Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(6):288-294
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000600005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the performance of the combined first trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities in a group of the Brazilian population. METHODS: a retrospective study including pregnant women with single fetuses referred to a fetal medicine center to perform the first trimester screening that combines maternal age, nuchal translucency measurement and two maternal serum biochemical markers: free B-hCG and PAPP-A. To evaluate the performance of the test, the detection rate, specificity, negative and positive predicted values and false-positive rates were calculated, considering as high risk the cut-off value above 1 in 300. RESULTS: we studied 456 patients submitted to the test. Advanced maternal age above 35 years was observed in 36.2% of cases. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the study population was 2.2%. Twenty-one patients (4.6%) presented a high risk (above 1:300) by the combined test. Using this cut-off level, the detection rate of the test was 70% for all chromosomal abnormalities and 83.3% for trisomy 21, for a false-positive rate of 3.1%. CONCLUSIONS: the combined first trimester screening was effective to detect chromosomal abnormalities, mainly for trisomy 21, with low false-positive rates. The combined test contributed to decreasing the indication of an invasive test if we compare to maternal age alone as a risk factor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(6):295-302
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000600006
PURPOSE: To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and their risk factors associated with postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional clinical study was performed on 431 women (aged 40 - 75 years). Inclusion criteria: amenorrhea >12 months and age >45 years or, bilateral oophorectomy >40 years with BMD values (T-score of lumbar spine/femur neck) by DXA of the last 12 months. Risk factors evaluated: age, age and time of menopause, smoking, physical activity (30 min/5 times/week), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), use of corticotherapy and hormone therapy (HT), previous fracture, maternal hip fracture and body mass index (BMI=weight/height²). The χ2 test and the logistic regression method (Odds Ratio - OR) were used to determine osteoporosis risk. RESULTS: According to WHO criteria, 106 (24.6%) women showed osteoporosis (T-score <-2.5 DP), 188 (43.6%) osteopenia (-1.0/-2.4 DP), and 137 (31.8%) were normal (>-1.0 DP). Osteoporosis was detected in 12% of women aged 40 - 49 years, in 21.8% of women aged 50 - 59 years and in 45.7% of women aged >60 years (p<0.001). Osteoporosis occurred in 11.8% of women with a menopause period <5 years, in 29.4% with a menopause period from 6 to 10 years, and in 41% of women with a menopause period >10 years (p<0.001). Of the women with early menopause, 80% showed osteopenia/osteoporosis (p=0.03), and of those with BMI <20 kg/m², 50% were osteoporotic (p<0.001). The risk for osteoporosis detection increased with age (OR=1.1; CI95%=1.0-1.1), time of menopause (OR=1.1; CI95%=1.0-1.1), smoking (OR=1.9; CI95%=1.2-3.2), RA (OR=3.6; CI95%=1.3-9.6) and maternal fracture history (OR=2.1; CI95%=1.1-3.0) (p<0.05). In contrast, HT use (OR=0.3; 95%CI=0.2-0.6) and high BMI (OR=0.9; 95%CI=0.8-0.9) reduced the risk (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women, age, time of menopause, smoking and maternal history of fracture were clinical indicators of risk for osteoporosis, whereas HT use and high BMI proved to be protective factors.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(6):303-309
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000600007
PURPOSE: Due to the scarce information available in Brazil in relation to the number of women who initiated the use of combined oral contraceptives and prematurely discontinued, the objective was to assess the reasons for discontinuation of the use of several combined oral contraceptives among Brazilian women living in urban areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 400 gynecologists registered withy the Brazilian Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Each physician interviewed 10 non-pregnant, not breastfeeding, not amenorrheic women aged 18 to 39 years who consulted requesting combined oral contraceptive (COC) with a questionnaire at the beginning of use and at six months later. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, type of COC chosen or prescribed and reasons for discontinuation when it occurred during follow-up. The strategy of selection allowed the inclusion of women from different socioeconomic strata, however, only those attended at private or insurance offices. The sample size was estimated at 1,427 women. RESULTS: A total of 3,465 interviews were conducted at the first visit and 1,699 six months later. The women were 20 to 29 years old, 57.3% were single and an equal proportion of 45.0% attended high school or college. Most (60.7%) were nulligravidas and among those who had used some contraceptive before, 71.8% had used a COC. Among the more prescribed or chosen COC the most prevalent were monophasic with ethynil estradiol (20 µg) and regarding progestin the most prevalent was with gestodene (36.5%) followed by a COC with drosperinone (22.0%). At six months 63.5% still used COC. Among those who discontinued the main reasons were wishing to become pregnant (36.5%) and side effects (57.3%) and the most prevalent were headache (37.6%), weight gain (16.6%) and irregular bleeding (23.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The continuation rate of COC was low at six months and this study could contribute to a better counseling on the part of physicians of patients who initiate COC about side-events that are rare, minimal and temporary and about the benefits of COC use.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(6):310-316
