Screening for precancerous anal lesions linked to human papillomaviruses: French recommendations for clinical practice.

In France, about 2000 new cases of anal cancer are diagnosed annually. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histological type, mostly occurring secondary to persistent HPV16 infection. Invasive cancer is preceded by precancerous lesions. In addition to patients with a personal history of precancerous lesions and anal cancer, three groups are at very high risk of anal cancer: (i) men who have sex with men and are living with HIV, (ii) women with a history of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) or vulvar HPV cancer, and (iii) women who received a solid organ transplant more than 10 years ago. The purpose of screening is to detect HSILs so that they can be treated, thereby reducing the risk of progression to cancer. All patients with symptoms should undergo a proctological examination including standard anoscopy. For asymptomatic patients at risk, an initial HPV16 test makes it possible to target patients at risk of HSILs likely to progress to cancer. Anal cytology is a sensitive test for HSIL detection. Its sensitivity is greater than 80% and exceeds that of proctological examination with standard anoscopy. It is indicated in the event of a positive HPV16 test. In the presence of cytological abnormalities and/or lesions and a suspicion of dysplasia on clinical examination, high-resolution anoscopy is indicated. Performance is superior to that of proctological examination with standard anoscopy. However, this technique is not widely available, which limits its use. If high-resolution anoscopy is not possible, screening by a standard proctological examination is an alternative. There is a need to develop high-resolution anoscopy and triage tests and to evaluate screening strategies.

[Induced abortion: Guidelines for clinical practice - Text of the Guidelines (short text)]. / L'interruption volontaire de grossesse : recommandations pour la pratique clinique ­ Texte des recommandations (texte court).

OBJECTIVE: Develop recommendations for the practice of induced abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Pubmed database, the Cochrane Library and the recommendations from the French and foreign Gyn-Obs societies or colleges have been consulted. RESULTS: The number of induced abortions (IA) has been stable for several decades. There are a lot of factors explaining the choice of abortion when there is an unplanned pregnancy (UPP). Early initiation and choice of contraception in connection to the woman's life are associated with lower NSP. Reversible contraceptives of long duration of action should be positioned fist in line for the teenager because of its efficiency (grade C). Ultrasound before induced abortion must be encouraged but should not be obligatory before performing IA (Professional consensus). As soon as the sonographic apparition of the embryo, the estimated date of pregnancy is done by measuring the crown-rump length (CRL) or by measuring the biparietal diameter (BIP) from 11 weeks on (grade B). Reliability of these parameters being±5 days, IA could be done if measurements are respectively less than 90mm for CRL and less than 30mm for BIP (Professional consensus). A medical IA performed with a dose of 200mg mifepristone combined with misoprostol is effective at any gestational age (EL1). Before 7 weeks, mifepristone followed between 24 and 48hours by taking misoprostol orally, buccally sublingually or eventually vaginally at a dose of 400 ug possibly renewed after 3hours (EL1, grade A). Beyond 7 weeks, misoprostol given vaginally, sublingually or buccally are better tolerated with fewer side effects than oral route (EL1). It is recommended to always use a cervical preparation during an instrumental abortion (Professional consensus). Misoprostol is a first-line agent for cervical preparation at a dose of 400 mcg (grade A). Aspiration evacuation is preferable to curettage (grade B). A perforated uterus during an instrumental suction should not be considered as a scarred uterus (Professional consensus). IA is not associated with increased subsequent risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy (EL2). The pre-abortion medical consultations does not affect, most of the time, the decision to request an IA. Indeed, a majority of women is quite sure of her choice during these consultations. Acceptability of the method of IA and satisfaction appears to be larger when they are able to choose the abortion method (grade B). There is no relationship between an increase in psychiatric disorders and IA (EL2). Women with psychiatric histories are at increased risk of mental disorders after the occurrence of an UPP (EL2). In case of instrumental abortion, oral estrogen-progestogen contraceptives and the patch should be started from the day of the abortion, the vaginal ring inserted within 5 days of IA (grade B). In case of medical abortion, the vaginal ring should be inserted within a week of taking mifepristone, oral estrogen-progestogen contraceptives and the patch should be initiated on the same day or the day after taking prostaglandins (grade C). In case of instrumental abortion, the contraceptive implant may be inserted on the day of the abortion (grade B). In case of medical abortion, the implant can be inserted on the day of mifepristone (grade C). The copper Intrauterine Device (IUD) and levonorgestrel should be inserted preferably on the day of instrumental abortion (grade A). In case of medical abortion, an IUD can be inserted within 10 days following mifepristone after ensuring by ultrasound of the absence of intrauterine pregnancy (grade C). CONCLUSION: The implementation of these guidelines may promote a better and more homogenous care for women requesting IA in our country.

