Ella Asseryanis

Primary pulmonary hypertenson in pregnancy: A case report

Abstract Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare, incurable, and progressive disease. When it is associated with pregnancy, the mortality rises to >50%. We report a patient who was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension of unknown cause in the twenty-second week of gestation. She was treated with an oral calcium-channel blocker and low-molecular-weight heparin and underwent delivery by cesarean section with good maternal and fetal outcome. Patients with severe pulmonary hypertension should, however, avoid pregnancy because of the high mortality, although cases have been reported with positive outcome.

The effects of hormone substitution in depot form on the uterus in a group of 50 perimenopausal women — a vaginosonographic study

The aim of our study was to examine the effects of hormone replacement on the size of the uterus and the development or increase of myomatas. Fifty perimenopausal women were included in the study (53.8 +/- 5.0 years). Patients received a substitution therapy composed of a combination of 4 mg estradiovalerate and 200 mg prasteronenantate (Gynodian Depot cartridges) given as a muscular injection in 6-10 week intervals (mean 7 weeks +/- 4 days). Prior to the onset of therapy with Gynodian and after a period of 12 months (+/- 13 days) vaginosonography was performed. Measurements taken were length, thickness, height of endometrium, size of ovaries and of myomas. Data obtained were correlated with baseline findings. Within 1 year, significant increases in uterus length from 73.4 mm to 88.2 mm, in uterus thickness from 33.9 mm to 43.5 mm and in endometrium height from 4.1 mm to 6.7 mm were observed (median values). There was an increase in both the number (from 2.2 to 3.5) and the size of the myomatas (29.4-35.0 mm diameter). A statistical analysis conducted by means of the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-rank sum test showed P < 0.001. No significant change occurred in the size of the ovaries. Our study shows that hormone substitution may have an impact on uterus growth and that therefore vaginosonographical monitoring can be recommended.

A new diagnostic method to detect ectopic pregnancy at a very early stage

Abstract We describe for the first time the use of a new ultrasonographic technique of low invasiveness for direct assessment of ectopic pregnancy.

[Placental isoferritin (PLF): early predictor of fetal growth retardation].

Fragestellung: Die Immunreaktion mütterlicher Lymphozyten gegen den Embryo wird für die fetale Wachstumsretardierung mitverantwortlich gemacht. Die Sekretion von plazentarem Isoferritin (PLF) während der Schwangerschaft kann diese Immunreaktion verringern. In dieser multizentrischen Studie soll die Bestimmung von PLF zur Früherkennung einer Wachstumsretardierung untersucht werden. Methodik: Die PLF-Konzentrationen im Serum wurden bei 402 schwangeren Frauen zwischen der 12. und der 16. Schwangerschaftswoche mit Enzym-Immunoassay bestimmt und mit dem Geburtsgewicht, der Perzentile des Geburtsgewichtes und mit dem Gestationsalter verglichen. Ergebnisse: Frauen mit gemäss dem Gestationsalter untergewichtigen Neugeborenen (d.h. auf oder unter der 10. Perzentile des Geburtsgewichtes) wiesen im Vergleich zu Frauen mit normalgewichtigen Kindern (19,9 E/ml, n = 295) signifikant niedrigere (11,4 E/ml, n = 107) Serum-PLF-Konzentrationen auf (p < 0,004). Schlussfolgerung: Die Bestimmung der PLF-Konzentration im Serum während der ersten Hälfte der Schwangerschaft kann ein wichtiger zusätzlicher Parameter sein, um fetale Wachstumsretardierungen frühzeitig zu erkennen.OBJECTIVE Maternal immunoreaction against the embryo can be responsible for fetal growth retardation. The secretion of PLF during pregnancy could be reliable for a diminished immunoreaction of maternal lymphocytes against the embryo. The aim of the present study was to elucidate a possible correlation between PLF and fetal growth retardation. METHODS In this study, blood samples of 402 pregnant women were obtained between the 12th and 16th weeks of gestation. The serum levels of PLF were compared with birth weight, percentile of birth weight, and gestational age. RESULTS Women with children whose birth weight was below or equal to the 10th percentile for gestational age showed significantly lower PLF levels (11.4 U/ml, n = 107) as compared with women whose newborns were of normal weight (19.9 U/ml, n = 295; p < 0.004). CONCLUSION Determination of the PLF level could serve to identify women at risk of having growth-retarded babies.

[A case of Patau syndrome. Fetal heart defect and lip-jaw-palate cleft as indicators].

Diagnosis of a malformation of the heart and a facial cleft and additionally other abnormalities by means of ultrasound. The result of karyotyping was trisomy 13.

A rare case of extra lobar abdominal bronchopulmonary malformation

Extra lobar intra-abdominal anomalies of accessory pulmonary tissue are very rare, with an incidence of 0.02% and have been classified as ‘bronchopulmonary foregut malformations’. Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor, accounting for about 30-50 per cent of tumors evident during the neonatal period. In a 37 year-old woman, abdominal ultrasound screening of the fetus at 20 weeks’ gestation showed a tumor of both cystic and solid consistency located above the left kidney. This tumor was suspected to be fetal neuroblastoma. Surgical exploration one week after delivery revealed an intra-abdominal pulmonary sequestration with associated elements of cystic adenomatoid malformation. Although intra-abdominal pulmonary sequestration with associated elements of cystic adenomatoid malformation is a rare malformation, it should be included as a differential diagnosis when an intraabdominal tumor mass is identified on a fetal ultrasound examination.

Der Einfluss von Leistungssport auf das weibliche Zyklusverhalten am Beispiel Windsurfen

Es wurden an alle weiblichen Mitglieder (n = 60) der osterreichischen Funboardvereinigung (Funboard = sportlich anspruchvollste Windsurfboardklasse) Fragebogen verschickt. Diese enthielten Fragen uber