Endometriosis allergic or autoimmune disease: pathogenetic aspects--a case control study.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between endometriosis and pathologies on an immune basis for the possible involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, data of 304 patients with endometriosis and 318 without endometriosis were collected in a uniform manner for both groups and inserted into two databases, respectively, for patients with and without endometriosis. The authors calculated the percentages of patients with allergies, autoimmune diseases, asthma in both groups, and later statistical analysis were performed with two different chi-square tests. RESULTS: The results obtained have shown that patients with endometriosis have a higher prevalence of allergies (p = 0.0003) and coexistence of both allergies and autoimmune diseases (p = 0.0274), compared to those without. CONCLUSIONS: The present study seems to support the possible association between endometriosis and allergic diseases.

A uterus soaked in blood with low haemoglobin in a case of unrecognized uterine sarcoma.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine sarcomas are rare and aggressive tumors. In some cases they can cause rupture of the uterus with or without clinical and radiological symptoms. Therefore, it is important to observe patients with clinical and/or radiological suspicion of sarcoma, even when there are no clinical manifestations. CASE REPORT: A 71-year old woman, who was under the authors' observation for pain in the right iliac fossa. The US and the CT scan showed an abdominal-pelvic mass.Laboratory tests showed a slight but progressive reduction of haemoglobin, which could not be explained by the clinical symptoms and by the results of the imaging tests. During the surgical intervention, a small amount of peritoneal fluid, an increased uterine volume, and a subverted anatomy were observed A haematoma was found in the uterus and this could explain the progressive reduction of haemoglobin and the very low presence of peritoneal effusion. CONCLUSION: The rupture of the uterus could not have been suspected as the patient did not have any type of symptoms, except for the slow and progressive reduction in the haemoglobin value. Therefore, it is important to observe patients with clinical and/or radiological suspicion of sarcoma, even when there are no clinical manifestations.

Ovarian transposition in young women and fertility sparing.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian transposition is a highly effective surgical procedure used to preserve ovarian function in premenopausal patients with cancers requiring postoperative or primary pelvic radiotherapy. Pelvic irradiation determines severe damage of ovarian DNA and iatrogenic ovarian failure with premature menopause, necessity of long-term hormone replacement therapy and infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted an extensive research of the literature in Medline between January 2000 and April 2015 using the key-words "ovarian transposition radiotherapy", "radiotherapy gonadal function", radiotherapy fertility sparing". The population included young women with normal ovarian function affected by cancers that required pelvic radiotherapy. We have examined 32 articles reporting on 1189 women undergoing ovarian transposition. Median age was 32.5 years, follow up was median 48 months. The procedure has been performed in patients less than 40 years of age. Surgery has been achieved by laparotomy or laparoscoy. We have analyzed effects of radiotherapy on ovarian function. RESULTS: The proportion of women treated by ovarian transposition preserved ovarian function was 70%. About 86% of patients did not develop ovarian cysts and in 98-99% of cases did not occur any metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian transposition is associated with significant preservation of ovarian function and a low frequency of complications as cysts and metastasis. In 31% of cases the procedure can fail. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian transposition and the follow up. Ovarian transposition should be discussed at the time of cancer diagnosis in every premenopausal woman requiring pelvic radiotherapy.

