Search

Objectives To establish normal values for renal artery resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) during gestation and, by comparison with non-pregnant controls, to determine if pregnancy affects these indices. Methods This was a prospective longitudinal study involving 36 normal pregnant women who underwent a total of 280 examinations at 4-week intervals from the 6th gestational week to the end of pregnancy. High-resolution ultrasound equipment with ‘triplex’ Doppler facilities was used. RI and PI were obtained for the main arteries of both kidneys. The same evaluation was performed in 15 non-pregnant women as controls. Results The mean RI in pregnant and non-pregnant women was the same (0.65 ± 0.03 for controls and 0.65 ± 0.02 for the pregnant women). For PI, the values were 1.25 ± 0.12 for non-pregnant women and 1.18 ± 0.09 for pregnant women. The only statistical difference (P < 0.05) was found between the PI of the left renal artery in the control group (1.29 ± 0.20) and that in the pregnant group at the 8–12-week interval of gestational age (1.08 ± 0.14). Conclusions No significant alterations in renal artery RI and PI occur during normal pregnancy, except for in a subgroup of patients between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The most frequently nontrophoblastic tumor of the placenta found is chorioangioma, with an incidence of about 1%. When they are small, they do not significantly affect the fetus, but the large ones can cause intrauterine growth restriction, polyhydramnios, premature delivery, congestive heart failure and fetal death. The authors report a case of chorioangioma in a 28-year-old woman, second gestation, whose diagnosis was established at the 32nd week by ultrasound and confirmed by the anatomopathological examination. Ultrasonography evaluations showed chronic fetal distress and the delivery was performed at 36 weeks. The newborn results were satisfactory with Apgar 9-10 and fetal weight 2.460 g.

Objetivo: avaliar a reserva ovariana por meio da dosagem do FSH no 3º dia do ciclo menstrual, comparando-o com o teste do clomifeno, e correlacionar os resultados com a resposta ovariana à hiperestimulação controlada com gonadotrofinas para a fertilização in vitro. Métodos: foram selecionadas 49 pacientes com idade superior a 30 anos que apresentavam quadro clínico de infertilidade há pelo menos 1 ano. Foi realizada avaliação da reserva ovariana destas pacientes pelo teste do citrato de clomifeno. Posteriormente, 26 das 49 pacientes foram submetidas à hiperestimulação ovariana controlada com gonadotrofinas. Destas 26 pacientes, 18 tiveram boa resposta à hiperestimulação ovariana e 8, má resposta. Foram calculadas as médias e os desvios-padrão referentes aos valores do FSH do 3º dia, do 10º dia e do somatório de ambos, no grupo das pacientes que responderam favoravelmente à estimulação ovariana. Posteriormente foi realizada a correlação dos valores obtidos com a resposta ovariana após a estimulação dos ovários com gonadotrofinas. Resultados: empregando-se a dosagem do FSH no 10º dia (média somada a 2 desvios-padrão) com valor >16,1 UI/mL para predizer a má resposta ovariana ao teste do clomifeno, observaram-se sensibilidade, especificidade e valores preditivos positivo e negativo de 50, 100, 100 e 81,8%, respectivamente. Considerando-se o teste do clomifeno positivo quando o valor do somatório das dosagens do FSH do 3º e do 10º dia somado a dois desvios-padrão foi > 22,6 UI/mL, obtiveram-se sensibilidade de 62,5%, especificidade de 100%, valor preditivo positivo de 100% e valor preditivo negativo de 85,7% . O uso da dosagem única do FSH no 3º dia do ciclo acima de 10 UI/mL para predizer a má resposta ovariana mostrou sensibilidade de 87%, especificidade de 100%, valor preditivo positivo de 100% e valor preditivo negativo de 94,7%. Conclusão: no presente estudo, a dosagem única do FSH no 3º dia do ciclo apresentou maior sensibilidade quando comparada ao teste do clomifeno para a avaliação da reserva ovariana. Purpose: to assess ovarian reserve by FSH determination on the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle compared to the clomiphene test and to correlate the results with the ovarian response to controlled hyperstimulation with gonadotrophins for in vitro fertilization. Methods: a total of 49 patients older than 30 years who had been presenting a clinical picture of infertility for at least 1 year were selected. All patients were evaluated for ovarian reserve by the clomiphene citrate test and 26 of them were later submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotrophins. Of these 26 patients, 18 showed a good response to ovarian hyperstimulation and 8 showed a poor response. Mean (+ SD) FSH values were calculated for the determinations on the 3rd and on the 10th day and for their sum in the group of patients who responded favorably to ovarian stimulation, and were later correlated with the ovarian response after gonadotrophin stimulation. Results: employing a FSH value > 16.1 IU/mL on the 10th day (mean plus 2 SD) for the prediction of a poor ovarian response in the clomiphene test, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this parameter were 50, 100, 100 and 81.8%, respectively. Considering the clomiphene test to be positive when the sum of the FSH values determined on the 3rd and 10th day plus 2 SD was > 22.6 IU/mL, we obtained 62.5% sensitivity 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 85.7% negative predictive value. A single FSH determination of 10 IU/mL on the 3rd day of the cycle for the prediction of a poor ovarian response showed 87% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 94.7% negative predictive value. Conclusion: in the present study, a single FSH determination on the 3rd day of the cycle showed to be more sensitive than the clomiphene test for the evaluation of ovarian reserve.

