Angiogenic markers predict kidney injury and obstetric complications in women with preeclampsia and pregnancy-related acute kidney injury.

Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) particularly on top of preeclampsia (PE) represents a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Reliable diagnostic tools are needed to further evaluate the diagnosis and prognosis of PRAKI. Our objective was to study the diagnostic and prognostic value of angiogenic markers (e.g., stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alarmins as uric acid) in women with PE and PRAKI. This prospective study included three groups; PRAKI, PE patients, and healthy controls that were compared regarding serum levels of the studied markers correlated to renal, maternal, and fetal outcomes. SDF-1, VEGF, and uric acid levels were significantly different between the three included groups and predicted PRAKI diagnosis. Patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome exhibited the highest titers of SDF-1 and VEGF. A positive correlation was found between SDF-1 and renal recovery. Conclusively, serum assays of SDF-1, VEGF, and uric acid may add a diagnostic value in PRAKI and PE.

Acute kidney injury during pregnancy and puerperium: an Egyptian hospital-based study.

INTRODUCTION: While acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnancy is currently a rare entity in developed countries, it is still a common occurrence in developing countries, representing a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Scarce data are published regarding pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) in Middle Eastern and African countries. The aim of this work is to report on the frequency, the underlying causes, and the outcomes of patients with PRAKI in an Egyptian tertiary care hospital. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study that included 40 patients representing all women who presented to the Mansoura Nephrology and Dialysis Unit with PRAKI over two years. All patients were followed up for three months after hospital discharge to assess renal outcome, and till the end of pregnancy to assess the maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: PRAKI was reported  in about 1% of women who presented to the obstetrics service, and accounted for 14% of all AKI patients who presented to the renal service in our hospital. Preeclampsia (PE) and obstetric hemorrhage were the commonest causes of PRAKI. Maternal mortality occurred in 22.5% of PRAKI patients. The majority of survivors (62.5%) fully recovered, while the remaining (37.5%) individuals became dialysis dependent. Unfavorable fetal events occurred in 24 pregnancies (60%). CONCLUSION: In our hospital in Mansoura, Egypt, PRAKI represents a relevant burden with potential ominous outcomes obstetric hemorrhage and preeclampsia were the major causes. Further research is needed to understand the causes and improve the outcomes of pregnancy-related AKI.

Potential Role for a Panel of Immunohistochemical Markers in the Management of Endometrial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the efficacy of endometrial carcinoma (EC) treatment, identifying prognostic factors for high risk patients is a high research priority. This study aimed to assess the relationships among the expression of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki-67, and the different histopathological prognostic parameters in EC and to assess the value of these in the management of EC. METHODS: We examined 109 cases of EC. Immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 were evaluated in relation to age, tumor size, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and grade, depth of infiltration, cervical and ovarian involvement, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and lymph node (LN) metastasis. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in this study was 59.8 ± 8.2 years. Low ER and PR expression scores and high Ki-67 expression showed highly significant associations with non-endometrioid histology (p = .007, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively) and poor differentiation (p = .007, p < .001, and p <. 001, respectively). Low PR score showed a significant association with advanced stage (p = .009). Low ER score was highly associated with LVSI (p = .006), and low PR scores were associated significantly with LN metastasis (p = .026). HER2 expression was significantly related to advanced stages (p = .04), increased depth of infiltration (p = .02), LVSI (p = .017), ovarian involvement (p = .038), and LN metastasis (p = .038). There was a close relationship between HER2 expression and uterine cervical involvement (p = .009). Higher Ki-67 values were associated with LN involvement (p = .012). CONCLUSIONS: The over-expression of HER2 and Ki-67 and low expression of ER and PR indicate a more malignant EC behavior. An immunohistochemical panel for the identification of high risk tumors can contribute significantly to prognostic assessments.

Does adjuvant long-acting gestagen therapy improve the outcome of hysteroscopic endometrial resection in women of low-resource settings with heavy menstrual bleeding?

