[HELLP syndrome: about 17 cases and literature review]

HELLP syndrome is defined as an association of hemotytic anemia, raised liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia. It is a severe manifestation of pre-eclampsia. We tried to specify the epidemic factors and the best management of HELLP syndrome A retrospective study held during 6 years in the department of gynaecotogy and obstetrics in La Marsa hospital and according to a literature revue. The dominating symptoms included low abdominal pain and vomiting. The syndrome was discovered after 30.5 weeks of amenorrhea on average. Infant extraction was by cesarean section in 11 cases. Maternal morbidity was mainly marked by eclampsia and haemostatic disturbances while neonatal morbidity was attributable to the included prematurity. The main management consists essentially in a medical reanimation, in addition to a rapid foetal extraction

[Indication of metformin in the management of hormonal dysfunction secondary to polycystic ovarian syndrome: prospective comparative study about 63 cases]

Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] is the most common hormonal dysfunction in women. It's a cause of female infertility by oligoanovulation, clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries. Weight loss, firstly proposed in overweight or obese patient suffering from PCOS, aims to reduce hyperinsulinism and hyperandrogenism. Recently, Metformin, an insulin sensitizer, has been proposed as an alternative first line treatment for polycystic ovarian syndrome by improving hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenism in these women. The aim of our study, and through a literature review, is to demonstrate if Metformin should be used as a first-line drug for infertile women with this syndrome or as an adjunction to Clomifene Citrate, the longest established treatment already used in this syndrome. A prospective comparative study including 63 patients with PCOS has been done during 2 years. Women were randomly allocated to clomifene + Metformin [Metformin group, Metformin took during 8 weeks, 850 mg twice a day, plus Clomifene 100 mg per day during five days] or Clomifene only [100 mg per day during five days]. All patients underwent a two- month's diet. The middle age was about 30.63 years and the body mass index [BMI] was about 29.88 kg/ m[2]. We noticed a 6.2% weight loss in both groups [a non significant difference in p=0.04]. The median of infertility period was about 2.49 years. The ovulation rate in the Metformin group was 53.12% [significant difference for inducing ovulation p=0.02] and 32.25% in Clomifene group [non-significant difference 0.07]. There was also a significant difference for ongoing pregnancies [p=0.04]. In fact, 11 on 32 patients [34%] achieved a full-term pregnancy in Metformin group versus only 4 ones on 31 patients [12.9%] in Clomifene group. Our conclusion is that Metformin is an effective addition to Clomifene Citrate in term of reestablishment of ovulation and full-term pregnancies achievement, excluding ART cycles