Purpose: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a method for the treatment of marital infertility involving the intrauterine or fallopian deposition of washed spermatozoa, depending on the amount of inseminated semen. In view of the divergent opinions about the inseminated volume, the objective of this study was to compare the two techniques (3.0 mL or 0.5 mL) in two groups of patients. Methods: We performed 164 cycles of ovulation induction followed by IUI. The patients were divided into two groups according to the technique used. Group low volume – 50 cycles and 0.5 mL of inseminated semen; Group high volume – 114 cycles and 3.0 mL of inseminated semen. The cycle was monitored on the basis of endometrial thickness and follicular development measured by transvaginal ultrasound. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was administered in the presence of a follicle measuring 18 mm in mean diameter. The procedure was performed after sperm washing using a discontinuous PureSperm® gradient, 40 h later. Results: We obtained a similar clinical pregnancy rate for the two groups (14.0% for Group low volume and 15.7% for Group high volume). There was one abortion in each group. We detected no interference by any etiology of infertility or by the total motile recovered sperm with pregnancy rate. Conclusions: The results did not demonstrate superiority of one method over the other, with both therapeutic alternatives being satisfactory for the treatment of infertile couples.

Objetivo: realizar um estudo comparativo entre os métodos utilizados para avaliar a cavidade uterina por meio da análise da sensibilidade e especificidade da histerografia e da histerossonografia, comparadas com a histeroscopia (padrão ouro). Métodos: foi realizado um estudo prospectivo para a investigação da cavidade uterina com a histerografia, a histerossonografia e a histeroscopia em 18 pacientes. Todas as pacientes apresentavam suspeita de anomalias da cavidade uterina. As principais indicações para a investigação foram: distúrbios do ciclo menstrual, sangramento pós-menopausa e alterações observadas em exames ultra-sonográficos sugestivas de pólipos, miomas e/ou espessamento endometrial. Resultados: a sensibilidade da histerossonografia foi de 90% e a especificidade 87,5%, quando comparadas à histeroscopia. O valor preditivo positivo foi de 90% e o negativo 87,5%. A histerografia, por sua vez, apresentou sensibilidade de 70%, especificidade de 75%, valor preditivo positivo de 77,7% e valor preditivo negativo de 75%. Conclusão: a histerossonografia parece ser um bom método alternativo para a avaliação da cavidade uterina, identificando algumas lesões não observadas à ultra-sonografia convencional ou à histerografia, e permitindo a triagem das pacientes candidatas à realização de uma histeroscopia diagnóstica ou cirúrgica. A histerografia apresentou resultados inferiores à histerossonografia, e não parece ser de utilidade na triagem das pacientes. Purpose: to compare the methods used to investigate the endouterine cavity by testing the sensitivity and specificity of X-ray hysterography and sonohysterography compared with hysteroscopy (gold standard). Methods: we carried out a prospective study with 18 patients who, due to symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, unexplained postmenopausal uterine bleeding and ultrasound disturbance, were candidates for uterine cavity investigation by X-ray hysterography, sonohysterography and hysteroscopy. Results: sonohysterography sensitivity and specificity were 90 and 87.5%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 90 and 87.5%. For X-ray hysterography, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 70, 75, 77.7 and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: the use of saline instilation into the endometrial cavity in order to enhance the acuracy of the vaginal ultrasonography seems reliable as a mean to distinguish lesions in the uterine cavity, thereby facilitating the identification of candidates for diagnostic or operative hysteroscopy. X-ray hysterography produces results inferior to hysterosonography.

