Menstrual and hormonal alterations in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

Menstrual cycles of 30 patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) were compared with 30 age-matched controls. The mean age of patients with JSLE and controls was similar (17.4 +/- 3.2 vs 17.06 +/- 2.08 years, P = 0.66). The mean menarche age was higher in JSLE than controls (13.13 +/- 1.4 vs 11.56 +/- 1.5 years, P = 0.0008). On the contrary, the mean maternal menarche age was similar in both groups (P = 0.62). Menstrual abnormalities and longer length cycles were more frequently observed in JSLE than controls (63% vs 10%, P = 0.0001; 23% vs 0%, P = 0.0105, respectively). The median of follicle stimulating hormone was significantly higher in patients with JSLE compared with controls (4.6 vs 3.4 IU/L, P = 0.0207), and the median of progesterone was lower (32.5 vs 70 ng/mL, P = 0.0033). The median Of luteinizing hormone was lower in patients with JSLE with menstrual abnormalities versus normal cycles (2.9 vs 5.5 IU/L, P = 0.019) and both had a high percentage of decreased progesterone levels (63% vs 73%, P = 0.70). Our findings support the notion that menstrual disturbances are frequent and may be associated with pituitary dysfunction leading to a decreased progesterone production. We also reported that in spite of premature ovarian failure being a rare event in JSLE the follicular reserve seems to be low regardless of intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment. Lupus (2009) 18, 38-43.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Clentifico e Tecnologico - CNPQ[305468/2006-5]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Clentifico e Tecnologico - CNPQ[302469/2005-2]Federico Foundatio

Gonadal function in adolescents and young women with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

The authors analysed the gonadal function and age of menarche of 23 female adolescents and young women with SLE, and correlated these with clinical, SLEDAI and therapeutic parameters. the presence of one or more clinical and laboratory parameters defined normal gonadal function: normal menstrual cycles with or without dysmenorrhea; elevated cervical mucus length; normal levels of plasma FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin and testosterone; normal urinary hormonal cytology; serial pelvic ultrasound compatible with ovulatory pattern; and present or previous pregnancy. the mean age of menarche (13.5 +/- 1.4 years) was greater than that found among 2578 healthy Brazilian adolescents (12.5 +/- 1.3 years; P = 0.0002). the delay in menarche correlated with an increase in the duration of the disease (P = 0.0085) and the cumulative dose of prednisone (P = 0.0013) used until the appearance of the menarche. the mean phase length in SLE was 31.5 +/- 10.3. Sixteen female (70%) patients showed normal and seven (30%) abnormal gonadal function. Gonadal function was not correlated with parameters of SLE. These results suggest that the patients of this study reach adulthood with a high chance of fertility.Univ São Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pediat, Pediat Rheumatol Unit,Childrens Inst, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Adolescent Gynaecol Serv, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pediat, Adolescent Gynecol Serv,Childrens Inst, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Conflitos vivenciados pelas adolescentes com a descoberta da gravidez Conflictos vivenciados por las adolescentes con el descubrimiento del embarazo Conflicts experienced by female adolescents with the discovery of pregnancy

O estudo investigou os conflitos vivenciados pelas adolescentes com a descoberta da gravidez. A pesquisa descritiva com 12 adolescentes grávidas foi realizada em Jucás-Ceará. Os achados foram analisados após agrupamento em categorias temáticas emergidas das falas das entrevistadas ao responderem à indagação: Como tem vivenciado a gravidez na adolescência? Verificou-se que a gravidez era vista como um problema indesejado e que as adolescentes tinham medo de partilhar sua descoberta com a família ou o companheiro. Foram observadas reações dos pais ou responsáveis e o baixo nível socioeconômico como determinantes da não aceitação da gestação. Concluiu-se que a gravidez na adolescência constitui-se um problema de Saúde Pública, que deve ser visualizado amplamente, percebendo-se a adolescente e seus problemas cotidianos.<br>En el estudio se investigó los conflictos vivenciados por las adolescentes al descubrir su embarazo. Esta investigación descriptiva realizada con 12 adolescentes embarazadas se llevó a cabo en Jucás-Ceará. Los hallazgos fueron analizados después del agrupamiento en categorías temáticas que emergieron de los discursos de las entrevistadas al responder a la pregunta: Cómo has vivenciado el embarazo en la adolescencia? Se verificó que el embarazo era visto como un problema indeseado y que las adolescentes tenían miedo de compartir su descubrimiento con la familia o el compañero. Fueron observadas reacciones de los padres o responsables y el bajo nivel socioeconómico como determinantes de la no aceptación de la gestación. Se concluyó que el embarazo en la adolescencia se constituye en un problema de Salud Pública, que debe ser visualizado ampliamente, percibiéndose a la adolescente y sus problemas cotidianos.<br>This descriptive research with 12 pregnant teenagers was conducted in Jucás, State of Ceará. The findings were analyzed after being grouped in the thematic categories that emerged from the interviews carried out with the young women, who were asked to answer the question: How have you been experiencing pregnancy in adolescence?It was verified that pregnancy was seen as an undesired problem and that the pregnant teenagers were afraid to share their state with their family or partner. It was observed that the reaction from parents or legal guardians and the low socio-economic level were determinant for the non-acceptance of pregnancy. It was concluded that pregnancy in adolescence is an issue that belong to the realm of Public Health, and that it must be seen as part of a wider picture, in which the adolescents and their daily problems need to be considered

