An Ultrasound Scoring Model for the Prediction of Intrapartum Morbidly Adherent Placenta and Maternal Morbidity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To design an ultrasound scoring model for the prediction of the intrapartum morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) and maternal morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 114 females with singleton pregnancies ≥ 28 weeks of gestation referred for suspicion of MAP were included. All patients underwent examination by two-dimensional ultrasound with the color Doppler setting. Five signs were evaluated: the retroplacental echolucent space, placental lacunae, the hyperechoic uterine-bladder interface, retroplacental myometrium thickness, and subplacental, uterine serosa-bladder wall, intraplacental and bladder wall vascularity. We designed a score ranging from 0-8.5 points, including the five signs according to their odds ratios and evaluated its prediction for MAP and maternal morbidity. RESULTS: Using multivariate logistic regression, all ultrasound signs were significant dependent predictors for both MAP and maternal morbidity (myometrium thickness < 1 mm followed by lacunae ≥ 4 and lost retroplacental echolucent space). The only independent predictors for MAP were myometrium thickness < 1 mm and lacunae ≥ 4, while myometrium thickness < 1 mm and lost retroplacental echolucent space were predictive for maternal morbidity. The score showed a perfect agreement with MAP and a good one for maternal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Application of the score we designed can improve the ultrasound diagnosis of MAP and the maternal outcome.

Magnetic resonance imaging and 3-dimensional transperineal ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor dysfunction in symptomatic women: a prospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (3D-TPUS) features of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in symptomatic women in correlation with digital palpation and to define cut-offs for hiatal dimensions predictive of muscle dysfunction. METHODS: This prospective study included 73 women with symptoms suggesting PFD. 3D-TPUS, MRI, and digital palpation of the levator ani muscle were performed in all patients. Levator hiatal antero-posterior (LHap) diameter and area (LH area) were measured at rest and at maximum muscle contraction. RESULTS: The reduction in LHap diameter and LH area during contraction was significantly less in women with underactive pelvic floor muscle contraction (UpfmC) than in those who had normal pelvic floor muscle contraction by digital palpation (P<0.001). Statistically significant positive correlations (P<0.001) were found between the Modified Oxford Score and 3D-TPUS and MRI regarding the reduction in the LHap diameter (r=0.80 and r=0.82, respectively) and LH area (r=0.60 and r=0.70, respectively). A reduction in LHap of <6.5% on 3D-TPUS and <7.6% on MRI predicted UpfmC with sensitivities of 46.2% and 82.7%, respectively. A reduction in LH area of <3.4% on 3D-TPUS and <3.8% on MRI predicted UpfmC with sensitivities of 75.0% and 88.5%, respectively. MRI was more sensitive in detecting levator avulsion (63.4%) than 3D-TPUS (27.1%). CONCLUSION: MRI and 3D-TPUS had strong positive correlations with findings on palpation, and at certain cut-offs for hiatal dimensions, they can be used as complementary and objective tools to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and management planning of PFD.

Gonadatrophin suppression to prevent chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues cotreatment in preventing chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea in young breast cancer patients undergoing cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. METHODS: One hundred hormone-insensitive breast cancer participants (aged 18-40 years) were recruited from two university-affiliated oncology centers in Egypt. Opting for type of cotreatment was based on available timeframe until start of chemotherapy. Fifty women ready for early chemotherapy were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone (arm I) or chemotherapy after downregulation (estradiol less than 50 pg/mL) by GnRH antagonist and agonist (arm II). Then, GnRH antagonist was discontinued and agonist was continued until the end of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy was to start later than 10 days after study inclusion, 50 women were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone (arm III) or chemotherapy after downregulation with GnRH agonist (arm IV). Resumption of menstruation at 12 months after end of chemotherapy was the primary outcome. Postchemotherapy hormonal and ultrasound changes were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Twelve months after termination of chemotherapy, there were no differences in menstruation resumption rates between GnRH-treated patients and control group individuals in either early (80% in arms I and II, risk ratio 1, 95% confidence interval 0.7-.32; P=1.00) or delayed chemotherapy groups (80% and 84% in arms III and IV, risk ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.73-1.235; P=.71). There were no differences in hormonal and ultrasound markers between GnRH analogue users and control group individuals. The use of GnRH analogue cotreatment did not predict independently the odds of menstruating at 12 months. CONCLUSION: GnRH analogue cotreatment does not offer a significant protective effect on ovarian function in patients treated by cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. www.anzctr.org.au, ACTRN12609001059257. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

Does luteal estradiol supplementation have a role in long agonist cycles?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the addition of 6 mg estradiol (E2) valerate either orally or vaginally to progesterone (P) for luteal support, can increase the probability of pregnancy in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles using the long agonist protocol. DESIGN: Prospective open-labeled randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Private and university fertility centers. PARTICIPANT(S): Women undergoing ICSI cycles, with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using long agonist protocol. INTERVENTION(S): On embryo transfer day, participants were randomized to receive, only P (group A, n = 90), P along with 6 mg E(2) valerate either orally (group B, n = 90), or vaginally (group C, n = 90) for luteal support. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy was the main outcome. luteal serum E(2) and P profiles were the secondary outcomes. RESULT(S): Highest pregnancy rate was achieved in group C (45.56%), it was significantly higher than A (relative risk 1.52, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.24). Day 0 (hCG day) E2 levels were similar in the three groups. Group A had lower E2 levels on days 7, 10, and 13 and a higher magnitude of E2 decline on days 7 and 10. Similar levels of luteal E2 were documented in groups B and C. P levels were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS(S): Addition of 6 mg E(2) valerate to P support may encumber the sharp decline in luteal E(2) level. It may enhance the probability of pregnancy if administered vaginally.

Anti-Müllerian hormone: correlation of early follicular, ovulatory and midluteal levels with ovarian response and cycle outcome in intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients.

OBJECTIVE: To measure serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during different phases of the menstrual cycle and to correlate the measurements with ovarian response and clinical-pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University IVF unit. PATIENT(S): Thirty-three patients undergoing their first intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment cycle with a long protocol. INTERVENTION(S): On day 3 of the menstrual cycle, measurements of AMH, FSH, and LH and ultrasound evaluation of mean ovarian volume and antral follicle count were performed. Anti-Müllerian hormone was remeasured at ovulation and 7-8 days later (midluteal). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Poor response and number of oocytes were primary outcomes. Clinical pregnancy was a secondary outcome. RESULT(S): Levels of AMH were lower in poor ovarian responders than in normal responders. Number of oocytes retrieved was statistically significantly correlated with midluteal AMH, day 3 AMH, antral follicle count, ovulatory AMH, mean ovarian volume (r = 0.89, 0.88, 0.88, 0.86, 0.66, respectively) and with day 3 FSH (r = -0.41). Midluteal, day 3, and ovulatory AMH showed a good discriminatory potential for prediction of poor response (area under the receiver operating characteristics curves, 0.977, 0.9, and 0.89, respectively). Midluteal and early AMH were statistically significant predictors of clinical pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): A strong association exists between midluteal, early follicular, ovulatory AMH levels and number of oocytes retrieved. Midluteal and early follicular AMH may offer good prognostic value for clinical pregnancy.