Literature data have demonstrated that the chronic use of metoclopramide (MCP), a dopamine antagonist, causes increased gonadotropin secretion in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea but without triggering ovulation. It has also been observed that women with hypothalamic amenorrhea respond poorly to ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate (CC). On this basis, the objective of the present study was to determine the effect of MCP on the response to CC in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea in order to evaluate the validity of the simultaneous use of these drugs as ovulation inducers in this type of chronic anovulation. Twenty-two patients with amenorrhea of hypothalamic origin were submitted to a randomized double blind study in which one tablet of 5 mg MCP or placebo was administered every 8 hours for 2 months. After the 30th day of medication (MCP or placebo), CC, 100 mg orally, was additionally administered to both groups for 5 days. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 15 and 30 during the first month of the study and on days 7, 14 and 21 after the last CC tablet during the second month, for later measurement of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, estradiol and progesterone by radioimmunoassay. The group that received MCP showed a significant increase in LH and FSH during the first month of the study, as well as a slighter increase in estradiol. Prolactin increased only during the second stage of treatment. No significant increases in gonadotropins, prolactin or estradiol occurred in the placebo group. In the group treated with MCP, 40% of the patients ovulated after CC, with menstruation occurring in 60% of them. In the placebo group, 33.3% of the women ovulated after CC and 44.4% menstruated at the end of the study. We conclude that MCP increases the circulating levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and prolactin in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea and low estrogen levels, supporting the hypothesis that an increase in hypothalamic dopaminergic tonus occurs in these patients. On the other hand, the combination of MCP and CC does not improve the rate of ovulation compared to placebo.

The intervillous space (IVS) is part of the histofunctional unit of the human placenta and by being a fetal-maternal exchange interface is an important subject of study for the understanding of fetal physiology, especially in nutritional investigations. A method developed for the collection of IVS blood has permitted to evaluate the fetal-maternal exchanges in an effective manner. Two disadvantages of this method, however, are the mixing of IVS blood and fetal blood and marked hemolysis. In the present study we introduce and describe some modifications of this method using a single stylet for the perforation of the chorionic plate which simplifies collection and reduces the chance of mixing and hemolysis of the samples obtained.

