal acetate (5 mg or 10 mg). Conclusion. Treatment with ulipristal acetate induces apoptosis in uterine fibroid cells. This effect of SPRM may contribute to their positive clinical effect on uterine fibroids.

Uterine artery embolization versus laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion: the outcomes of a prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of two different types of occlusive therapy of uterine fibroids. METHODS: Women with fibroid(s) unsuitable for laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) were treated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) or laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion (LUAO). RESULTS: Before the procedure, patients treated with UAE (n = 100) had a dominant fibroid greater in size (68 vs. 48 mm) and a mean age lower (33.1 vs. 34.9 years) than surgically treated patients (n = 100). After 6 months, mean shrinkage of fibroid volume was 53 % after UAE and 39 % after LUAO (p = 0.063); 82 % of women after UAE, but only 23 % after LUAO, had complete myoma infarction (p = 0.001). Women treated with UAE had more complications (31 vs. 11 cases, p = 0.006) and greater incidence of hysteroscopically verified intrauterine necrosis (31 vs. 3 %, p = 0.001). Both groups were comparable in markers of ovarian functions and number of nonelective reinterventions. The groups did not differ in pregnancy (69 % after UAE vs. 67 % after LUAO), delivery (50 vs. 46 %), or abortion (34 vs. 33 %) rates. The mean birth weight of neonates was greater (3270 vs. 2768 g, p = 0.013) and the incidence of intrauterine growth restriction lower (13 vs. 38 %, p = 0.046) in post-UAE patients. CONCLUSION: Both methods are effective in the treatment of women with future reproductive plans and fibroids not suitable for LM. UAE is more effective in causing complete ischemia of fibroids, but it is associated with greater risk of intrauterine necrosis. Both methods have low rate of serious complications (except for a high abortion rate).

Hysteroscopy after uterine fibroid embolization: evaluation of intrauterine findings in 127 patients.

AIM: Several atypical hysteroscopy findings have been described in association with uterine artery embolization (UAE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types and frequency of these findings in the largest published series of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Premenopausal patients after bilateral UAE for symptomatic intramural fibroid underwent subsequent hysteroscopic examination 3-9 months following UAE. The uterine cavity was examined with focus on specific post-embolization changes. Biopsy of endometrium was obtained and evaluated together with a biopsy of abnormal foci if present. RESULTS: UAE was performed in a total of 127 women with an average size of dominant fibroid 63.1 mm in diameter and an average patient age of 35.1 years. Even though the majority of patients were asymptomatic at the time of hysteroscopy (78.0%), the post-embolization hysteroscopic examination was normal in only 51 patients (40.2%). The most frequent abnormalities included tissue necrosis (52 women, 40.9%), intracavitary myoma protrusion (45 women, 35.4%), endometrium 'spots' (22.1%), intrauterine synechiae (10.2%) and 'fistula' between the uterine cavity and intramural fibroid (6.3%). Histopathological examination showed normal, secretory or proliferative endometrium in 83.5% patients. Necrosis and/or hyalinization prevailed in the results of biopsy of abnormal loci (45 cases, 35.4%). CONCLUSION: Frequency of abnormal hysteroscopic findings several months after UAE for primary intramural myomas is high. Alarmingly high is the percentage of patients with a histopathologically verified necrosis. Performing hysteroscopy in selected patients after UAE is necessary before eventual surgical re-intervention, especially in women with reproductive plans.

Reproduction after myomectomy: comparison of patients with and without second-look laparoscopy.

Myomectomy is associated with a high risk of de-novo adhesion formation that may decrease fertility. The purpose of this study was to compare the reproductive outcome of patients after laparoscopic or open myomectomy who underwent second-look (SL) hysteroscopy and laparoscopy including adhesiolysis with patients with no SL intervention. A total of 170 patients underwent open or laparoscopic myomectomy at one centre. All patients were recommended SL. Reproductive results were analyzed in 12 and 24 months intervals following myomectomy. Out of 170 post-myomectomy patients 96 signed informed consent with SL (group A) and 74 withheld (group B). The cumulative pregnancy rate in the 24-months follow-up was: 61.4% and 66.7% (p = 0.535) in group A and group B respectively. Adhesions of adnexa were observed and lysed in the overall of 34.0% of patients at the time of SL. Intrauterine synechiae were present in 1.56% of patients at the SL hysteroscopy. No case of uterine rupture during pregnancy or delivery was recorded. Our results show that the pregnancy rate of patients after myomectomy who underwent SL hysteroscopy and laparoscopy is similar to that of patients with no SL procedure. Adhesiolysis performed during SL does not seem to improve the reproductive outcome of post-myomectomy patients.

Comparative outcomes of hysteroscopic examinations performed after uterine artery embolization or laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion to treat leiomyomas.

Hysteroscopic examination of the uterine cavity revealed that patients previously treated for intramural myoma(s) by uterine artery embolization had a significantly higher incidence of abnormal findings compared with patients treated by laparoscopic occlusion of uterine arteries (59.5% vs. 2.7%). In particular, there was a higher incidence of necrosis in the uterine cavity of patients subjected to uterine artery embolization (43.2%) compared with patients after surgical uterine artery occlusion (2.7%).

"See and treat" hysteroscopy after missed abortion.

A prospective study was conducted on the incidence of intrauterine pathology after missed abortion diagnosed and treated by hysteroscopy. A hysteroscopy was performed in 100 women four to 12 weeks after a dilatation and curettage for missed abortions. Uterine malformations were found in 12 patients, intrauterine adhesions in seven and submucous myoma in two cases. As a side finding four cases of asymptomatic retained products of conception were found. Most cases of the intrauterine pathology were treated instantly by hysteroscopy, "see and treat" regimen was preferred. Post-missed abortion-hysteroscopy is a simple and useful method for early diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired intrauterine pathology.