OBJECTIVE: To test for the hypothesis of the beneficial effect of long-acting gestagens as an adjuvant postoperative therapy on the outcome of hysteroscopic transcervical endometrial resection (TCRE) in women of low-resource settings and suffering from ovulatory heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I). SETTING: Low-resource tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy-one premenopausal women with established ovulatory menorrhagia. INTERVENTION: After randomization, 37 patients were treated with TCRE plus gestagen and 34 patients with TCRE alone. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Variations in menstrual patterns and bleeding scores, as well as amenorrhea and repeat surgery rates with treatment, were determined 1 year after resection. In those who continued to menstruate at 6 months, treatment with TCRE plus gestagen was associated with a significant reduction in the number of days bleeding from 7.2 to 3.4 (p ≤ .0001), increased cycle length from 24 to 30 (p = .02), a 60% reduction in dysmenorrhea score from 62 to 25 (p ≤ .0001), and a 60% reduction in premenstrual syndrome score from 55 to 22 (p = .04). Amenorrhea rates at 12 months in the TCRE plus gestagen and TCRE alone groups were 40% versus 26% (p = .02), with combined amenorrhea and hypomenorrhea rates of 75% versus 64% (p = .02), respectively. At 12 months, repeat surgery rates were higher in the TCRE alone group (21% vs 3%, p < .05). CONCLUSION: In a low-resource setting, the adjuvant postoperative long-acting gestagen therapy has proven to be superior in inducing amenorrhea after hysteroscopic TCRE.

Prognostic factors of germ cell and sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors in pediatric age: 5 years experience.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian tumors in the pediatric age group are not infrequent. Germ-cell tumors are the commonest ovarian neoplasm in the first two decades of life. Sex cord-stromal tumors are the most common ovarian tumors to cause precocious puberty in girls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included all managed cases of malignant germ-cell and sex cord-stromal tumors in the pediatric age (less than 18 years). The medical records of the admitted cases from first of January, 2008 to 31 December, 2012 were reviewed and the following information was collected: patient age, clinical presentation, surgical stage, tumor histology, therapy, clinical course, and outcome. Serum alpha-fetoprotien on admission was studied. RESULTS: The study included 42 pediatric cases of germ-cell and granulosa cell tumors of the ovary. Mean age of the cases was 11.26 years (range: 7-15 years). Abdominal pain was the commonest presentation. Twenty-two cases (52.4%) were diagnosed as stage I disease. Twenty-eight cases (66.7%) were exposed to fertility sparing surgery. Age of the patient and site of tumor were significantly correlated to the survival (p value: 0.04 & 0.09 respectively). The correlations of stage of the disease, use of pre-operative chemotherapy, and type of surgical interference were highly significant (P value: 0.007, 0.001, and 0.001 respectively). Tumor size and histologic types were not significantly correlated to survival (P value: 0.19 & 0.67 respectively). CONCLUSION: The cumulative survival rate was 76.2%. The correlations of stage of the disease, use of pre-operative chemotherapy, and type of surgical interference were highly significant. Tumor size and histologic types were not significantly correlated to survival. Initial level of alpha-fetoprotein was not significantly correlated to survival or recurrence.

Cancer during pregnancy: perinatal outcome after in utero exposure to chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of pregnancies complicated by malignant disease, in particular neonatal morbidity and mortality after in utero exposure to chemotherapy. METHODS: This prospective study included 118 patients diagnosed with malignant disease for the first time during pregnancy over an 8-year period (March 2003-March 2011). Outcome of neonates born to mothers who received chemotherapy during pregnancy was studied and compared with a control group. RESULTS: The commonest cancer type diagnosed during pregnancy (56/118 = 47.45 %) was breast carcinoma followed by lymphoma/leukemia (32 = 27.12 %). Gynecological tumors (all ovarian) represented 10.16 %, soft tissue tumors 5.08 %, colorectal 4.23 %, thyroid 2.54 % and others 3.38 %. Sixty-one (51.64 %) women received chemotherapy (average 3 ± 2 cycles) during the second and third trimesters. The incidence of neonatal survival, preterm birth, small for gestational age and congenital malformations was not significantly different between women who received chemotherapy during pregnancy and the control group. Five (4.23 %) women with advanced disease died during or shortly after termination of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In utero exposure to chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy carries minimal morbidity to the unborn fetus.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the female genital tract: 5 years' experience.