OBJETIVO: avaliar a resposta ovariana de pacientes más respondedoras submetidas ao método da bromocriptina. MÉTODOS: foi realizado estudo prospectivo com 10 pacientes más respondedoras em programa de fertilização in vitro. Pacientes endocrinologicamente normais com menos de 38 anos de idade, que apresentaram ciclos anteriores de má resposta a hiperestimulação ovariana controlada, foram submetidas a 12 ciclos com o método da bromocriptina. O referido método utilizou a bromocriptina, um agonista dopaminérgico, no ciclo precedente com a finalidade de bloquear a produção da prolactina. Ao interromper a medicação no início do ciclo de hiperestimulação ovariana conseguiu-se um efeito rebote da prolactina que otimizou a sua concentração sérica, melhorando a qualidade dos oócitos e embriões. Foram analisadas as concentrações séricas de prolactina e estradiol, o número de folículos produzidos, o número e a qualidade dos oócitos captados e embriões clivados e as taxas de fertilização e gravidez. RESULTADOS: foi observada redução na quantidade de ampolas de gonadotrofinas utilizadas, nos dias de indução, melhora no recrutamento folicular, na captação de oócitos, na morfologia dos embriões e nas taxas de fertilização e gravidez. A taxa de fertilização foi de 77,7%, a taxa de gravidez 44,4% e a taxa de bebê em casa de 25%. CONCLUSÕES: este estudo sugere que o método da bromocriptina melhora o recrutamento folicular e o desenvolvimento embrionário, resultando em aumento da taxa de fertilização e gravidez em pacientes más respondedoras quando comparado com o esquema tradicional de hiperestimulação ovariana. Estudos com maior casuística controlada são necessários para se confirmarem os dados aqui encontrados. OBJECTIVE: to assess the ovarian response of poor responsive patients, submitted to the bromocriptine method. PACIENTS AND METHODS: a prospective clinical trial for the in vitro fertilization (IVF) program was performed in 10 poor responsive patients. Endocrinologically normal ovulatory women under 38 years old, who had previously failed in IVF due to poor response to ovarian stimulation with the traditional protocol, were submitted to the bromocriptine method in 12 cycles. They were given bromocriptine, a dopaminergic agonist, in the preceding cycle in order to stop the prolactin production. When the medication was removed at the beginning of the stimulation cycle, an elevation of seric prolactin by a rebound phenomenon was found. This optimized its seric concentration, improving the quality of oocytes and embryos. Serum prolactin and estradiol concentrations, number of follicles, number and quality of oocytes and cleaved embryos, fertilization and pregnancy rates were analyzed. RESULTS: there was a reduction in the dose of gonadotropin administered and in the duration of ovarian stimulation and an improvement in follicular recruitment, oocyte retrieval, embryo morphology, fertilization, and ongoing pregnancy rates. Fertilization rate was 77.7%, pregnancy rate was 44.4% and live baby rate was 25%. CONCLUSION: this study suggests that the bromocriptine method enhanced follicular recruitment and embryonic development, resulting in increased fertilization and pregnancy rates when compared with the traditional protocol for poor responsive patients. Studies with a large number of patients are necessary to confirm these results.

OBJETIVO: avaliar tres sistemas de escore embrionario para embrioes de 3o dia e correlaciona-los com resultados positivos da tecnica de fertilizacao in vitro. METODO: estudo retrospectivo desenvolvido pelo programa de fertilizacao in vitro do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto - USP. Foram incluidas 137 pacientes submetidas a fertilizacao in vitro e transferencia de 439 embrioes. Os principais resultados avaliados foram taxa de gravidez e taxa de implantacao. RESULTADOS: nos tres metodos observou-se diferenca significativa no escore embrionario entre o grupo de gravidas (n=53) e nao gravidas (n=84) (p

