Outcome of pregnancies in lupus: experience at one center

We determined the outcome of all pregnancies in SLE patients in our lupus cohort between 1991 and 1997. The women were advised that pregnancy was acceptable if the disease had been inactive for 6 months (SLEDAI < or = (4 at 2 serial examinations) and daily prednisone dose was below 10 mg. Patients were advised against pregnancy in case of active nephritis or neurolupus. In case of antiphospholipid antibodies, patients were treated with aspirin or heparin if previous fetal losses were documented. In case of anti-SSA ab, patients were monitored with ultrasound and given dexamethasone in case of atrioventricular block. Fifty-nine pregnancies were registered among 31 women: mean age at diagnosis of SLE was 25.3 +/- 3.7 years (range: 17-31); mean disease duration before pregnancy 4.4 +/- 3 years (0-14); mean ACR score 5.4 +/- 1.5 (4-9). Seven patients had ACL ab, 8 had anti-SSA ab. Pregnancies ended in: 13 early spontaneous abortions (9 not related to disease flare up, 4 related to SAPL); 7 elective abortions (patient decision in 5 cases, severe lupus flare up in 2); one in utero death; 19 full term births (> 38 weeks); and 19 preterm births. Cesarean section was performed in 11 cases (6 for fetal distress, dystocia and previous ceasarian; 5 for active lupus). Severe sepsis occurred in one premature infant who died at the age of 1 week. Intrauterine growth retardation was observed in 11 cases, mean APGAR score was 8.9 +/- 1.43. Child development was normal in all cases except one child with mild mental retardation. Severe lupus flare ups occurred in 6 cases, of which 4 were pregnancies in unadvised situations. Six mild flare ups were documented in the post partum. One fatal case of neonatal lupus with AVB was observed. In conclusion, in our experience, the live birth rate is similar to the general population and the risk of lupus flare up is low when the above mentioned criteria are applied. Systematic increase of steroid dose at pregnancy onset does not seem to be necessary. The high rate of prematurity remains a problem to be solved.     

Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type associated with adenosis.

Primary vaginal adenocarcinoma unrelated to intrauterine hormone exposure is very uncommon. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with primary vaginal adenocarcinoma that showed intestinal differentiation with prominent papillary formations and numerous papillary and villous features with prominent goblet cells. There was vaginal adenosis in the immediate vicinity of the tumor. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a primary vaginal adenocarcinoma of the intestinal type associated with adenosis in a patient unexposed to prenatal diethylstilbesterol.     

Lumboradiculopathy due to epidural varices: two case reports and a review of the literature

Lumbar radicular pain caused by epidural varices is rare. Its incidence is evaluated at 4.5% of operations for disc herniation. We report 2 cases which were only diagnosed during surgery for a herniated disk as is usually observed in the literature. The mechanism behind radicular pain is not fully understood. It may be compression by the varix itself but it may also be secondary to diffculty in venous return. Several anatomical types are described: thrombosed varix (type 1), non thrombosed varix (type 2), localized hematoma (type 3). Our 2 cases corresponded to type 2. The diagnosis can established by MRI at the pre-operative stage. The images vary according to the anatomical type and the age of the lesions. Treatment is by surgery.     

Cardiac abnormalities in end stage renal failure and anaemia

Thirteen anaemic children on dialysis were assessed to determine the incidence of cardiac changes in end stage renal failure. Nine children had an increased cardiothoracic ratio on radiography. The electrocardiogram was abnormal in every case but no child had left ventricular hypertrophy as assessed by voltage criteria. However, left ventricular hypertrophy, often gross, was found on echocardiography in 12 children and affected the interventricular septum disproportionately. Cardiac index was increased in 10 patients as a result of an increased left ventricular stroke volume rather than heart rate. Left ventricular hypertrophy was significantly greater in those on treatment for hypertension and in those with the highest cardiac index. Abnormal diastolic ventricular function was found in 6/11 children. Children with end stage renal failure have significant cardiac abnormalities that are likely to contribute to the high cardiovascular mortality in this group. Anaemia and hypertension, or its treatment, probably contribute to these changes. Voltage criteria on electrocardiogram are of no value in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiography must be performed, with the results corrected for age and surface area, in order to detect and follow these abnormalities.     

Rotator cuff tear: clinical experience with sonographic detection

Between June 1986 and April 1988, 86 sonographic examinations of the shoulder were performed on patients suspected of having rotator cuff tears. Major sonographic diagnostic criteria included (a) a well-defined discontinuity usually visible as a hypoechoic focus within the cuff, (b) nonvisualization of the cuff and (c) an echogenic focus within the cuff. Seventy-five patients underwent both sonography and arthrography. Compared with arthrography alone, ultrasound examinations enabled detection of 92% of rotator cuff tears (24 of 26 tears), with a specificity of 84% and a negative predictive value of 95%. Correlation was obtained in 30 of these patients who underwent surgery for rotator cuff tear or other soft-tissue abnormality. In this group, the sensitivity of sonography for detection of a tear was 93%, with a specificity of 73%, while for arthrography sensitivity was 87% and specificity was 100%. These data indicate that sonography is a useful, noninvasive screening procedure for patients suspected of having rotator cuff injury.     

A case repot of Merkel cell carcinoma on chronic lymphocytic leukemia: differential diagnosis of coexisting lymphadenopathy and indications for early aggressive treatment

Background  

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a monoclonal disorder, characterized by a progressive proliferation of functionally incompetent B lymphocytes. There is increased evidence of association between CLL and skin cancers, including the uncommon Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).