No increased systemic fibrinolysis in women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding disorders have been recognized as important etiologic or contributory factors in women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibrinolysis in the endometrium plays a role in heavy menstrual bleeding. It is unknown whether increased systemic fibrinolysis might also increase the risk of heavy menstrual bleeding. OBJECTIVE: To investigate fibrinolytic parameters, including clot lysis time, in women with heavy menstrual bleeding. METHODS: We included 102 patients referred for heavy menstrual bleeding (Pictorial Bleeding Assessment Chart score of > 100) in our cohort. Patients and controls (28 healthy volunteers without heavy menstrual bleeding) underwent hemostatic testing in the first week after menstruation. For 79 patients and all controls, fibrinolytic parameters (thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activity, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasmin inhibitor levels) and clot lysis time were available. RESULTS: Fibrinolytic parameters were similar between patients and controls, except for thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (89.4% vs. 82.5%) and plasmin inhibitor (106% vs. 96%), the levels of which which were significantly higher in patients. In women with menorrhagia without gynecologic abnormalities, we found lower thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels than in women with gynecologic abnormalities (thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, 85.4% vs. 94.8%; plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, 16.0 µg L(-1) vs. 24.5 µg L(-1) ). CONCLUSION: Systemic fibrinolytic capacity is not increased in women with heavy menstrual bleeding. Overall, levels of the fibrinolytic inhibitors thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and plasmin inhibitor were even higher in patients than in controls. However, in a subgroup of women without gynecologic abnormalities, relatively lower levels of inhibitors may contribute to the heavy menstrual bleeding.

[Pulmonary densities following a hysterectomy, caused by benign metastatic leiomyoma]. / Pulmonale verdichtingen na een uterusextirpatie, door benigne metastatisch leiomyoom.

A 49-year-old woman, who had undergone a hysterectomy 17 years previously, was referred with thoracic pain located on the right side that had been present for several weeks. Thoracic imaging showed multiple pulmonary lesions on both sides. Histological investigation of a biopsy from one of these lesions revealed a benign metastatic leiomyoma. The patient was treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. The lesions showed regression and the symptoms disappeared. Benign metastatic leiomyoma is a rare benign clinical entity in women of fertile age who have had a surgical intervention on the uterus because of uterus myomatosus. The therapeutic options are surgical resection, removal of the hormonal stimulus by administering progesterone or GnRH-analogues or bilateral ovariectomy.

Presentations of endometrial activity after curative radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of choice for patients with advanced stage cervical cancer is (chemo)radiotherapy. Gynaecologic side effects consist of loss of ovarian function and destruction of the endometrium, resulting in infertility and premature ovarian failure. In premenopausal patients estrogens are prescribed to prevent climacteric symptoms. In general, no progestagens are added to the hormone replacement therapy because of the assumption of complete destruction of the basal layer of the endometrium after pelvic radiotherapy. The aim of this report is to show the different presentations of endometrial activity after curative radiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: Presentation of four patients who developed symptoms of residual endometrial activity. RESULTS: In two patients, proliferation of functional endometrium led to hematocolpos and hematometrum with abdominal pain. The third patient underwent ovarian transposition and developed regular periods 3 months after finishing the radiotherapy. The fourth patient underwent trachelectomy with radiotherapy because of narrow tumour free margins. She developed vaginal blood loss after starting estrogens. CONCLUSIONS: These patients show that in premenopausal patients, curative radiotherapy until 80Gy, may lead to symptoms of residual functional endometrium, e.g. hematometrum, hematocolpos, (ir)regular vaginal blood loss. In our opinion patients should be advised to use estrogens in combination with a progestogen, instead of unopposed estrogens, to prevent stimulation of residual functional endometrium. Tibolone may be an appropriate alternative hormone replacement therapy especially with the advantage of low androgen effects which might support the sexual functions, and the decrease of breast density.

Treatment failure in trichomoniasis and persistence of the parasite after Lactobacillus immunotherapy; two case reports.

This report describes the clinical and laboratory observations on two patients with a Trichomonas vaginalis infection resistant to metronidazole. The metronidazole resistance was confirmed in in vitro cultures under aerobic conditions, after in vitro cultivation of the strains. Trichomonas infection persisted during high-dose intravenous metronidazole administration and Lactobacillus immunotherapy was unsuccessful in both patients.

The relation of fertility and ovarian histology after bilateral ovarian wedge resection.

The immediate and long term fertility after bilateral ovarian wedge resection in 53 women with clomiphene citrate-resistant hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation is related to the histology of the ovarian wedges. Patients with polycystic ovaries and hyperplastic stromal abnormalities had most spontaneous conceptions and a normal fertility during follow-up. Apparently, chronic anovulation in these cases had been caused by ovarian disease in the face of normal hypothalamic function. Patients with polycystic ovaries without stromal abnormalities often needed postoperative stimulation of ovulation in order to conceive, which may indicate hypothalamic involvement. Patients with large ovaries, normal stroma, and small follicles, who as a group had the lowest serum levels of luteinizing hormone, and patients whose ovaries contained large follicles and cysts without theca cell activity did not benefit from the bilateral ovarian wedge resection. Generally, their postoperative response to medical induction of ovulation did not improve either. Measures to prevent adhesions were not completely successful. Nevertheless, our results suggest that anovulation rather than formation of adhesions causes persistent infertility after bilateral ovarian wedge resection.

[The treatment of women with climacteric symptoms with emphasis on perimenopausal hormone therapy]. / De behandeling van vrouwen met climacteriële klachten met nadruk op de perimenopauzale hormoontherapie.

PIP: Guidelines for perimenopausal hormone therapy are listed in outline form. Various symptoms of metabolic changes, of changes in the balance of the neurovegetative system, and of nervous system influences related to social and cultural factors can be treated with substitutive hormone treatment during menopause. Special considerations apply to women who have undergone ovariectomy. Cyclical estrogen treatment should be used, and gestagens should be given in addition to estrogens. In prescribing hormone therapy, all absolute and relative contraindications should be considered. Obese women should be on a strict diet during therapy, and smoking should be stopped. In the case of irregular bleeding, curettage should be performed to exclude the possibility of malignant cancer. The patient should have regular checkups to determine if possible side effects are of a serious nature. Types of medications and treatment regimens for menopausal women, for treating women who have or have not undergone ovariectomy, and for treating menopausal disorders are listed.^ieng