Embarazo ectópico roto con fracción beta de la hormona gonadotropina coriónica humana negativa: reporte de caso / Ruptured ectopic pregnancy with negative human chorionic gonadotropin hormone beta fraction: case report

Resumen El embarazo ectópico roto es una emergencia quirúrgica cuyo diagnóstico, gracias a la interrelación de la cuantificación de la fracción beta de la hormona gonadotropina coriónica humana (HCG-β) y los hallazgos ultrasonográficos, se ha hecho más preciso. Sin embargo, el diagnóstico se vuelve difícil cuando clínicamente se encuentran datos sugestivos de embarazo ectópico con una HCG-β negativa. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 25 años acude a valoración por referir 12,2 semanas de retraso menstrual, asociado a sangrado transvaginal y signos de irritación peritoneal, que cuenta con HCG-β negativa (< 5 mUI/ml). Se realizó un rastreo ultrasonográfico encontrando abundante líquido libre en cavidad, sin evidencia de embarazo intrauterino. Ante la alta sospecha de embarazo ectópico se realizó laparotomía exploradora, encontrando hallazgos sugestivos de embarazo ectópico roto, y se realizó salpingectomía. Finalmente, en el estudio posoperatorio se confirmó por histopatología un embarazo ectópico roto. Existen muy pocos reportes en la literatura internacional de pacientes con características clínicas de embarazo ectópico roto, con HCG-β negativa. Es importante la difusión de este tipo de casos con la finalidad de mejorar los abordajes diagnósticos y no restar importancia ante la sospecha clínica, a pesar de presentar una HCG-β negativa.

Abstract Broken ectopic pregnancy is a surgical emergency that due to the relation between the serum quantification of the of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) and the ultrasonographic findings, there have been improvements to reach a precise diagnosis. However, there are very few reported cases in the literature where a broken ectopic pregnancy is described with negative serum results in β-HCG. We present a case report of a 25-year-old patient came to the evaluation for referring 12.2 weeks of menstrual delay, associated with transvaginal bleeding and data of peritoneal irritation, she had a negative β-HCG fraction (< 5 mIU/ml). A scan was performed ultrasound finding abundant free fluid in the cavity, without evidence of intrauterine pregnancy. Given the high suspicion of ectopic pregnancy, an exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding findings suggestive of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a salpingectomy was performed. Finally, in the postoperative study, a ruptured ectopic pregnancy was confirmed by histopathology. There are very few reported internationally were found a patient with clinical characteristics of broken ectopic pregnancy, with a β-HCG negative. It is important the scientific diffusion of this type of cases with the purpose of improving the diagnostic approaches and not underestimating importance to the clinical suspicion, despite presenting negative β-HCG results.

Acretismo placentario en el primer trimestre del embarazo como causa de choque hipovolémico: reporte de un caso / Placentary acretism in the first quarter of pregnancy as a cause of hypovolemic shock: a case report

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: El acretismo es la adherencia anormal de la placenta al miometrio debida a la ausencia parcial o total de la decidua basal y desarrollo incompleto de la capa de Nitabuch. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 45 años, con antecedente de tres embarazos, dos abortos, una cesárea y amenorrea de 12 semanas. El padecimiento actual se inició dos días antes, con sangrado transvaginal intermitente. A su ingreso a Urgencias se encontró con datos de bajo gasto e inmediatamente pérdida del estado de alerta; tensión arterial 40-20 mmHg, frecuencia cardiaca de 125 lpm. La parte posterior del cuello uterino se encontró dehiscente, con sangrado transvaginal abundante, prueba inmunológica de embarazo positiva, fracción β-GCH de 2878 mU/mL. Al asociar los datos de la exploración física se integró el diagnóstico de aborto incompleto y se ingresó a la unidad tocoquirúrgica, para legrado uterino instrumentado. CONCLUSIONES: De acuerdo con las búsquedas bibliográficas, todo indica que éste es el primer reporte mexicano de un caso de acretismo placentario en el primer trimestre del embarazo. Se sugiere la búsqueda de factores de riesgo que permitan la sospecha y faciliten establecer el diagnóstico de acretismo placentario a partir de las primeras semanas de embarazo para evitar desenlaces obstétricos fatales.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Accretism is the abnormal adherence of the placenta to the myometrium due to partial or total absence of the basal decidua and incomplete development of the Nitabuch's layer. CLINICAL CASE: 45-year-old patient, with a history of three pregnancies, two abortions and one cesarean section; amenorrhea of 12 weeks. The current condition started two days earlier, with intermittent transvaginal bleeding. On admission to the ED she was found to have low output and immediate loss of alertness; blood pressure 40-20 mmHg, heart rate 125 bpm. The posterior cervix was found to be dehiscent, with abundant transvaginal bleeding, positive immunological pregnancy test, HCG fraction 2878 mU/mL. By associating the physical examination data, the diagnosis of incomplete abortion was integrated, and she was admitted to the tocosurgical unit, for instrumented uterine curettage. CONCLUSIONS: According to the bibliographic searches, everything indicates that this is the first Mexican report of a case of placental accretism in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is suggested to search for risk factors that allow suspicion and facilitate the diagnosis of placental accretism from the first weeks of pregnancy to avoid fatal obstetric outcomes.

