Differential diagnosis of adnexal masses with transvaginal sonography, color flow imaging, and serum CA 125 assay in pre- and postmenopausal women

The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography, color flow imaging, and serum CA 125 assay in pre- and postmenopausal women undergoing laparotomy for a clinical diagnosis of an adnexal mass. In 109 consecutive women, the morphology of the mass was evaluated with transvaginal sonography, the pulsatility index (PI) was computed on the arteries detected with color flow imaging, and blood samples were obtained for CA125 assay. Descriptive statistics were performed for the whole series and according to the menopausal status. The diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography was significantly higher in premenopause than in postmenopause (97 versus 85%, P<0.05). In premenopause, the three tests showed a similar diagnostic accuracy (85, 82, and 79%, respectively). In conclusion, the addition of further tests besides transvaginal sonography is not warranted in premenopausal women with an adnexal mass, but they seem to be useful in postmenopause

Middle cerebral artery velocimetry: different clinical relevance depending on umbilical velocimetry

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of cerebral velocimetry as a predictor of perinatal outcome in high-risk pregnancies. METHODS: Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index was measured in 576 high-risk pregnancies undergoing umbilical velocimetry. The results of both tests were evaluated with respect to the birth of small for gestational age (SGA) infants and adverse perinatal outcome, defined as perinatal death, cesarean delivery for fetal distress, or low Apgar score. RESULTS: Once umbilical velocimetry was taken into account, cerebral velocimetry did not improve the prediction of fetal growth restriction or adverse perinatal outcome. Neither test was able to predict adverse perinatal outcome in normally grown fetuses. As for SGA fetuses with adverse perinatal outcome, the simultaneous assessment of both umbilical and cerebral velocimetry did not improve diagnostic accuracy (kappa index 0.37 versus 0.41 for umbilical velocimetry only). However, within the group of high-risk pregnancies with abnormal umbilical velocimetry, the risk of being SGA and having an adverse perinatal outcome was doubled (relative risk 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1, 4.3) if cerebral velocimetry also was abnormal. CONCLUSION: The routine use of cerebral velocimetry in high-risk pregnancies adds little information beyond that obtained from umbilical velocimetry; however, it is useful in predicting SGA infants with adverse perinatal outcome when umbilical velocimetry is abnormal

Pregnancy outcome in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease: a preliminary study on 25 pregnancies

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a group of systemic autoimmune conditions not fulfilling the classification criteria for a definite connective tissue disease (CTD). While an average of 20% of UCTD patients develop a defined CTD during follow-up, the remaining patients maintain an undefined disease. Since pregnancy is considered to be an important factor that may alter the course of autoimmune diseases, we examined 25 pregnancies in 20 UCTD patients being followed at our unit in order to evaluate: (i) the pregnancy outcome; (ii) whether pregnancy is associated with flares of disease activity; and (iii) whether pregnancy may be a trigger for the development of a defined CTD. Twenty-two pregnancies (88%) were successfully brought to term, while the remaining three (12%) ended in an abortion in the first trimester. Obstetric complications were observed in six out of the 22 successful pregnancies (27%). Six patients (24%) experienced a disease flare during pregnancy or puerperium, one of whom presented a major flare and developed systemic lupus erythematosus. In the other five patients the manifestations at flare were mild and included arthritis, fever and skin rash. The incidence of flares in a control population of non-pregnant UCTD patients over a period of 1 year was 7%. Although UCTD is a mild condition, the risk of flares during pregnancy appears increased and therefore careful monitoring is as necessary as in other CTD patients. Further prospective studies will be necessary to confirm these preliminary observations