External-beam radiotherapy and/or HDR brachytherapy in postoperative endometrial cancer patients: clinical outcomes and toxicity rates.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to evaluate local disease control, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and local relapse-free survival (LRFS) in patients with endometrial cancer undergoing adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VBT )± external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2007 to February 2011, 40 patients with endometrial cancer were retrospectively analysed. Surgery consisted of total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without node dissection (16 patients) or with bilateral pelvic node dissection (24 patients). The stage distribution was as follows: two IA, nine IB, 12 IC, five IIA, eight IIB, two IIIA and two IIIC. Thirty-four patients underwent EBRT and VBT. Six patients received VBT alone. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 26 months. The 5-year OS and DFS were 96.4% and 86.9%, respectively. No local recurrence was observed. Four patients presented distant disease (three had lung metastases and one had hepatic node metastases). Acute EBRT-related toxicities were seen in 15 (38%) patients. We recorded late toxicities in 14 patients (35%). There was no evidence of grade 3-4 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant EBRT and/or VBT in patients with endometrial cancer showed good outcomes in terms of local disease control, with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Follow-up in a long-term randomized trial with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for squamous cell cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy to achieve radical surgery in a larger number of patients with locally advanced/or bulky Stage IB cervical carcinoma. We conducted a trial to determine whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy would improve disease-free survival and overall survival in Stage IB-III cervical cancer. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical study with long-term follow-up. SETTING: Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Child Health, II Faculty University of Rome "La Sapienza". METHODS: 288 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, FIGO Stage IB-IIIB were randomized to one of the following treatments: three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin (NACT arm; n = 159); conventional surgery or exclusive radiotherapy (CONV arm; n = 129). There was no difference in age, FIGO stage, tumor size and lymph node involvement between the two groups (p = ns). Two hundred and thirty-four patients in Stage IB-IIb (n = 129 NACT arm and n = 105 CONV arm) and 24 patients in Stage III (NACT arm) who proved to be chemosensitive underwent radical hysterectomy. Six Stage III patients, non responders to chemotherapy, and 24 patients, Stage III of the CONV arm, underwent radiotherapy. Follow-up extended for seven years. RESULTS: The study was performed on disease-free survival related to several prognostic factors: age, FIGO stage, tumor size, grading, parametrial involvement, lymph node status and surgical margins. Recurrence of disease occurred in 49 (32.1%) patients of the NACT arm (n = 153) and in 39 (37.1%). patients of the CONV arm (n = 105). Statistically significant differences in the recurrence of the disease were related to FIGO stage (p < 003), grading (p < .05), parametrial involvement (p < .002) lymph node status (p < .0001) and tumor size (p <.002). No statistical significance was related to age and surgical margins (p = ns). Disease-free and overall survival in the two groups were, respectively, 65.4% vs 53.5% (p = ns) and 70.4% 65.9% (p = ns).

Adjuvant chemotherapy versus radiation therapy after radical surgery in high-risk positive node stage IB/IIA cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy will improve the outcomes of high-risk patients with Stage IB, IIA squamous cervical carcinoma with positive pelvic and/or aortic nodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 127 patients with Stage IB and IIA cervical carcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic pelvic/aortic lymphadenectomy (RS) and who had lymph node involvement, confirmed at the final histological examination were enrolled from January 1987 to December 2001. All the patients received three cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) with cisplatin, bleomycin and vinblastine. The median patient age was 47.3. Seventy-seven patients had FIGO Stage IB1, 26 IB2 and 24 IIA. The results were compared with those obtained from a group of 136 patients with comparable age, stage and lymph node involvement, on whom radical surgery, systematic pelvic/aortic lymphadenectomy (RS) and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was performed on period 1971-1984. The followup period ranged from 7-13 years. RESULTS: Overall survival rate of the two groups (RS+AC) vs (RS+RT) at seven years was 69.3% and 59.5%, respectively (chi2 = 2.70; p = .10). Progression-free survival was 59.8% vs 50.0% (chi2 = 2.56; p = .10 ns). The best results were however obtained with the common iliac and over two lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk patients for lymph node positivity did not produce statistically significant results in terms of overall and disease-free survival vs adjuvant radiotherapy; however, a group of these patients, approximately 10%, could receive benefit from the treatment.

Occurrence of malignancy in endometrial polyps during postmenopause.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of endometrial polyp malignancy in pre- and postmenopausal women with or without symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 351 patients with endometrial polyps diagnosed by hysteroscopy. RESULTS: Histological findings of biopsies obtained by operative hysteroscopy confirmed the presence of a simple endometrial polyp in 179 cases, polyps with typical simple hyperplasia in 42 cases, polyps with typical complex hyperplasia in 24 cases, polyps with atypical complex hyperplasia in three cases; carcinomatous polyps in seven cases; atrophic polyps in 17 cases; functional polyps in 56 cases; and inadequate sample in 23 cases. All seven patients with adenocarcinoma were symptomatic; six out of seven patients with adenocarcinoma were in postmenopause and one was in premenopause. The association between menopausal status and symptoms, and the presence of a malignant lesion was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that prevalence of endometrial polyp malignant transformation was < or = 2.84% in postmenopausal and symptomatic patients.