Escitalopram-Induced Amenorrhea and False Positive Urine Pregnancy Test / 가정의학회지

Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. A 34-year-old female patient with major depressive disorder developed amenorrhea and had a false-positive urine pregnancy test after initiation of escitalopram treatment. To our knowledge, no published case report of amenorrhea and false-positive urine pregnancy tests in women taking escitalopram exists. This case report suggests that women of child-bearing age should be carefully monitored for amenorrhea while they are on an antidepressant treatment regimen.

Análise comparativa da acurácia in vitro de testes de detecção de hCG urinário / Comparative analysis of the accuracy of urinary hCG tests in vitro

OBJETIVO: Identificar se os pontos de corte de sensibilidade anunciados por três testes de gravidez na urina são compatíveis com os anunciados pelo fabricante e descrever os seus desempenhos diagnósticos. MÉTODOS: A urina de um voluntário masculino foi usada para diluir β-hCG recombinante em concentrações definidas de 0; 6,25; 12,5; 25; 50; e 100 mUI/mL. As amostras foram codificadas e cegamente analisadas para a positividade em três diferentes lotes dos testes hCG Strip Test Plus®, BioEasy® e Visitect Pregnancy®. O tamanho da amostra foi calculado para um erro alfa de 5 por cento, com um poder de 99 por cento. RESULTADOS: As três marcas apresentaram sensibilidade de 100 por cento na detecção do β-hCG nos três lotes analisados, com 100 por cento de valor preditivo negativo, usando somente controles negativos e amostras com concentrações iguais ou superiores ao limite do teste (n = 180/marca). A acurácia dos testes foi 83 por cento (BioEasy®), 84 por cento (Visitect®) e 91 por cento (Strip Test Plus®). O Strip Test Plus® apresentou o melhor desempenho para a razão de probabilidade positiva (52,5), enquanto que o produto Visitect® teve a melhor razão de probabilidade negativa (zero). CONCLUSÃO: Os três produtos analisados têm a sensibilidade dos pontos de corte anunciados. O produto Strip Test Plus® tem o melhor desempenho para identificar concentrações urinárias de β-hCG > 12,5 mUI/mL, consequentemente, confirmando gravidez, enquanto que o Visitect® tem o melhor desempenho para descartar a presença de β-hCG na urina (probabilidade pós-teste negativo: zero).

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether cutoff for sensitivity advertised by three pregnancy tests in urine are compatible to those reported by the manufacturer and to describe their diagnostic performance. METHODS: The urine of a male volunteer was used to dilute recombinant β-hCG at defined concentrations of 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mIU/mL. The tubes containing each of the concentrations were coded and blindly assessed for positivity in three different lots of hCG tests: Strip Test Plus®, BioEasy®, and Visitect Pregnancy®. The sample size was calculated for an alpha error of 5 percent, with a power of 99 percent. RESULTS: All three brands, in their three lots analyzed, had 100 percent of sensitivity for detecting β-hCG, with 100 percent negative predictive value, using only negative controls and samples with concentrations equal or higher than the test cutoff (n = 180/brand). The accuracy of the tests was 83 percent (BioEasy®), 84 percent(Visitect®) and 91 percent (Strip Test Plus®). Strip Test Plus® had the best positive likelihood ratio (52.5), while Visitect® had the best negative likelihood ratio (zero). CONCLUSION: The three brands have adequate sensitivity for the advertised cutoffs. The Strip Test Plus® test had the best performance to identify urinary concentrations of β-hCG > 12.5 mIU/mL, and consequently, to confirm pregnancy, while Visitect® had the best performance to exclude β-hCG in urine (negative post-test probability: zero).

Effect of beta-hCG with a Point-of-Care Test in the Emergency Department

PURPOSE: The rapid and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy is important in the emergency department (ED) before evaluation of radiologic tests and medication decisions. Our primary objective was to assess the agreement between whole blood pregnancy tests done in the emergency department and those done in laboratory [serum human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and urine beta-hCG]. The secondary objective was to compare turnaround times for tests done in the ED and those done in the laboratory. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled females of childbearing age needing a pregnancy test who visited an ED. Using whole blood, urine and serum from each patient, testing was done in the ED (whole blood - Hubi Quan pro-point of care test, POCT) and in the laboratory using a urine hCG kit (iIexscreen) and in serum (ADVIA centaur). The data included time of each test, beta-hCG result, and urine pregnancy test result. RESULTS: There was a high level of agreement between the POCT using whole blood and the serum beta-hCG as indicated by a kappa value of 0.921(95% confidence interval). The POCT performed in the ED was significantly faster in time to report than tests performed in the laboratory, with mean differences of 20.21+/-2.0 minutes and 36.14+/-20.86 minutes. The sensitivity and specificity of POCT was 98.18% and 93.75%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In ED, the POCT test can perform pregnancy test as accurately as in the laboratory, and can provide results on which to base care much faster than waiting for the laboratory results. POCT may expedite the ED management of patients who require pregnancy tests. Especially, this POCT uses whole blood instead of the urine, since the latter was inconvenient for the test.

The male frog (Rana vigittera) biological pregnancy test as compared to the immunologic pregnancy test

Frog tests were done using solutions with different known concentrations of human chronic gonadotropin per cc: 3:4:5:6:I.U./cc. solutions. Positive results in percentage were 20%:42%:61% and 80% respectively. Solutions lower than 3 I.U./cc were not used because earlier studies done by the Pasay-Paranaque Medical Society had shown negative results with solutions of 1 I.U./cc. and 2 I.U./cc. of HCG. On the other hand, immunologic haemogglutination inhibition tests gave positive reaction or pregnancy test with solutions having as low as 1/2 I.U. of HCG/cc. (Summary)