Sangrado y terapia hormonal en la menopausia (THM) / Bleeding during menopause hormone therapy (MHT)

La definición de sangrado ginecológico anormal durante terapia hormonal de la menopausia es aquel sangrado no programado durante el uso de la terapia. Este artículo es un pauteo que describe: 1) cuándo diagnosticar unsangrado anormal, ya que difiere según el tipo de esquema hormonal utilizado; 2) eldiagnóstico diferencial del origen del sangrado anormal; 3) los métodos de evaluación para diagnosticar el origen del sangrado. Se destacan los aspectos principales para el diagnóstico diferencial entre patología orgánica versus disrupción endometrial debida al tratamiento hormonal. Además, se describen los ajustes posibles para resolver el sangrado cuando éste se debe a disrupción del endometrio.

Abnormal bleeding related to menopausal hormone therapy is defined as unscheduled bleeding during the use of the therapy. This article outlines when to diagnose an abnormal bleeding -as this differs according to the type of hormonal scheme used-, the differential diagnosis of the origin of abnormal bleeding, and the methods of evaluation to assess the origin of the bleeding. The main aspects are highlighted on the differentiation of organic pathology versus disruption of the endometrium due to treatment. Also, treatment adjustments to resolve bleeding when it is due to disruption of the endometrium are outlined.

Atrofia urogenital: seguridad del tratamiento con estrógenos vaginales / Safety of vaginal estrogens for urogenital atrophy

Urogenital atrophy is characterized by dryness, inflammation, and thinning of the epithelial lining of the vagina and lower urinary tract due to estrogen decline. Local estrogen therapy if effective to relieve signs and symptoms of vaginal atrophy without causing an elevation of serum estrogen levels. Although there are no big studies addressing the safety of this type of treatment, it can be maintained over long periods to avoid annoying symptoms. Special care must be taken with women with breast cancer in whom the effective dose must be titrated to avoid an increase in serum estrogens over the levels usually observed in postmenopausal women.

Hiperplasia suprarrenal no clásica, características clínicas y genéticas / Clinical and genetic features of non classical adrenal hyperplasia

Background: The non classical form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH) is increasingly recognized inhyperandrogenic patients, with variable phenotypic expression. Aim: To determine the clinical, hormonal, andgenetic characteristics of a group of patients with NCAH. Patients and methods: The medical records of 57NCAH patients were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis was established by basal or post-ACTH-stimulation 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) levels >7 ng/mL and > 15 ng/mL, respectively. Patients with post-ACTH 17-OHP levels between 10-15 ng/mL, and with one identified allele o without genetic tests, were consideredas heterozygous. Genotyping for 10 mutations was performed by PCR. Results: The average age of diagnosis was 12.4 +/- 0.9 years. Six patients were male. Pubarche and hirsutism were the clinical signs more frequently described in patients below 10 years of age (25/29) and over 10 years of age (11/24), respectively. A basal 17-OHP > 7 ng/mL was observed in 36 patients; the post ACTH 17-OHP was between 10-15 and > 15 ng/mL in 5 and 17 patients, respectively. Genotype analyses were performed in 38 patients. V281L was carried on approximately 68.4 percent of all alleles and 29 percent of patients carried severe mutations. Only one of five possible carrier patients, was diagnosed as NCAH after the genetic test (V281L/ In2splice). Conclusions: Males with NCAH were apparently sub-diagnosed. Pubarche and hirsutism were the more frequently reported signs. The genetic test is complementary in the diagnosis of NCAH. One third of the patients carried a classic mutation and could have an increased risk to have siblings with Classical CAH.

Recomendaciones de tratamiento en la menopausia / Treatment of menopause: recommendations

El objetivo de este documento es entregar una guía práctica de tratamiento del climaterio, debido a la confusión producida por el estudio WHI en 2002. La TH debe ser solo utilizada cuando exista una indicación clara para su uso. La paciente sintomática es la principal beneficiada del tratamiento. No existe un tratamiento alternativo a los estrógenos o estrógeno/progestina tan eficaz en el alivio de la sintomatología y en reducción de fracturas. La indicación de un tratamiento prolongado debe ser revisada anualmente.

Patologia endometrial en mujeres con sangrado anormal durante terapia de reemplazo hormonal

Se presenta un estudio para analizar la incidencia de patología endometrial en mujeres sanas posmenopáusicas que reciben terapia de reemplazo hormonal (TRH) y que presentan sangrado uterino anormal. Se estudiaron 188 mujeres posmenopáusicas que presentaron flujo rojo uterino anormal (irregular o excesivo) durante TRH con estrógenos y progesterona en diferentes esquemas (49% secuencial continuo; 39% combinado continuo; 12% secuencial discontinuo. Al 100% de las pacientes se les realizó en forma ambulatoria un estudio biópsico aspirativo de endometrio. El procedimiento fue bien tolerado y no se observaron complicaciones hemorrágicas o infecciosas. Los resultados histológicos fueron los siguientes: endometrio secretor 28,8%; endometrio proliferativo 31,3%; endometrio atrófico 18,0%; hiperplasia endometrial sin atipías 4,3%; pólipo endometrial benigno 2,7%; tejido endometrial benigno, inactivo o fragmentos de epitelio 11,7%; adenocarcinoma de endometrio 0,5% y ausencia de tejido endometrial 2,7%. La biopsia aspirativa de endometrio permitió conocer la situación endometrial en 97,3% de las pacientes. Muestra insuficiente para diagnóstico se obtuvo en un 2,7% de los casos sugiriendo atrofia endometrial o patología focal no diagnosticada por el método. Se concluye que la baja incidencia de patología maligna de endometrio en nuestro estudio confirma su baja incidencia en mujeres que reciben esquemas adecuados de terapia de reemplazo hormonal.