Reliability of oupatient endometrial brush cytology vs biopsy in postmenopausal symptomatic women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outpatient endometrial sampling cytology with conventional biopsy in postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding and/or abnormal endometrial thickness at ultrasound. METHOD: Between December 2003 and December 2009 a group of 1,056 postmenopausal women was referred to the Department of Gynecological Sciences, Perinatology an Child Health II Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome, S.Andrea Hospital. Four hundred and eighty-two patients (45.6%) had abnormal uterine bleeding and 602 (57.0%) showed an endometrial thickness > 5 mm at ultrasound. Patients on hormonal therapy (n = 194) including hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) or tamoxifen (TMX), were enrolled in the study. Endometrial cytologic sampling was performed using a brush device (EBC) while endometrial histological sampling was retrieved using a Novak curette. Histologic evaluation showed: a) malignant neoplasia b) atypical hyperplasia c) benign pathology d) normal or atrophic endometrium. The following points were investigated: a) failure in performing a procedure for cervical stenosis or pelvic pain; b) nondiagnostic specimens; c) diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Evidence in score pain differences between brush and curette endometrial samples were observed: 50% of patients undergoing brush cytology had lower pain scores (chi-square = 288.33; p = .001), whereas 60% of patients undergoing endometrial biopsy had higher pain scores (chi-square = 264.84; p = .001). The failure rate in performing procedures was 8.0% vs 4.1%, and the results were statistically significant on the McNemar test, respectively p = .01 and p = .001. A nondiagnostic specimen was obtained in 3.9% of cases by EBC, and 10.3% of cases by the Novak curette (p = .001). Cytological evaluation had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 99%, positive and negative predictive value of 97% and 100% for diagnosing malignant neoplasia. Cytology had high diagnostic accuracy for atypical hyperplasia: sensitivity 100%, specificity 99%, positive and negative predictive value 83% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EBC is a reliable, well tolerated outpatient diagnostic tool for endometrial sampling in detecting early-stage cancer in postmenopausal patients at high risk for endometrial cancer.

Breast density changes associated with hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women. Effects on the specificity and sensitivity of mammographic screening.

Postmenopausal HRT use is associated with an increase of mammographic density and reduction of sensitivity and specificity of mammography results and an increase of false-positive and false-negative outcomes. The increased density does not allow a good evaluation of the exam. Mammographic density is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, but the link between changes in breast density and difference in breast cancer risk, remain uncertain. On the other hand, today specific guidelines and protocols to optimize the screening of neoplastic breast pathology in HRT users do not exist and it is unknown if short-term suspension of therapy improves mammographic sensitivity. More information is required to define this important risk factor.

Transcervical hysteroscopic myomectomy: long-term effects on abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of hysteroscopic myomectomy in the treatment of symptomatic submucous leiomyomas and long-term outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 107 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (n = 84) and/or infertility (n = 23) were submitted to hysteroscopic resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: control of menorrhagia and reproductive outcome. RESULTS: Abnormal uterine bleeding was controlled in 68 out of 84 patients with one procedure; 15 needed a second procedure for incomplete resection. Five patients had menorrhagic pathology relapse. Among 23 patients with associated infertility pregnancy was achieved in eight cases, seven went to term and one miscarried; one patient needed a second procedure. The mean follow-up was 36 months (24-60). Three patients were lost at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Transcervical hysteroscopic resection of submucous myomas is effective for control of abnormal uterine bleeding. Further studies are needed to define the value of such procedure in the treatment of infertility. Short and long-term results are strictly correlated to the possibility of obtaining a complete resection, which is conditioned by degree (0, 1, 2) and number of myomas.

Antiestrogenic therapy in breast cancer and endometrial modifications.

The aim of this retrospective study was to detect endometrial lesions in tamoxifen breast cancer users (menopausal state related). The meaning of genital bleeding during the treatment and the actual incidence of benign and malignant pathology of the endometrium related to length of treatment was also evaluated. Tamoxifen (TMX) is a nonsteroidal triphenylene derivate with clear antiestrogenic properties on the breast which is used as adjuvant treatment for breast cancer; potential adverse effects include endometrial lesions. Three hundred and sixty-six breast cancer patients were enrolled in this study; 292 patients were treated with 20 mg/daily of TMX as adjuvant therapy and the remaining 74 did not receive therapy. All patients were subdivided in premenopausal and postmenopausal, asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. All patients underwent ultrasound scans (to examine endometrial thickness) and hysteroscopic examinations before treatment and after one, three and five years. Endometrial biopsy under direct hysteroscopic vision was systematically performed. The pathological histology reports were classified under polyps, simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and carcinoma. A higher incidence of endometrial pathology was found only in symptomatic postmenopausal TMX treated patients (27.2% vs 19.5%) between the third and fifth year of treatment.

