Efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose for treatment of iron deficiency anemia diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy: A case-control study.

AIM: To assess the efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (IV FCM) for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) diagnosed de novo in the third trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: Case-control study conducted in pregnant women with IDA newly diagnosed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Women treated with a single IV FCM injection were included as cases and those who received daily 210 g of oral ferrous sulphate (FS) as controls. Controls were matched to cases in a 2:1 ratio by basal hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (±0.5 g/dl). RESULTS: A total of 35 cases and 70 controls were included in the study. The mean Hb concentration level significantly increased after iron treatment in both cases (from 9.3 ± 0.8 to 11.1 ± 0.8 g/dl, p < 0.0001) and controls (from 9.6 ± 0.9 to 10.9 ± 1 g/dl, p < 0.0001). The rate of women who exceeded the recommended threshold of 11 g/dl after treatment did not significantly differ between cases (63% (95%CI, 45%-79%)) and controls (56% (95%CI, 44%-68%)) (p = 0.48). Comparison of maternal and neonatal outcomes and adverse effects did not show any significant difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that IV FCM and oral FS can be considered equally effective in the treatment of IDA newly detected in the third trimester of pregnancy.

A gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist versus a continuous oral contraceptive pill in the treatment of bladder endometriosis.

A prospective comparative clinical trial was done in a tertiary referral center for the treatment of endometriosis in 10 patients with bladder detrusor endometriosis: five were treated with a continuous oral contraceptive (OC) and another five with a GnRH agonist. Continuous OC therapy may be effective in the short-term treatment of bladder endometriosis.

Laparoscopically assisted uterovestibular anastomosis in patients with uterine cervix atresia and vaginal aplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical technique and the long-term anatomic and functional results of laparoscopically assisted uterovestibular anastomosis. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): Twelve consecutive patients with uterine cervix atresia and vaginal aplasia. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopically assisted uterovestibular anastomosis was performed in all patients. Follow-up assessments at 1, 6, and 12 months included pelvic examination, transvaginal ultrasonography, and, in selected cases, vaginoscopy and hysteroscopy. Subsequent follow up was done by referring physicians or by means of telephone interview. Mean follow-up was 6 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Intra- and postoperative characteristics and anatomic and functional outcome. RESULT(S): The surgical procedure was successful in all cases and all of the women have experienced regular menstruation. At 6-month follow-up, mean vaginal length was 6 cm and at least 80% of neovaginal epithelium was iodine-positive in all patients. Six women were sexually active during follow-up without difficulty. None have yet attempted to seek a pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): The study shows the safety and effectiveness of a laparoscopic approach to uterovestibular anastomosis in women with cervical atresia and vaginal aplasia. In these patients, we believe that conservative surgery should represent the first therapeutic option. A longer follow-up is needed to assess pregnancy rates and outcome.