Objetivo: o objetivo do presente trabalho e apresentar um perfil das pacientes com endometriose, estadio e resultados do tratamento entre as pacientes atendidas no nosso Servico. Metodos: foram revistos 155 prontuarios medicos de pacientes portadoras de endometriose atendidas no periodo de 1991 a 1996 segundo um protocolo preestabelecido. Resultados: a media de idade das pacientes foi de 31 anos, sendo que a maioria era branca e com ciclos menstruais regulares. Os sintomas mais observados foram a dismenorreia, dor pelvica e infertilidade, sendo esses sinais e sintomas de grau leve na maioria dos casos. Os metodos diagnosticos utilizados foram a laparoscopia ou ultra-sonografia. Houve concordância entre a ultra-sonografia e a laparoscopia em 96% das vezes. Em 28% dos casos houve necessidade de realizacao de laparotomia para elucidacao diagnostica e/ou tratamento. O achado de endometrioma ocorreu em 37% das vezes e em apenas 74% das biopsias das lesoes houve a confirmacao de endometriose pelo estudo anatomopatologico. Houve melhora significativa com o tratamento clinico independente da droga utilizada, com melhora dos sintomas em cerca de 50% delas. Foram realizadas tecnicas de fertilizacao assistida em 34 pacientes, das quais 80% foram fertilizacao in vitro (FIV), com taxa de 27% de gravidez/paciente. Conclusoes: o metodo diagnostico de escolha deve ser a laparoscopia, embora a ultra-sonografia apresente um alto indice de concordância. O estudo anatomopatologico das lesoes deve ser utilizado como metodo auxiliar no diagnostico, pois ele nao e positivo em todos os casos. O tratamento clinico com reproducao assistida e uma boa opcao terapeutica, principalmente com o uso de FIV.

Objetivos: avaliar aspectos clínicos e ultra-sonográficos de tumores pélvicos na pós-menopausa e correlacioná-los com o diagnóstico final. Pacientes e Métodos: foram seguidas prospectivamente 36 mulheres menopausadas com diagnóstico de tumor pélvico com avaliação clínica e ultra-sonografia endovaginal. Foi definida conduta de observação em tumores císticos anecóicos e/ou com septo fino único e volume inferior a 50 cm³. Foi realizada punção em tumores com as mesmas características e volume entre 50 e 100 cm³ e laparotomia exploradora para os demais casos. O diagnóstico final definiu dois grupos de pacientes: patologia benigna (28) e maligna (8). Resultados: tumores císticos anecóicos com septo fino único são indicativos de benignidade (p = 0,0091), ao passo que a presença de tumor com áreas sólidas (mistos) é indicativa de malignidade (p = 0,0024). Ascite correlacionou-se com tumores malignos (p = 0,0278). Heterogeneidade do tumor, espessamento de cápsula, septação grosseira e vegetação prevalecem nos casos malignos mas sem significância (p > 0,05). O volume tumoral é parâmetro indicativo de malignidade com mediana de 85,2 cm³ em benignos e 452,5 cm³ em malignos (p = 0,0048), estabelecendo-se corte em 295 cm³ (sensibilidade = 83,3% e especificidade = 85,2%). Com estes critérios todas pacientes com tumores malignos foram submetidas à laparotomia e 11 pacientes com tumores benignos foram tratadas de forma conservadora (39,3% dos casos benignos). Conclusão: a conduta conservadora é adequada a mulheres com tumores pélvicos de pequeno volume, anecóicos ou com septo fino, sem ascite. A diferenciação de tumores complexos e/ou volumosos benignos e malignos necessita de investigação complementar. Purpose: to evaluate clinical and ultrasonic findings in patients with pelvic tumors at postmenopause and to correlate them with the final diagnosis. Patients and Methods: thirty-six postmenopausal women with pelvic tumor diagnosis were prospectively evaluated through clinical examination and endovaginal ultrasonography. Clinical follow-up with no surgical procedures was indicated for anechoic cystic tumors with or without thin unique septation and volume under 50 cm³. Needle aspiration was indicated for tumors with the same aspect, and volume of 50 to 100 cm³, whereas exploratory laparotomy was performed in the remaining patients. Diagnosis defined two groups of patients: benign (28) and malignant (8) pathologies. Results: anechoic cystic tumor with or without a thin septum indicates benignity (p = 0.0091). Tumors with solid areas indicate malignancy (p = 0.0024). Ascites correlates with malignancy (p = 0.0278). Heterogeneity, thick capsule, thick septa, and papillary projections predominated in malignancies but without no statistical significance (p > 0,05). Tumor volume indicates malignancy, with a median of 85.2 cm³ in benign tumors and 452.5 cm³ in malignancies (p = 0.0048), with a cutoff at 295 cm³ (sensitivity = 83.3% and specificity = 85.2%). Following this protocol, all malignancies were submitted to surgery and 11 benign tumor patients were treated with a conservative protocol (39.3% of all benign patients). Conclusion: conservative management is an adequate protocol for women with anechoic pelvic tumors with low volume, with or without single thin septum and without ascites. Differentiation between benign and malignant of complex and/or high volume tumors requires complementary investigation.