Microsurgery versus laparoscopy in distal tubal obstruction hysterosalpingographically or laparoscopically investigated.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy rates after laparotomic microsurgical or laparoscopic distal tuboplasty. DESIGN: Two hundred and twenty-four women with infertility due to distal tubal occlusion were randomized to be treated with either laparotomy or laparoscopy from 1987 to 2001 at the Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome, "La Sapienza". RESULTS: The results were evaluated taking into account the type of surgical approach, the severity of tubal damage and of adhesions. After a 24-month follow-up period, the overall pregnancy rate obtained with microsurgery was 43.7%, of which 33.3% were term pregnancies, 5.0% abortions, and 5.0% ectopic pregnancies. After laparoscopy, the overall pregnancy rate was 41.6%, of which 29.1% were term pregnancies, 8.3% abortions and 3.9% ectopic pregnancies. No significant differences was observed between the two groups in terms of fertility rate (chi-square 0.016, p = 0.9003). CONCLUSIONS: Laparotomy plus microsurgery and laparoscopy were equally effective in restoring fertility in women with comparable tubal damage. The severity of the damage is a critical factor for the results.

Hormonal replacement therapy and evaluation of intrauterine pathology in postmenopausal women: a ten-year study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in determining: a) abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB); b) increased endometrial thickness at transvaginal sonography (TVS); c) the correct indication for outpatient hysteroscopy (HS) and biopsy in diagnosing intrauterine pathology. METHODS: Between April 1991 and April 2001 a group of 3,400 postmenopausal women was referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Rome University "La Sapienza"; 16.7% of them had received HRT. 587 out of the 3,400 women were recruited for a comparative study, including four groups. To assess statistical significance of HRT in determining AUB, and/or endometrial thickness related to malignant disease the chi-square test was used; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Histology was considered the true result (control). RESULTS: An increase in the endometrial thickness occurred significantly more often in women on HRT (p < 0.03); as well as the percentage of AUB (p < 0.0001). No difference in the incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma was reported between the HRT and the non HRT groups. CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal women using HRT we can confirm that a higher incidence of signs (AUB, endometrial thickness > or = 5 mm) does not coincide with a higher incidence of malignant pathology. The data obtained from the recruited patients was arranged and evaluated by the most suitable methods for screening endometrial adenocarcinoma. According to our experience, we believe a cut-off point of 8 mm to be significant (p < 0.001) to perform an hysteroscopy and biopsy except for asymptomatic patients on HRT.

Laparoscopic surgery in treatment of stage IIb cervical cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: A detailed operative procedure of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (type III) with pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemoterapy in treatment of Stage IIb cervical cancer is described. CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old patient with Stage IIb squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, who initially was not surgically resectable, received three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy that included ifosfamide 5 g/m2, cisplatin 50 mg/m2 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (TIP). Following a partial clinical response to chemotherapy, the patient underwent laparoscopic type III radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The surgical procedure lasted 250 minutes. Blood loss was 310 ml. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. The mean length of the resected parametria and paracolpia was 4.1 cm and 2.0 cm, respectively. The number of dissected lymph nodes was 48:29 pelvic and 19 paraaortic nodes. No major intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The patient also underwent adjuvant radiation therapy. Follow-up was performed at six months so far. CONCLUSIONS: This experience suggests that such a surgical procedure is safe. Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy potentially allows for decreased perioperative morbidity and blood loss, faster recovery and better cosmetic results. Large studies with long term follow-up are needed to confirm that this approach may be proposed as an alternative to conventional surgery.

[Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy Gasless. Retrospective study in patients with uterine fibroids]. / Colpoisterectomia con assistenza laparoscopica Gasless. Studio retrospettivo per uteri voluminosi.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility to perform laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy in patients who were not suitable for vaginal hysterectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LAVH Gasless was carried out on 31 patients with uterine fibroids. Uterine weight ranged of 420-800 gr. RESULTS: There were 2 laparotomy conversion (6%) for uterus 800 gr; median operating time was 79 +/- 18 minutes (range 75-89); the average haemoglobin drop was 1.7 +/- 0.9 g/dl; the mean in postoperative stay was 3.7 +/- 0.7 days (range 3-5). Febrile morbidity > 38 degrees C were found in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic assistance has advantages in performing transection of round and infundibolo-pelvic ligaments in vaginal steps and in controlling post-operative blood loss.

Does adjuvant chemotherapy improve the prognosis of cervical carcinoma with lymph-node metastasis? A long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: to verify the efficacy of adjuvant therapy in the prevention of neoplastic recurrence in patients at high risk for lymph-node involvement on surgical examination. METHODS: 72 patients, suffering from squamous cell cervical carcinoma Stage IB-IIB (FIGO) who underwent radical hysterectomy with lymph-node involvement confirmed at the final histological examination, were enrolled. All the patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), which included cisplatin, bleomycin and vinblastine, and were followed for a minimum period of six years. The results were compared with those obtained with a historical group of 78 patients, with comparable age, stage and lymph-node involvement, on whom only radical surgery (RS) was performed. RESULTS: the average total survival rate of the two groups (RS + AC vs RS) at five years was 63.9% and 55.1%, respectively (chi2 = 1.191; p = NS). The disease-free interval was 55.6% vs 46.2% (chi2 = 1.324; p = NS). The best results were obtained in cases where the common iliac lymph-nodes were affected, with the highest survival rate of 16.9% in the RS+AC group, out of a total of 25 cases. CONCLUSIONS: adoption of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients at high risk for lymph-node positivity did not produce statistically significant results in terms of overall and disease-free survival; however, a small number of these patients, approximately 9%, could receive benefit from the treatment.

