Epirubicin. A new entry in the list of fetal cardiotoxic drugs? Intrauterine death of one fetus in a twin pregnancy. Case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge indicate that epirubicin administration in late pregnancy is almost devoid of any fetal cardiotoxicity. We report a twin pregnancy complicated by breast cancer in which epirubicin administration was causatively linked to the death of one twin who was small for gestational age (SGA) and in a condition of oligohydramnios and determined the onset of a transient cardiotoxicity of the surviving fetus/newborn. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old caucasic woman with a dichorionic twin pregnancy was referred to our center at 20 and 1/7 weeks for a suspected breast cancer, later confirmed by the histopathology report. At 31 and 3/7 weeks, after the second chemotherapy cycle, ultrasound examination evidenced the demise of one twin while cardiac examination revealed a monophasic diastolic ventricular filling, i.e. a diastolic dysfunction of the surviving fetus who was delivered the following day due to the occurrence of grade II placental abruption. The role of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the death of the first twin was supported by post-mortem cardiac and placental examination and by the absence of structural or genomic abnormalities that may indicate an alternative etiology of fetal demise. The occurrence of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the surviving newborn was confirmed by the report of high levels of troponin and transient left ventricular septal hypokinesia. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings we suggest that epirubicin administration in pregnancy should be preceded by the screening of some fetal conditions like SGA and oligohydramnios that may increase its cardiotoxicity and that, during treatment, the diastolic function of the fetal right ventricle should be specifically monitored by a pediatric cardiologist; also, epirubicin and desamethasone for lung maturation should not be closely administered since placental effects of glucocorticoids may increase epirubicin toxicity

SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission in a twin-pregnant woman. A case report

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) has affected millions of people around the world in the last years. Among susceptible patients, pregnant women seem to be prone to have serious complications. The possibility of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission represents one of the most debated topics in the literature, providing inconclusive results. We present a case of a confirmed vertical transmission in a monochorial diamniotic twin pregnancy complicated by a selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) and gestational diabetes. The analysis of different biological specimens identifies the presence of SARS-CoV2 genome in the umbilical cord blood of both twins and the placental histologic examination confirmed indirect signs of viral infection, supporting the hypothesis that a transplacental infection can occur. Despite the devastating impact that SARS-CoV2 has worldwide, neonatal infections have been infrequently reported but they can occur under certain biologic conditions. A deep knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying the risk of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission might be useful to understand the pathophysiological bases and the possible long-term implication of a mother-to-child vertical transmission

CLIMATERIO E MENOPAUSA

LIBRO DI TESTO PER STUDENTI MEDICIN

[Attitudes toward estrogen replacement therapy. Study conducted on a sample population of women attending an ambulatory care center for the treatment of menopause].

Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment of menopausal disturbances and has an established role in reducing the cardiovascular risk and in preventing the postmenopausal osteoporosis. Nevertheless several reports have evidenced that compliance with hormonal replacement therapy was not as good as expected, and that physician's and women's opinions can strongly influence the HRT choice, and the continuation of HRT use. The aim of this study was to assess the opinions and the expectations of menopausal women toward HRT. PATIENT AND METHODS. We utilized a questionnaire exploring social and affective conditions, and in particular women's opinions and experiences on menopause, hormonal therapy, the possibility of information, the reasons for accepting or refusing hormonal therapy. The questionnaires were administered to 226 menopausal clinic patients (Menopausal age: 2-10 years) in spontaneous menopause. RESULTS. 28% of the women were taking HRT at the time of the survey. Worries about menopause were reported by 27.4% of the group; this percentage was similar in both user and non-user groups. 70% received information on HRT from family doctors, and 63% from mass-media or conversations. 70% believes that the main problem of menopause is osteoporosis, and its prevention represents the most frequent aim that patients feel can be achieved by HRT. 67.5% of the group is afraid that long term treatment can be dangerous, however only 57% asked for detailed information to the doctor. To the question "Are you informed that HRT can reinduce menstrual bleeding?", 57.5% of the patients answered yes; 30% considered it to be a problem. CONCLUSIONS. Our study was carried out in a menopausal clinic and this can influence the answers of the respondents. Most women received some information on HRT, but their knowledge was only partial and did not eliminate the unrational fear of hormone therapy. Although long term use of HRT is to prevent CVD and menopausal osteoporosis, many of our patients specifically asked for treatment to be as short as possible. Women expectations's towards HRT are mainly referred to osteoporosis prevention and treatment: this may be explained by the high frequency of osteoarticular pain found in our patients; nevertheless it is possible that the more rational fear of osteoporosis hides the unconscious fear of a dramatic physical breakdown caused by the menopause. Detailed information to family doctors, to specialists, and to patients along with a further improvement of therapeutic regimens will allow a greater diffusion of HRT, bringing its short and long term benefits to an increasing number of women