Objectives: To study syncytiotrophoblast apoptosis in the placenta of smoking and non-smoking pregnant women. Methods: Twelve neonates, pregnancies and placentas were available for study. Eight mothers smoked during pregnancy and the remaining four were non-smokers used as control subjects. The main outcome measure was the apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index for each group. Apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry using the TUNEL method and quantitatively measured using a Merz grid. The apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index was calculated as the ratio of mean apoptotic labeling to percent terminal villus area using high-power field microscopy. Results: Significant differences in apoptotic syncytiotrophoblast index were observed between the control group (15.06 ± 3.72) and the smoker group (1.66 ± 1.74) (P < 0.0001, Mann-Whitney test), but no differences were detected in clinical or morphometric data between groups. Conclusions: The human placental syncytiotrophoblast undergoes apoptosis and this process is associated with inhibition of apoptosis by the smoking habit. The same way as the presence of trophoblast apoptosis is associated with modifications of the maternal-fetal exchange, the inhibitory effect of the smoking habit on syncytiotrophoblast could be responsible for the poor prognosis of pregnancy in the presence of maternal smoking.

O fator tuboperitoneal é a causa mais freqüente de infertilidade na mulher e a sua investigação é fundamental na propedêutica do casal infértil. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o método da sonohisterossalpingografia contrastada (Hycosy), que utiliza o contraste SH U 454 (Echovist), na detecção da permeabilidade tubária, comparando-o com a histerossalpingografia (HSG) e com a laparoscopia (LPS) acompanhada de cromotubagem (padrão ouro). Realizou-se a investigação de 96 tubas uterinas de 48 pacientes, submetidas à Hycosy, HSG e LPS. Todas as avaliações da Hycosy foram realizadas por um único observador que desconhecia o resultado da HSG. O mesmo se refere, também, quanto à realização da HSG, bem como da LPS. Foram avaliados os seguintes instrumentos de medidas: sensibilidade (S), especificidade (E), valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN), concordância observada (CO), razão de verossimilhança positiva (RV+) e razão de verossimilhança negativa (RV-). Comparando-se a avaliação pela Hycosy com a LPS, foram encontrados os seguintes resultados: S=86,6%, E=35,7%, VPP=88,75%, VPN=31,25%, CO=79,2%, RV+=1,35 e RV-=0,38. Quanto à comparação da HSG com a LPS, os valores obtidos foram: S=85,4%, E= 50%, VPP=90,9%, VPN=36,8%, CO=80,2%, RV+=1,71 e RV-=0,29. Entre Hycosy e HSG, a co-positividade foi de 87%, a co-negatividade de 31,6% e a concordância de 76%. Esse estudo demonstrou que a Hycosy é uma técnica segura e confiável para a avaliação da permeabilidade tubária na propedêutica da infertilidade. Tubal disorders are the main causes of female infertility. Assessment of tubal patency is a very important issue for evaluating an infertile couple. A total of 96 Fallopian tubes from 48 patients was examined with hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (Hycosy), hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic chromopertubation (LPS). Hycosy was performed by transvaginal ultrasound with a new contrast medium (Echovist). Compared with laparoscopic results, we found a sensitivity of 86.6%, a specificity of 35.7%, positive predictive value (VPP) of 88.75%, negative predictive value (VPN) of 31.25% and concordance (Hycosy/LPS) of 79,2%, while the results for HSG were sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 50%, VPP of 90.9%, VPN of 36.8% and concordance (HSG/LPS) of 80.2%. In conclusion, the results have shown that Hycosy is a reliable and safe method for evaluating tubal patency.