Predictive Value of Endometrial Thickness for Anemia in Adolescent Girls with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding / 임상소아혈액종양

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Immaturity of the endocrine system that controls the normal menstrual cycle frequently results in abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and elicits anemia in adolescent girls. This study was conducted to assess the predictive value of endometrial thickness (ET) for anemia in adolescent girls with AUB. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for a cohort of adolescents (12–18 years old) with AUB who presented over a 10-year period. Complete blood count and ultrasonographic data of 115 adolescent girls with AUB were analyzed. Subjects were classified according to ET as group I (ET < 11 mm) and group II (≥11 mm), and the incidence of anemia was compared. Subjects were also classified according to age as group Y (12–15 years old of age) and group O (16–18 yr), and ET, hemoglobin (Hb), and incidence of anemia were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of anemia in all subjects was 67.8% and was significantly higher in group II than in group I (P < 0.001). The incidence of severe anemia was 56.9% in group II, which was higher than in group I (P=0.039). The incidence of anemia was not significantly different between groups Y and O. However, the incidence of severe anemia was significantly higher in group Y than in group O (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: AUB can result in severe anemia in adolescent girls particularly those who are close to menarche or have a thick endometrium. Early supervision of AUB is required in order to avoid anemia in adolescent girls with AUB.