Differenze sessuali nel metabolismo dei lipidi e delle lipoproteine plasmatiche

Si ritiene comunemente che gli ormoni sessuali siano importanti regolatori della cinetica dei lipidi plasmatici e siano responsabili dei dismorfismi sessuali del profilo plasmatico dei lipidi e delle lipoproteine. Gli Autori analizzano in questo contesto i risultati di studi che hanno valutato la cinetica dei lipidi e delle lipoproteine plasmatiche nell’uomo e gli effetti della somministrazione esogena di ormoni sessuali alla luce delle odierne conoscenze. È ormai chiaro che le normali alterazioni fisiologiche dell’assetto ormonale (ad esempio, durante la menopausa o durante il ciclo mestruale) non influenzano in modo significativo l’omeostasi dei lipidi e delle lipoproteine plasmatiche. Inoltre, gli estrogeni somministrati per via parenterale o non hanno effetti o hanno effetti favorevoli piuttosto irrilevanti, mentre gli estrogeni somministrati per via orale hanno la capacità di aumentare le concentrazioni plasmatiche dei trigliceridi; un effetto in realtà, non coerente con le differenze sessuali che si osservano, ma che potrebbe essere dovuto all’“effetto di primo passaggio” epatico. Gli effetti dei progestinici e degli androgeni giustificano solo in parte le differenze di concentrazione dei lipidi plasmatici tra uomini e donne. Così, i modulatori fisiologici che sottendono il metabolismo dei lipidi plasmatici responsabili delle differenze tra uomini e donne, restano da chiarire

Different Hormonal Treatment In Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: Effect on the Cardiovascular Risk

Estrogens and progestogens are associated to metabolic changes which may favour the risk of the dvelopment of Cardiovascular Disease, namely Coronary Heart Diseas

LUMBAR AND FEMORAL BONE-DENSITY IN PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH IRREGULAR CYCLES

Objective - The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of irregular cycles on bone mass in perimenopausal women. Setting - University clinic. Patients and Methods - 118 healthy women aged between 45 and 55 years were divided into three groups according to the previous year's menstrual history (premenopause: regular cycles; perimenopause: irregular cycles; early postmenopause: 1-3 years since the last menstrual cycle. Among the perimenopausal group, only women presenting intervals without menstruation longer than 3 months during the year of the study were selected. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and of the proximal femur was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the start of the study and after 12 months. Results - The serum estradiol level was significantly lower in postmenopausal women and the FSH serum level showed a significant increase in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal controls. Bone density at L2-L4, femoral neck, greater trochanter, and total femur did not show significant differences at the beginning of the between-group study. Only the density in Ward's triangle was significantly lower in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. After twelve months the densities of L2-L4, greater trochanter, Ward's triangle, and total femur showed a significant decrease in postmenopausal women in comparison. The perimenopausal group showed a significant decrease in total femur and Ward's triangle density in comparison with premenopausal. Conclusion - The occurrence of marked irregularity of menstrual cycles preceding menopause can influence bone mass, in particular at the femoral site

Evaluation of the body composition and fat distribution in long-term users of hormone replacement therapy

The aim of the study was to evaluate the body composition and fat distribution in long-term users of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). 18 healthy menopausal women, long-term users of HRT (transdermal estradiol 50 microg continuously administered and 10 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone acetate for 12 days/month) and 18 healthy menopausal women, who had never used HRT were included in the study. Age, menopausal age, parity, weight and height (body mass index, weight/height2), and lifestyle habits were similar. Waist and hip circumference, body composition and waist/hip ratio were measured and the results were analyzed. No significant difference was demonstrated in fat and water percentage, and waist/hip ratio. Nevertheless, the waist circumference of long-term HRT users was significantly lower than that of non-users. In conclusion, abdominal fat in long-term HRT users is lower than that of non-users of similar age, menopausal age and body mass index