OBJECTIVES: To present our single institution experience with 10 cases of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed over 5 years. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the medical records of 10 patients. The initial presenting data as age, complains and staging were analyzed. Surgical interference of all cases was studied. The follow up data regarding survival and recurrences were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 4.3 years (range: 2-12). Six cases (60%) were subjected to "True Cut" biopsy and 4 cases (40%) were subjected to complete surgical excision of the tumor. All cases received chemotherapy. "Vincristine, Actinomycin D, Cyclophosphamide" combination was the most commonly used. Radiation therapy was used in 3 patients (30%) in the form of external beam radiation. The 5-year overall survival of our studied cases were 80%. CONCLUSION: The recurrence rate of our retrospectively studied 10 cases of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of vagina and cervix was high (70%). However, five-year survival was 80%. Combined modality treatment is essential to improve prognosis.

Fertility sparing surgery for ovarian tumors in children and young adults.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of fertility conserving surgery for ovarian tumors in children and young adults (≤ 20 years) over 6 years (2003-2009). METHODS: This prospective study included 183 patients diagnosed with ovarian cysts or tumors requiring surgical excision. Ovarian cystectomy/ovariectomy was carried out followed by frozen section histopathology. Malignant cases were subjected to staging laparotomy and fertility sparing surgery. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 17 years (range 7-20 years). 160/183 (87.4%) were non-neoplastic ovarian cysts or benign tumors. In 131/160 (81.8%) of non-neoplastic and benign tumors, it was possible to preserve the affected ovary. Twenty cases (11%) were diagnosed as primary malignant ovarian tumors, 2/183 (1.1%) were borderline tumors and 1 case (0.55%) was metastatic colonic carcinoma. The median follow up of cases with primary malignant ovarian tumors was 36 months. During this period, two recurrences (9.1%) were detected, both of the germ cell type (immature teratoma and yolk sac tumor). Recurrent cases were managed by local excision and lymph node sampling followed by chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Fertility sparing surgery for malignant ovarian tumors in children and young adults has excellent prognosis and should be attempted whenever possible.

Modified thermal balloon endometrial ablation in low resource settings: a cost-effective method using Foley's catheter.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a modified Foley's catheter endometrial ablation in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding in low resource settings. METHODS: Four hundred and thirty premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding were subjected to thermal balloon endometrial ablation using modified Foley's catheter. The primary outcome measure was patient satisfaction regarding menstrual blood loss. Secondary measures included improvement in quality of life scores and failure rates. RESULTS: Three hundred and three patients were available for evaluation at 3-year follow up. 270/303 (89.1%) reported their satisfaction as indicated by reduction in days of menstrual flow per cycle (4.2 vs. 8.8 days, p < 0.0001). There was a significant improvement in quality of life scores (p < 0.0001). The rate of failure varies according to the interval of follow up from 15.6% at 6 months to 10.9% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Modified Foley's catheter endometrial ablation is a cost effective alternative to other thermal endometrial ablation techniques in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding in low resource settings.

Midtrimester abortion using vaginal misoprostol for women with three or more prior cesarean deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester abortion in women with 3 or more prior cesarean deliveries. METHODS: This study was conducted with 138 women who needed pregnancy termination between 13 and 26 gestational weeks, 31 with 3 or more previous cesarean deliveries and 107 with no uterine scars (the controls). Misoprostol was inserted in the vagina every 6 hours until regular contractions or products of conception appeared, a 200-microg tablet for the first 24 hours and 2 tablets thereafter. The outcomes assessed were successful vaginal abortion, hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, incomplete abortion, and uterine rupture. RESULTS: A vaginal abortion occurred in 28 women (90.3%) in the study group and 107 (100%) in the control group (P=0.01). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of the other assessed outcomes. CONCLUSION: Vaginal misoprostol appears to be safe and acceptably effective for second-trimester pregnancy termination in women with 3 or more previous cesarean deliveries.

