Should the patients with endometriosis be treated as a risk group of pregnancy complications? Single center experience and literature review and literature review

Objectives: Multidirectional influence of endometriosis on fertility impairments is well known. Altered implantation and placentation among affected patients raised concerns regarding possible negative influence on the course of pregnancy. The primary objective of the study was to assess the course of gestation and the incidence of pregnancy complications among women with endometriosis. It also aimed to determine whether the method of conception might impact the primary results. Material and methods: A single-center cohort study included 64 women with confirmed endometriosis and 296 healthy controls. Data concerning treatment of endometriosis related infertility, course of pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were evaluated. Results: Patients with endometriosis were older than controls (33.6 +/- 4.2 y vs 31.8 +/- 4.6, p = 0.01) and more often gave birth for the first time (87.5% vs 43.9%, p = 0.001). The age at the time of first delivery was significantly higher within the study group (33.1 y +/- 4.1 vs 29.9 +/- 4.6, p < 0.001). In the study, 81.2% of patients with endometriosis had the diagnosis of infertility. Patients suffering from endometriosis were significantly more prone to spontaneous placental abruption during pregnancy and delivery (4.7 vs 0.3%, odds ratio = 14.5). Several complications occurred more often in endometriotic patients (gestational diabetes mellitus, small-for-gestational-age and anemia); however, without statistical significance. The risk of pregnancy complications was independent from stage of endometriosis and way of conception. The incidences of adverse neonatal outcomes (preterm delivery, low Apgar score, lower birth weight) were similar in both groups. Conclusions: Endometriosis may adversely affect perinatal outcomes, especially due to increased risk of placenta abruption and operative delivery. Stage of endometriosis and method of conception does not enhance these complications

Ocular manifestations in Sjögren’s syndrome – it never rains but it pours? Case report

Zespół Sjögrena (Sjögren’s syndrome – SS) jest przewlekłą, autoimmunologiczną chorobą układową o charakterze zapalnym. Występują w nim limfocytarne nacieki zapalne w gruczołach wydzielania zewnętrznego, co prowadzi do ich znacznej dysfunkcji i zniszczenia. Stan chorobowy najczęściej obejmuje gruczoły łzowe i ślinianki, co powoduje suchość oczu i suchość w jamie ustnej. W pracy opisano przypadek 64-letniej kobiety, która od 6 lat odczuwała dyskomfort w prawym oku. Okulista rozpoznał zaćmę początkową obu oczu, owrzodzenie rogówki oka prawego i podwinięcie powieki dolnej prawej wymagające interwencji chirurgicznej. Pomimo udanego zabiegu rzęsy zaczęły nieprawidłowo odrastać i podrażniać rogówkę. W krótkim czasie problem nieprawidłowo rosnących rzęs objął również powieki lewego oka. Rzęsy powiek obu oczu wielokrotnie usuwano mechanicznie. Na podstawie objawów, dodatniego wyniku testu Schirmera oraz obecności przeciwciał SS-A rozpoznano SS. W kolejnych latach w obu oczach pacjentki rozwinęły się keratopatia wraz z ubytkami na-błonka rogówki, zaawansowana zaćma, podwinięcie górnych powiek oraz związany z tym nieprawidłowy wzrost rzęs. Stany te wymagały intensywnego leczenia farmakologicznego oraz chirurgicznego, w tym naszycia błony owodniowej na powierzchnię oka prawego, plastyki powiek, zamknięcia punktów łzowych i operacji zaćmy. Pomimo leczenia u pacjentki występują obecnie liczne zrosty spojówkowe oraz unaczynione bielmo rogówki prawego oka. Oprócz objawów ocznych pacjentka wykazuje objawy ze strony innych narządów.Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune inflammatory disease. It is characterized by inflammatory lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, leading to their significant dysfunction and destruction. Lacrimal and salivary glands are commonly affected, causing dryness of the eyes and mouth. The subject of the study is a case report of a 64-year-old woman who had been suffering from discomfort in her right eye for 6 years. Early stage cataract in both eyes, corneal ulceration of the right eye, and a right lower eyelid entropion requiring surgical intervention, were diagnosed at that time. Despite successful treatment, the eyelashes began to grow improperly again and irritated the cornea. Subsequently, the problem of trichiasis also affected the eyelid of the left eye. The eyelashes of both eyes were removed mechanically many times. Sjögren’s syndrome was diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms, a positive Schirmer test and the presence of SS-A antibodies. In the following years, the patient developed keratopathy with corneal epithelial defects, advanced stage cataract, and upper eyelid entropion with associated trichiasis in both eyes. These conditions required both intensive pharmacological and surgical treatment, including an amniotic membrane transplant onto the surface of the right eye, blepharoplasty, lacrimal puncta closure and cataract surgery. Despite the treatment, the patient currently has numerous conjunctival adhesions and vascularized corneal leucoma of the right eye. In addition to the ocular symptoms, the patient has presented other systemic signs