Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:113–114 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.vX6i2.279)   EDITORIAL Prostate cancer This issue of the Hamdan Medical Journal deals with prostate cancer (PCa). Everybody in the medical community today understands that PCa is driven by testosterone; nevertheless, we gained a tremendous new insight into molecular pathways in the last decade, showing that even castration-resistant PCa still depends on testosterone and the androgen receptor. In the state-of-the-art review entitled вЂ�Testosterone and prostate cancer – new insights to help guide therapy’, by Kratzik, I have tried to report, in an understandable manner, the mechanisms involved, as knowledge of these interactions has led to development of new medications with which to treat patients suffering from advanced PCa. In the future, this will gain even more importance. In the last 25 years, there has been a remarkable increase in the diagnosis of PCa owing to the introduction of PSA testing. In addition, a significant proportion of men harbouring PCa will never die of the disease, which raises the question of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. One must not forget the implications for these patients, since any form of treatment bears a certain risk of morbidity. The state-of-the-art review entitled вЂ�Biomarkers for screening and early detection of prostate cancer’, by Rieken and Shariat, deals with this subject and provides recommendations for future research to avoid unnecessary diagnosis. The state-of-the-art review entitled вЂ�Focal ablation of prostate cancerвЂ�, by Schatzl, reports on minimally invasive treatment options such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU is mentioned in the European Association of Urology Guidelines as an experimental therapeutic option in selected cases and may gain further importance in the future. This article describes the potential advantages and limitations of HIFU; however, at present, only a limited knowledge of the long-term results is available. The gold standard for localized PCa still is radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP), which can be performed via open surgery, laparoscopically or a robotic approach. The final state-of-the-art review, entitled вЂ�The Martini-Clinic technique of open radical retropubic prostatectomy’, by Haese et al., deals with the experience of RP of the Martini-Clinic in Germany. RP is still the most widely used approach for PCa treatment throughout the world and has undergone remarkable developments, since its invention, to prevent the risk of incontinence and impotence in patients. This article describes the technique of nerve-sparing RP and the results of such surgery. Christian Kratzik Medical University of Vienna WГ¤hringer GГјrtel 18–20 1090 Vienna Austria 113 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 113 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276)   ВState-of-the-art review Testosterone and prostate cancer – new insights to help guide therapy Christian Kratzik Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and Karl Landsteiner Institute of Andrology and Prostate Research, Mistelbach, Austria Abstract Introduction The role of androgen deprivation in slowing the effects of metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) has been recognized and established for more than 60 years. Nevertheless, the effect is only temporary, and virtually all cancers progress to a castration-resistant state. The discovery that late-stage PCa is driven by androgen receptor (AR) signalling led to it being described as вЂ�castration resistant’ rather than вЂ�hormone refractory’. During the castration-resistant stage, the PCa cell develops multiple cellular pathways to overcome androgen deprivation, including AR gene amplification, AR gene mutation, ligand-independent activation of the AR, involvement of coregulators and tumour stem cells as well as androgen production via a вЂ�backdoor pathway’. New therapeutic options have been created to work against these survival abilities of the PCa cell. Abiraterone (ZytigeВ®, Jannsen-Cilag, Neuss, Germany) inhibits the cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17) enzyme, which is essential for synthesis of testosterone from cholesterol, therefore affecting the traditional, as well as backdoor, pathways. Another promising drug, enzalutamide (XtandiВ®, Astellas, Tokyo, Japan) (formerly known as MDV3100), is an AR signalling inhibitor that may be able to overcome the increased transcription of ARs. It has been well known for several years that, in a certain number of PCa patients, the application of testosterone results in a decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA). To maintain cellular genetic stability and viability, chromosomal DNA must be precisely replicated once and only once during each cell cycle. This is carried out through a process known as DNA replication licensing, in which a licensing factor is bound at the origin of replication. In PCa cells, the AR has a вЂ�gain of function’ and acts as a licensing factor, which implies that the AR is degraded during mitosis because, without such degradation, the androgen-sensitive PCa cell will come to a subsequent S-phase arrest. This may be an explanation for the long-standing experimental paradox that testosterone can have a deleterious effect on PCa cells. It is estimated that one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) during their lifetime. Despite the wide application of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, a significant number of patients still present with an advanced form of the disease, and up to 40% of patients treated with primary therapy, with curative intent, will experience disease progression. For a large proportion of these patients, hormonal therapy in the form of medical or surgical castration [i.e. androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)] can improve survival. Correspondence: Christian Kratzik, Medical University of Vienna, WГ¤hringer GГјrtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria, and Karl Landsteiner Institute of Andrology and Prostate Research, Spreitzergasse 9, 2130 Mistelbach, Austria. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Clinicians treating PCa should have a complete understanding of the molecular background and effects of androgens and ARs to optimize treatment of their patients. The first step in the history of testosterone and PCa was the seminal discovery by Charles Huggins and Clarence Hodges nearly three-quarters of a century ago, in the 1940s, that surgical castration has a beneficial effect on patients with advanced PCa.1 The next step was the discovery concerning peptide hormone production of the brain by Roger Guillemin and Andrew Schally, who jointly received the Nobel Prize in 1977.2 This was a crucial step to enable the development of chemical castration. Since then, we have gained further insight into the intracellular signalling of testosterone and its role as the primary driver for the growth of PCa cells. We have learned that, in addition to peptide hormone production, the androgen receptor (AR) plays a crucial role in the control of the PCa cell. Progress since the 1970s has led to a large variety of ADTs; however, despite being 115 115 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276) ВState-of-the-art revie treated with ADT, PCa can develop into a castrationresistant state. There are a number of mechanisms that contribute to the development of castrationresistant prostate cancer (CRPC) including reactivation of ARs despite castrate levels of circulating androgens, neuroendocrine differentiation and transformation of the disease to an AR-negative, and truly hormone-refractory, disease. CRPC usually develops approximately 1–3 years after the start of ADT and patients with CRPC have an average survival of approximately 30 months. The poor quality of life and prognosis of these patients has invigorated research with the goals of understanding the biology behind PCa progression and identifying novel therapeutic targets. Paradoxically, some patients with metastatic PCa experience symptomatic improvement after exogenous testosterone administration3 and some patients with CRPC experience a PSA decline after exogenous testosterone administration.4,5 Effect of androgens in the normal prostate The majority of testosterone is synthesized under the control of the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland by the Leydig cells of the testis and a minority of testosterone is produced by the adrenal gland. Approximately 3% of the testosterone in blood is bioavailable, while the rest is bound to a sexual hormone that is also bound to globulin and albumin.6 Testosterone is necessary for the sexual differentiation in the fetus and maturation in the adult as well as for the development and growth of the prostate.7 Testosterone is converted intracellularly by the enzyme 5a-reductase in the basal and secretory epithelial cells to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the more potent ligand for the AR. After ligand binding and transactivation, the DHT–AR complex is translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where the activation of transcription of the relevant genes occurs. A sufficient amount of the activated complex, DHT–AR, is required to keep the homeostatic balance of proliferation and survival signals in the prostate, which consists mainly of two cell types – stromal and epithelial cells. The epithelium consists of basal and luminal cells; however, only the latter express ARs. These luminal cells express the prostate-specific differentiation markers, one of which is PSA. Expression of these marker genes is enhanced by the binding of the DHT–AR complex to the androgen-responsive elements in the nuclei of these luminal cells. The AR 116 in the nuclei of the secretory epithelial cells does not directly regulate the cell’s survival or directly affect proliferation and survival of the basal cells; instead, in the healthy prostate, the epithelial cells depend on the paracrine signalling of andromedins, which are growth and survival factors produced by the stromal cells, for regulation of survival. The activated AR within the nucleus of the stromal cells triggers the production of andromedins. These andromedins diffuse back across the basal membrane and enter the epithelial cell to keep them alive. Insufficiency of andromedins results in upregulation of apoptotic signalling via thyroid growth factor receptor in epithelial secretory cells, inducing their degeneration.8 The AR is a protein complex consisting of three domains: the N-terminal domain, the ligand-binding domain and the DNA-binding domain. The ligandbinding domain is required for activation of the AR by androgens and, after translocation to the nucleus, it binds to specific DNA sequences called androgen-responsive elements via the DNA-binding domain, thus promoting protein synthesis. The N-terminal domain is needed for the transcriptional transactivation activity of AR.9 Androgens and androgen receptors in prostate cancer In PCa cells, certain molecular features of the basal and epithelial cells seem to be highly correlated. In certain circumstances, the previously mentioned paracrine AR signalling mechanism is converted into an autocrine mechanism; therefore, these cells are less dependent on stromal cell-derived factors. The AR acquires a вЂ�gain of function’ and, after stimulation by androgens, is capable of direct production stimulation of growth and survival factors.10 In other words, the vital cell functions can be autonomously regulated by these cells. Nevertheless, at that stage, the cell depends on the homeostatic balance of androgens in the