Preliminary uterine artery ligation versus pericervical mechanical tourniquet in reducing hemorrhage during abdominal myomectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of preliminary uterine artery ligation versus pericervical mechanical tourniquet in reducing hemorrhage during myomectomy. METHODS: A total of 103 patients undergoing myomectomy were randomly allocated to undergo preliminary uterine artery ligation (52 patients) or pericervical tourniquet (51 patients). The primary outcome measure was estimated blood loss. Secondary outcomes included duration of the operation, duration of hospital stay, postoperative hemoglobin, and the need for postoperative analgesia. RESULTS: Operative blood loss was significantly less with uterine artery ligation compared with tourniquet (433.80+/-285.21 vs 823.23+/-237.33mL, P<0.001). The mean duration of the operation was lower in the uterine artery ligation group compared with the tourniquet group (50.5+/-8.7 vs 76.3+/-9.4 minutes, P<0.001). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the uterine artery ligation group compared with the tourniquet group (4.1+/-0.1 vs 5.1+/-0.2 days; P<0.001). Postoperative hemoglobin concentrations and the need for postoperative analgesia were higher in the uterine artery ligation group (P=0.012 and P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Uterine artery ligation was more effective than pericervical tourniquet as a preliminary step in reducing blood loss during abdominal myomectomy.

Is expectant management of early-onset severe preeclampsia worthwhile in low-resource settings?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the maternal and perinatal outcome following expectant management of early-onset severe preeclampsia (PE) at a tertiary hospital in Mansoura, Egypt. METHODS: This prospective, observational study included 211 patients with severe PE, occurring between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. They were classified according to gestational age on admission into three groups. Group 1 included 61 patients with gestational ages between 24 and 28 weeks. Group 2 (28 to <32 weeks) included 66 patients and group 3 (32-34 weeks) included 84 patients. Outcome measures included prolongation of gestation, and maternal and perinatal complications. RESULTS: The median overall prolongation of gestation was 12 +/- 6 days. The rate of neonatal survival significantly increased (P < 0.001) from 12/61 (19.7%) in group 1 to 30/66 (45.5%) in group 2 and 67/84 (79.8%) in group 3. There were no maternal mortalities; however, 43 (20.4%) women developed significant morbidities. HELLP syndrome, renal impairment and placental abruption were the main complications. CONCLUSION: In low-resource settings, expectant management of early-onset severe PE is associated with relatively higher rates of perinatal mortality and maternal morbidity and should be limited to gestational ages between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation.

Why do mothers die in Dakahlia, Egypt?

AIM: To investigate the causes of maternal mortality in the Dakahlia Governorate in Egypt. METHODS: A confidential enquiry for each case of maternal mortality during the years 2004-2005 was carried out. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-nine maternal deaths were reported, giving a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 71.3/100,000 live births. 140 (78.2%) women died due to direct obstetric causes, 24 (13.4%) due to indirect causes and 15 (8.4%) due to accidental or unexplained causes. 44 (24.6%) women died during or following delivery by cesarean section and 91 (50.8%) during labor or within 24 h following delivery. Complications during cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders were the leading causes of maternal mortality. Death due to substandard care was encountered in 85% of cases. Obstetricians were responsible for 51% of causes of avoidable maternal death. CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality in Dakahlia, although declining, is still relatively high. To further reduce maternal mortality, deliveries should be conducted at well-equipped hospitals.

Outcome of the use of tension-free vaginal tape in women with mixed urinary incontinence, previous failed surgery, or low valsalva pressure.

AIM: To assess the safety and efficacy of the use of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women with mixed incontinence, previous failed incontinence surgery or low valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP). METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-eight women with SUI underwent the TVT procedure. These included women with mixed stress and urge incontinence (n=128), previous surgery for SUI (n=118), low VLPP (n=80), and those over 70 years old (n=68). The procedure was carried out under spinal anesthetic and operative and immediate postoperative data was collected for all women. Six-month follow-up data was available on 454 women, with the first 300 women completing a quality of life (QOL) questionnaire before and after surgery. RESULTS: The overall subjective cure rate at 6 months was 91%, with 8% of women reporting significant (>50%) improvement in their symptoms. Subgroups with a body mass index > 30, age > 70 years, coexisting instability, previous failed surgery, and low VLPP showed cure rates of 81-89%. QOL improvements for all groups were highly significant. Significant complications included voiding difficulties in 29 women (4.4%), retropubic hematomas in four (0.6%), and thromboembolic episodes in three (0.5%). CONCLUSION: The simplicity and high efficacy of the TVT makes it the first choice for the treatment of women with SUI, including those with more complex problems or coexisting risk factors.