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for squamous cell cervical cancer (Ib-IIIb): a long-term randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: to verify whether a regimen of preventive chemotherapy in the treatment of cervical carcinoma allows surgical treatment in a larger number of patients and whether cases treated with this combined neoadjuvant polychemotherapy/surgery regimen improves overall and disease-free survival rates. DESIGN: prospective randomized clinical study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Rome "La Sapienza". METHODS: 192 patients suffering from squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in Stages Ib-IIb were randomized to one of the following treatments: three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin (NACT arm; n = 106); conventional surgery or radiotherapy alone (CO arm; n = 86). One hundred and fifty-six patients in Stage Ib-IIb (n = 86, NACT arm and n = 70, CO arm) and 16 patients in Stage III (NACT arm) who proved to be sensitive to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, underwent radical hysterectomy. Four Stage III patients not sensitive to chemotherapy and 16 patients, Stage III, of the CO arm underwent radiotherapy. RESULTS: the 5-year overall survival rates for the NACT and CO arm, respectively, were 78.6% and 73.2% in Stages Ib-IIa (p = NS), 68.7% and 64.3% in Stage IIb (p = NS). A 5-year disease-free survival rate for the NACT arm and CO arm, respectively, of 77.1% and 64.3% in Stages Ib-IIa (p < .05), 56.2% and 57.1% in Stage IIb (p = NS) was found. CONCLUSIONS: the responsiveness of cervical cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy allows surgical treatment in a larger number of patients and results in longer overall and disease-free survival.

[Effects of tamoxifen and estrogen replacement therapy on lipid metabolism and some other cardiovascular risk factors. A prospective study in hysterectomised women]. / Effetti del tamoxifene e della terapia estrogenica sostitutiva sul metabolismo lipidico e su altri fattori di rischio cardiovascolare. Studio prospettico in donne isterectomizzate.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the relationship of tamoxifen and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in hysterectomised women. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1998, 93 women were recruited for a prospective study with follow-up at 0, 12 and 24 months. All women had an increased risk of breast cancer and they were hysterectomised and ovariectomised for a benign pathology. They were divided according to the following categories: Group A was constituted of 26 (28%) symptomatic patients (hot flushes, depression) who had received tamoxifen and oral conjugated estrogens. Group B was constituted of 27 (29%) symptomatic patients who had received tamoxifen and transdermal 17B-estradiol. Group C was constitued of 19 (21%) asymptomatic patients who had received only tamoxifen. Group D (control) was constitued of 21 (22%) asymptomatic patients who had not received any therapy. A venous blood sample for total cholesterol levels (T-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TRG), fibrinogen (FBR), platelets (PLT) and antithrombin III (AT III) was taken during follow-up. ANOVA (repeated measures) was used to assess statistical significance: p<0.05 was considered significant (95% CI). RESULTS: The patients who received tamoxifen with or without estrogen replacement therapy showed after 24 months, a reduction of T-C, LDL-C and FBR (p<0.01); the HDL-C levels did not vary significantly compared to the control group (p=NS); the 26 patients of group A showed an increase of HDL-C (p<0.02). We reported an increase of TRG in the patients of group A and C (p<0.05); on the contrary, we obtained a significant reduction of TRG (p<0.01) in the patients who received tamoxifen and transdermal 17B-estradiol (group B). There was no interaction on plateled count (p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the administration of tamoxifen in hysterectomised women with a high risk of breast cancer and without climateric symptoms. In these patients, tamoxifen could reduce coronary heart disease and incidence of breast cancer. The symptomatic patients are suggested to receive tamoxifen and transdermal 17B-estradiol because of the better effects on lipid metabolism.

[Hyperemesis gravidarum--etiology and treatment]. / Eziologia e trattamento dell'iperemesi gravidica.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a common pathology encountered by the obstetrician in 0.1-2% of all pregnancies. The purpose of our review, along with other literature, is to report general outline of the syndrome, with etiology, complications and some guidelines about conventional and newer therapy.