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000600008
PURPOSE: To compare the metabolic characteristics of obese and non-obese young women with polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) from the Brazilian Southeast. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 218 women of reproductive age with a diagnosis of POS - 90 non-obese women (BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m²), and 128 obese patients (BMI >30 kg/m²) selected at the time of diagnosis. The frequency of insulin resistance (IR), glucose intolerance (GI), metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and mean values of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), were compared between obese and non-obese patients with POS. The two groups were also compared in terms of clinical and hormonal characteristics (follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, total testosterone, dihydroepiandrostenedione sulfate, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone). Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS 9.0 software. Quantitative variables were compared by the Student´s t-test (data with normal distribution) or by the Mann-Whitney test (non-parametric distribution). Qualitative variables were compared by the Fisher test. The level of significance was set at 5% (p<0.05) in all analyses. RESULTS: The frequency of IR, GI and MetS was significantly higher in obese than non-obese patients with POS (66.7, 29.9, and 63% versus 24.7, 12.2, and 16.4%, respectively). Obese patients had higher TC and TG levels (189.8±35.8 mg/dL and 145.4±71.1 mg/dL, respectively) than non-obese patients (172.1±38.4 mg/dL and 99.3±54 mg/dL, respectively). Both groups had mean HDL levels below 50 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Young obese women with POS have a higher frequency of IR, GI and MS than non-obese. However, the occurrence of metabolic disorders is elevated also in the non-obese patients, suggesting that the presence of the syndrome may favor the development of metabolic comorbidities with potential medium- and long-term repercussions.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):211-218
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500002
PURPOSE: the aim of this study was to analyze conjoined twins in terms of antenatal, delivery and postnatal aspects. METHODS: a retrospective descriptive analysis of prenatally diagnosed conjoined twins. Prenatal ultrasound and echocardiography, delivery details, postnatal follow-up, surgical separation and post mortem data were reviewed. The twins were classified according to the type of fusion between fetal structures. The following data were analyzed: ultrasound and echocardiographic findings, antenatal lethality and possibility of surgical separation, delivery details and survival rates. RESULTS: forty cases of conjoined twins were included in the study. There were 72.5% cases of thoracophagus, 12.5% of paraphagus, 7.5% of omphalo-ischiophagus, 5.0% of omphalophagus, and 2.5% of cephalophagus. Judicial termination of pregnancy was requested in 58.8% of the cases. Cesarean section was performed in all cases in which pregnancy was not terminated. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks; all twins were live births with a mean birth weight of 3,860 g and 88% died postnatally. Ten percent of the live borns were submitted to surgical separation with a 60% survival rate. The total survival rate was 7.5% and postnatal survival was 12%. Antenatal evaluation of lethality and possibility of surgical separation were precise. There were no maternal complications related to delivery. CONCLUSION: conjoined twins present a dismal prognosis mainly related to the complex cardiac fusion present in the majority of cases with thoracic sharing. At referring centers, prenatal ultrasound and echocardiographic evaluation accurately delineate fetal prognosis and the possibility of postnatal surgical separation.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):219-224
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500003
To compare the sexual function of healthy adult pregnant women with that of gestational diabetes patients (GDM) in the third trimester. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled two groups of women managed antenatal care clinics. Inclusion criteria were: maternal age .20 years, gestational age at least 28 weeks, being in a heterosexual relationship with the same partner for at least 6 months, and being able to read. We excluded women with a medical recommendation for sexual abstinence due to clinical or obstetric disorders; hypertension controlled through medications; pregnancy resulting from rape; absent or sexually unavailable partner in the last month; hospital admission in the last month; use of vaginal creams in the last 30 days; multiple pregnancy, regular use of alcohol or illicit drugs or use of medications that can interfere with sexual function. Eighty-seven patients fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the study. The Sexual Quotient . Feminine Version (QS-F) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function. Student's t and X² tests were used to compare differences between groups and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of the participants was 34 weeks. There were no significant differences in the mean QS-F scores between groups (62.5 healthy vs 62.8 GDM women, p=0.9). Approximately half the participants (47 and 47.5% of the healthy and GDM women, respectively, p=0.9) had total scores up to 60, indicative of dysfunction in one of the assessed domains (desire, sexual satisfaction, arousal, orgasm, dyspareunia and vaginismus). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high among women in the third trimester of pregnancy and did not differ significantly between healthy women and women with GDM.