[Medical induced abortion]. / Interruption volontaire de grossesse par voie médicamenteuse.

OBJECTIVE: Updated clinical recommendations for medical induced abortion procedure. METHODS: A systematic review of French and English literature, reviewing the evidence relating to the provision of medical induced abortion was carried out on PubMed, Cochrane Library and international scientific societies recommendations. RESULTS: The effectiveness of medical abortion is higher than 95% when the protocols are adjusted to gestational age (EL1). Misoprostol alone is less effective than a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol (EL1). Gemeprost is less effective than misoprostol (EL2). The dose of 200mg of mifepristone should be preferred to 600mg (NP1, Rank A). Mifepristone can be taken at home (professional agreement). The optimum interval between mifepristone and misoprostol intake should be 24 to 48 hours (EL1, grade A). Before 7 weeks LMP, the dose of 400µg misoprostol should be given orally (EL1, grade A) eventually repeated after 3hours if no bleeding occurs. For optimal effectiveness between 7 and 14 LMP, the interval between mifepristone and misoprostol should not be shortened to less than 8hours (grade 1). An interval of 24 to 48hours will not affect the effectiveness of the method provided misoprostol dosage is 800µg (EL1). Vaginal, sublingual or buccal routes of administration are more effective and better tolerated than the oral route, which should be abandoned (EL1). An amount of 800µg sublingual or buccal misoprostol route has the same effectiveness than the vaginal route but more gastrointestinal side effects (EL1, grade A). Between 7 and 9 LMP, it does not seem necessary to repeat misoprostol dose whereas it should be repeated beyond 9 SA (grade B). Between 9 and 14 LMP, the dose of 400µg misoprostol given either vaginally, buccally or sublingually should be repeated every 3hours if needed (with a maximum of 5 doses) (EL2, grade B). There is no strong evidence supporting routine antibiotic prophylaxis for medical abortion (professional agreement). Rare contraindications should be respected (known hypersensitivity to misoprostol or mifepristone, inherited porphyria, severe anemia, hemorrhagic disorders or current anticoagulation therapy, suspected or confirmed ectopic pregnancy) as well as precautions of use (severe disease or on-going corticosteroid therapy). With no risk factors or symptoms, a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) at the endovaginal ultrasound associated with a level of hCG usually chosen at less than 1500IU (or 2500IU with an abdominal probe) is not a contraindication of medical abortion as long as the woman is informed of the risk of undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy and knows how and when to seek emergency attention. An earlier than usual follow-up of the decrease of hCG levels is highly recommended. Breastfeeding, obesity, twin pregnancy and scared uterus are not contraindications for first trimester medical abortion. Side effects (gastro intestinal and thermoregulation disorders) during the procedure are generally of low intensity and short duration. A prophylactic treatment for nausea should be proposed (professional agreement). The pain increases with gestational age of the pregnancy (EL1). Ibuprofen is the first choice of painkiller (EL1). Ibuprofen will be systematically proposed or given on demand according to the practice of each facility (professional agreement). After a medical abortion, a follow-up assessment to confirm completion of the abortion is recommended (EL2, grade B). Clinical history combined with ultrasound and/or hCG blood level are both reliable methods and can be left with the choice of each facility (grade B). A fall of more than 80% of the initial blood level of hCG, fifteen days after the procedure is in favor of the success of the method (grade B). CONCLUSION: Medical abortion is a safe and efficient abortion method up to 14 weeks LMP. To be effective, the drug regimen should be adapted to gestational age. Women should be informed of advantages and disadvantages of the method according to the gestational age and side effects so she can choose the method that fits her best.