Rivaroxaban with or without aspirin in stable cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND: We evaluated whether rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin would be more effective than aspirin alone for secondary cardiovascular prevention. METHODS: In this double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 27,395 participants with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease to receive rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (100 mg once daily), rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily), or aspirin (100 mg once daily). The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, stroke, or myocardial infarction. The study was stopped for superiority of the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group after a mean follow-up of 23 months. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group than in the aspirin-alone group (379 patients [4.1%] vs. 496 patients [5.4%]; hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.86; P<0.001; z=−4.126), but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group (288 patients [3.1%] vs. 170 patients [1.9%]; hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.05; P<0.001). There was no significant difference in intracranial or fatal bleeding between these two groups. There were 313 deaths (3.4%) in the rivaroxaban-plus-aspirin group as compared with 378 (4.1%) in the aspirin-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96; P=0.01; threshold P value for significance, 0.0025). The primary outcome did not occur in significantly fewer patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group than in the aspirin-alone group, but major bleeding events occurred in more patients in the rivaroxaban-alone group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, those assigned to rivaroxaban (2.5 mg twice daily) plus aspirin had better cardiovascular outcomes and more major bleeding events than those assigned to aspirin alone. Rivaroxaban (5 mg twice daily) alone did not result in better cardiovascular outcomes than aspirin alone and resulted in more major bleeding events

Health-status outcomes with invasive or conservative care in coronary disease

BACKGROUND In the ISCHEMIA trial, an invasive strategy with angiographic assessment and revascularization did not reduce clinical events among patients with stable ischemic heart disease and moderate or severe ischemia. A secondary objective of the trial was to assess angina-related health status among these patients. METHODS We assessed angina-related symptoms, function, and quality of life with the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at randomization, at months 1.5, 3, and 6, and every 6 months thereafter in participants who had been randomly assigned to an invasive treatment strategy (2295 participants) or a conservative strategy (2322). Mixed-effects cumulative probability models within a Bayesian framework were used to estimate differences between the treatment groups. The primary outcome of this health-status analysis was the SAQ summary score (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status). All analyses were performed in the overall population and according to baseline angina frequency. RESULTS At baseline, 35% of patients reported having no angina in the previous month. SAQ summary scores increased in both treatment groups, with increases at 3, 12, and 36 months that were 4.1 points (95% credible interval, 3.2 to 5.0), 4.2 points (95% credible interval, 3.3 to 5.1), and 2.9 points (95% credible interval, 2.2 to 3.7) higher with the invasive strategy than with the conservative strategy. Differences were larger among participants who had more frequent angina at baseline (8.5 vs. 0.1 points at 3 months and 5.3 vs. 1.2 points at 36 months among participants with daily or weekly angina as compared with no angina). CONCLUSIONS In the overall trial population with moderate or severe ischemia, which included 35% of participants without angina at baseline, patients randomly assigned to the invasive strategy had greater improvement in angina-related health status than those assigned to the conservative strategy. The modest mean differences favoring the invasive strategy in the overall group reflected minimal differences among asymptomatic patients and larger differences among patients who had had angina at baseline