Leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression for the treatment of dermatological, rheumatological, and gastroenterological diseases: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recently developed immunosuppressive drugs, especially TNF antagonists, may enhance the risk of granulomatous infections, including leprosy. We aimed to evaluate the leprosy detection rate in patients under immunosuppression due to rheumatological, dermatological and gastroenterological diseases. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science and Scielo databases through 2018. No date or language restrictions were applied. We included all articles that reported the occurrence of leprosy in patients under medication-induced immunosuppression. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in 15,103 articles; finally, 20 articles were included, with 4 reporting longitudinal designs. The detection rate of leprosy ranged from 0.13 to 116.18 per 100,000 patients/year in the USA and Brazil, respectively. In the meta-analysis, the detection rate of cases of leprosy per 100,000 immunosuppressed patients with rheumatic diseases was 84 (detection rate = 0.00084; 95% CI = 0.0000-0.00266; I2 = 0%, p = 0.55). CONCLUSION: Our analysis showed that leprosy was relatively frequently detected in medication-induced immunosuppressed patients suffering from rheumatological diseases, and further studies are needed. The lack of an active search for leprosy in the included articles precluded more precise conclusions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This review is registered in PROSPERO with the registry number CRD42018116275 .

Spontaneous expulsion of a submucosal uterine fibroid without embolization in a pre-menopausal woman.

Uterine leiomyomas are benign tumors that develop from smooth muscle tissue and are present in up to 77% of women in menacme. They are often asymptomatic but can cause pelvic pain, compression, abnormal uterine bleeding, and degeneration. We present the first case report of a perimenopausal woman who exhibited complete and spontaneous expulsion of uterine fibroids without embolization or use of medication. She complained of a mass extruding from the vaginal orifice associated with bleeding and pain for a couple of hours. The anatomopathological findings showed a myomatous lesion. Complete expulsion of a uterine fibroid is a rare condition that may be associated with profuse hemorrhage and can pose a risk to the patient. When it occurs during perimenopause, it can mimic several clinical conditions. Therefore, gynecologists must remain alert to make the correct diagnosis and treatment.

An alternative approach to vaginal dilation in patients with Meyer-Rokitanski-Küster-Hauser syndrome: two case reports.

Vaginal dilation, currently considered as the first-line therapy for vaginal aplasia in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, is a safe and effective treatment that aims to create a functional neovagina. However, rigid vaginal dilators classically described in the literature usually cause physical discomfort and side effects that can lead to vaginal necrosis. Here, we present two cases of MRKH syndrome patients with vaginal agenesis whose main complaint was the inability to have sexual intercourse with their partners. Considering unavailability of acrylic dilators and previous studies reporting good responses with the use of silicone dilators in women with post-radiotherapy vaginal stenosis, the medical team and patients opted for creation of a neovagina through the daily use of silicone vaginal dilators. Patient 1 developed an 8-cm vagina after 6 months of treatment and had a satisfactory sex life with her partner. Patient 2 developed a 7-cm vagina and reported significant symptom improvement. None of the patients developed side effects after the treatment. The use of inexpensive and easily accessible silicone vaginal dilators may be an effective and noninvasive alternative with few side effects for women with vaginal agenesis, particularly in the developing countries.

A case of swyer syndrome associated with advanced gonadal dysgerminoma involving long survival.

Swyer syndrome is caused by abnormal sex differentiation during the embryonic period, resulting in incomplete intrauterine masculinization and undifferentiated gonads. The current case report describes a patient with Swyer syndrome associated with stage 3 gonadal dysgerminoma who has survived for 23 years. At age 18, this patient sought assistance for primary amenorrhea from the Gynecological Services Department of the University of Brasília Hospital. A physical examination revealed that the patient was at Tanner stage 4 with respect to axillary hair, breasts, and pubic hair; she presented with a eutrophic vagina and a small cervix. She was treated with a combination of estrogens and progestogens to induce cycling. Approximately 4 years later, a complex tumor was found and resected; a histopathological analysis revealed that this tumor was a right adnexal dysgerminoma with peritoneal affection. The patient was also subjected to chemotherapy. Her follow-up has continued to the present time, with no signs of tumor recurrence. In conclusion, this report describes an extremely rare case in which Swyer syndrome was associated with ovarian dysgerminoma; relative to similar patients, the described patient has survived for an unusually prolonged time.