[Role of ultrasound in elective abortions]. / Quelle place pour l'échographie dans la pratique de l'IVG ?

Ultrasound plays a fundamental role in the management of elective abortions. Although it can improve the quality of post-abortion care, it must not be an obstacle to abortion access. We thus studied the role of ultrasound in pregnancy dating and possible alternatives and analyzed the literature to determine the role of ultrasound in post-abortion follow-up. During an ultrasound scan, the date of conception is estimated by measurement of the crown-rump length (CRL), defined by Robinson, or of the biparietal diameter (BPD), as defined by the French Center for Fetal Ultrasound (CFEF) after 11 weeks of gestation (Robinson and CFEF curves) (grade B). Updated curves have been developed in the INTERGROWTH study. In the context of abortion, the literature recommends the application of a safety margin of 5 days, especially when the CRL and/or BPD measurement indicates a term close to 14 weeks (that is equal or below 80 and 27mm, respectively) (best practice agreement). Accordingly, with the ultrasound measurement reliable to±5 days when its performance meets the relevant criteria, an abortion can take place when the CRL measurement is less than 90mm or the BPD less than 30mm (INTERGROWTH curves) (best practice agreement). While a dating ultrasound should be encouraged, its absence is not an obstacle to scheduling an abortion for women who report that they know the date of their last menstrual period and/or of the at-risk sexual relations and for whom a clinical examination by a healthcare professional is possible (best practice agreement). In cases of intrauterine pregnancy of uncertain viability or of a pregnancy of unknown location, without any particular symptoms, the patient must be able to have a transvaginal ultrasound to increase the precision of the diagnosis (grade B). Various reviews of the literature on post-abortion follow-up indicate that the routine use of ultrasound during instrumental abortions should be avoided (best practice agreement). If it becomes clear immediately after the procedure that the endometrial thickness exceeds 8mm, immediate reaspiration is necessary. Ultrasound examination of the endometrium several days after an instrumental elective abortion does not appear to be relevant (grade B). An analysis of the literature similarly shows that routine ultrasound scans after medical abortions should be avoided. If a transvaginal ultrasound is performed after a medical abortion, it should take place at least two weeks afterwards (best practice agreement). The only aim of an ultrasound examination during follow-up should be to determine whether a gestational sac is present (best practice agreement). Finally, if an ultrasound is performed at any point during pre- or post-abortion care, a report should be drafted, specifying any potential gynecologic abnormalities found, but its absence must not delay the scheduling of the abortion (best practice agreement).

[Epidermolysis bullosa simplex congenital antenatal discovery and contribution of 3D ultrasound]. / Épidermolyse bulleuse simplex congénitale de découverte anténatale et apport de l'échographie 3D.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises a heterogeneous group of genodermatoses whose prognosis is variable. The diagnosis is suggested by prenatal ultrasound at signs, especially for junctional EB with pyloric atresia. The authors report a case of antenatal image limited skin undermining highlighted by the ultrasound three-dimensional (3D) in connection with a diagnosis of a congenital epidermolysis simplex confirmed postnatal period.

[Infliximab-induced hepatitis during treatment of vulvar Crohn's disease]. / Hépatite induite par l'infliximab lors du traitement d'une maladie de Crohn vulvaire.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of acute cytolytic hepatitis induced by infliximab in a patient with severe vulvar Crohn's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 29-year-old Congolese woman presented with severe vulvar Crohn's disease active for 7 years. In view of resistance to standard medication (corticosteroids and metronidazole), treatment with infliximab 5mg/kg per injection was initiated. The patient developed acute cytolytic hepatitis 10 days after the first injection and the disease was asymptomatic. The various investigations confirmed the direct cytotoxicity of infliximab. A favourable outcome was gradually achieved after increasing the dosage of corticosteroids. At the same time, an improvement in the vulvar lesions was noted after this sole injection. DISCUSSION: Infliximab-induced is rare, with only 20 reported cases. The physiopathological mechanism is unknown and a number of aetiologies have been suggested. CONCLUSION: This new case raises the issue of the need for routine liver function testing during infliximab therapy given the asymptomatic nature of this effect.