Safety and efficacy of a new imidazole fungicide, Sertaconazole, in the treatment of fungal vulvo-vaginitis: a comparative study using Fluconazole and Clotrimazole.

Background: Sertaconazole is a new imidazole fungicide introduced for vulvo-vaginal candidiasis. It has an azole group with benzothiophene that inhibits biosynthesis of ergosterol and brings about a massive leak of cytoplasm with consequent fungal cell death. Objective: Assess the safety and efficacy of Sertaconazole in the treatment of fungal vulvo-vaginitis for comparison with Fluconazole and Clotrimazole. Subjects and methods: One-hundred eighty-eight outpatients with fungal vulvo-vaginitis were recruited at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand between August 31, 2004 and January 30, 2006. The patients were given Sertaconazole, Fluconazole, or Clotrimazole, and received vaginal swab and culture for fungus at seventh and 28th days after treatment. Results: Out of 188 cases, 177 cases were followed-up completely. Sertaconazole group included 66 cases where 35 cure, 20 fail, and 7 recurrent cases. Fluconazole group included 60 cases and had 37 cure, six fail, and 20 recurrence cases. Clotrimazole group included 55 cases and had 32 cure, nine fail and 11 recurrent cases. There were risk factors of fungal vulvo-vaginitis, including frequent micturition and small toilet shower flushing. Conclusion: Sertaconazole had similar effectiveness and less side-effect as compared with Fluconazole and Clotrimazole. It appeared to work well with lowest recurrence.

Uterine sarcomas in Siriraj Hospital (1991-2005).

Objective: To study the incidence, clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes in patients with uterine sarcomas at Siriraj Hospital. Methods: A medical record search of patients treated at Siriraj Hospital from January 1991 to December 2005 was performed for clinical characteristics and treatments. Survival curves were generated using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Sixty uterine sarcomas were diagnosed during a 15-year period. The mean age was 49.3 years (range 27-74; SD 10.6). Abnormal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom (40%). Only 11.7% of the cases could be diagnosed preoperatively. Of 60 patients, 37 (61.6%) had leiomyosarcoma (LMS), 9 (15%) had malignant mixed mullerian tumor (MMMT), and 14 (23.3%) had endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). The distribution by FIGO staging was as follows: stage I: 47.5%, stage II: 15%, stage III: 17.5%, and stage IV: 20%. The treatment was mainly hysterectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 25 months. The five-year survival rate was 55.4%. Conclusion: The incidence of uterine sarcoma at Siriraj Hospital was 4.4% of uterine malignancies. The most common histologic type was leiomyosarcoma (61.6%). The common presenting symptoms were uterine bleeding and pelvic mass. In most cases, the treatment modality was surgery combined with chemotherapy. The overall 5-year survival rate of the studied group was 55.4%.

Infected leiomyoma: A case report and review of literatures.

A 57-year-old, single Thai woman presented with a sudden onset of severe pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The patient had intermittent abdominal pain for five months. Previous pelvic examination and ultrasonography demonstrated a right adnexal mass compatible with right ovarian tumor or subserous myoma. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a ruptured infected leiomyoma. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy were performed. Antibiotics therapy was continued post-operatively until clinical improved. Although the infected leiomyoma is uncommon, the diagnosis should be considered in septic patients with history of leiomyoma, especially in those who had the risk of uterine infection.