Efficacy and safety of drospirenone 2 mg/17β-estradiol 1 mg hormone therapy in Korean postmenopausal women

This regulatory post-marketing surveillance study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of drospirenone (DRSP) 2 mg/estradiol (E₂) 1 mg tablet in Korean postmenopausal women. A total of 4,149 patients were enrolled and the study was conducted at 207 clinical research centers. The patients' source data was collected between November 2006 and November 2012. More than 85% of patients experienced improvement of menopausal symptoms. The most frequently reported adverse events were vaginal bleeding and breast pain; most of the women suffering from these symptoms fully recovered. The incidence of adverse event was higher in patients of younger age (20 to 39 years), in patients with concomitant diseases, previous hormone replacement therapy in medical history, those treated with DRSP 2 mg/E₂ 1 mg for shorter duration (3 years or less) and in patients using concomitant medication. In conclusion, the results from this large post-marketing surveillance study confirm the efficacy and safety of DRSP 2 mg/E₂ 1 mg tablet in Korean postmenopausal women.

Four Consecutive Recurrent Abortions in Patient with Essential Thrombocythemia

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is characterized by most cases in which platelet counts exceed 1 million/µL. ET is usually no symptoms during non-pregnancy, but arterial and venous thrombosis and hemorrhage may develop in pregnancy. Pregnancy in these patients is associated with many complications in both pregnant women and fetuses such as recurrent abortion, intrauterine fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. In these patients, aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and interferon alpha (INF-α) are recommended during pregnancy. We report a case of four consecutive abortions despite being treated with INF-α, low dose aspirin, and LMWH in patient with ET.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Following Meningitis in Pregnancy

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical-neuroradiological entity characterized by headache, vomiting, mental change, and seizures as well as images suggesting leptomeningeal edema involving in most cases posterior regions of the brain, as proven by magnetic resonance imaging. PRES occurred in association with severe infection, autoimmune disease, post-chemotherapy, and preeclampsia-eclampsia. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. The most common causes of meningitis are viral and bacterial infections. While PRES is usually reversible, the early recognition and treatment of this syndrome is important to prevent permanent neurological disorders. The treatment is elimination of causal factors. We report a rare case of PRES after meningitis during pregnancy being treated with medical and rehabilitation treatment.

Meigs' Syndrome with Elevated Cancer Antigen 125

Meigs' syndrome is a fibroma associated with ascites and/or pleural effusion and several cases have been reported in association with elevated serum cancer antigen (CA) 125 level. We report here on a 72-year-old woman who presented with palpable huge pelvic mass. Abdomen and pelvic computed tomography showed a heterogenous huge pelvic mass measuring 210×110 mm with large amount of ascites. No pleural effusion was detected on chest X-ray. CA 125 level was 327 IU/mL. The patient underwent laparotomy during which a mass measuring 210×110 mm was detected in her right ovary with 1,000 mL of ascites. Histology showed ovarian fibroma. We performed total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Postmenopausal woman with ovarian tumor, ascites, and elevated CA 125 may indicate malignant ovarian tumor, but Meigs' syndrome must be considered as differential diagnosis.