surroundings. Initiation of ADT results in a relatively rapid decline in the available serum androgens and, owing to apoptosis of androgen-sensitive cells, temporary tumour remission. However, after 2–3 years, virtually all patients will experience disease progression and ADT will no longer be effective. This was previously considered as a hormone-refractory disease state but findings in the last decade have revealed that, even in this disease state, PCa remains responsive В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276) ВState-of-the-art revie to AR signalling. This resulted in designation of a new stage: CRPC.11 Furthermore, serum testosterone levels do not reflect tissue androgen levels within the prostate, where levels of testosterone and DHT are still sufficient to activate the AR.12 This means that AR signalling and, therefore, AR-related gene and protein expression within the microenvironment of the prostate remain functional.13 This is further supported by the fact that recurrent tumours frequently re-express AR target genes such as PSA and nearly 30% of patients with progressive disease after first-line ADT will respond to secondary hormonal manipulations.14 After initiation of ADT, many, but not all, PCa cells will die. This is evidenced by the eventual disease progression after 2–3 years, showing that PCa cells can develop the capacity to adapt to the altered environment. The resumption of AR-dependent transcriptional activity in CRPC is achieved by AR aberrations, rendering them more sensitive to androgens,15 or by producing the necessary ligands autonomously. If there is a shortage of testosterone after ADT, the PCa cell is capable of producing testosterone itself via the вЂ�backdoor pathway’. To achieve this, the cell needs certain enzymes, the most important being cytochrome P450 17 (CYP17).16 Another possibility is to increase the conversion rate of testosterone to DHT by increasing 5a-reductase activity.6 Apart from the ligand, the PCa cell can also influence the AR itself and, if the AR is more sensitive, it can be activated despite low available levels of androgens. One of the first steps that PCa cells take is to simply increase the number of ARs by amplification. In addition, mechanisms of AR degradation can be impaired, leading to an increased stability of the ARs. Another form of modulation is to enhance nuclear translocation of the AR. In addition to rendering the AR more sensitive to its natural ligand, the protein structure of the AR can be changed in such a way that other ligands can activate it. This promiscuous AR can then be activated by coactivators such as adrenal androgens, metabolic products of DHT and even by antagonists such as flutamide or bicalutamide. This explains the clinical observations of the benefit of the вЂ�withdrawal syndromes’. Overexpression of coactivators can further create or enhance the promiscuity of AR. The third possibility is that the AR is activated in the absence of androgens by growth В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences factors such as insulin growth factor or epidermal growth factor; an AR with these capabilities is termed outlaw AR.17,18 In addition to the three mechanisms mentioned above, there is also the possibility to bypass the AR completely by alternative or parallel survival pathways, thus rendering the PCa cell completely androgen independent. Another method of increasing the availability of AR is to enhance activation of the receptor. A certain proportion of the AR is bound to a nuclear corepressor (NCOR1) and is therefore rendered inactive. PCa cells can upregulate a protein called SIAH2, which removes NCOR1 from the AR, thereby making it sensitive to ligands.19 Finally, the epigenetic state of PCa cells can also be altered so that the AR can be activated without changing its DNA structure. Enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) is also known to be overexpressed in CRPC. Usually, EZH2 silences genes, but in CRPC, a switch in the function of EZH2 leads to gene activation instead of transcriptional repression. This is achieved by alterations in the methylation of the AR.20 Taken together, there are a multitude of mechanisms leading to AR-dependent and AR-independent molecular growth promotion in the PCa cell. Understanding these processes is essential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for early-stage PCa, and especially late-stage PCa, such as CRPC. Paradox effects of androgens in prostate cancer It is well accepted that testosterone fuels PCa cell growth; however, as previously mentioned, there are clinical reports showing an inhibitory effect of testosterone on PCa cells. For a long time this was considered to be a paradox since there was a lack of understanding of the molecular background explaining this phenomenon. Through gain of AR function and loss of AR function in epithelial–stromal cell coculture and coimplantation experiments, it was demonstrated in animals that the AR could function in epithelial basal cells as a tumour suppressor, in epithelial luminal cells as a survival factor and in stromal cells as a proliferation promoter.21 This is 117 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276) ВState-of-the-art revie explained not only by a change in function of AR but also by the role of the different microenvironment. In addition, it could, hypothetically, be that AR acts as a sort of changeover switch whereby certain coactivators influence the AR in different ways. Since we know that PCa can develop at different sites in the prostate, it may be that the stage of differentiation is different and the action of the AR varies accordingly. On the way from a paracrine to a cell-autonomous autocrine mechanism, these changes may be not uniform but overlapping so that testosterone and the activated AR–ligand complex act differently at different sites. Another finding that may explain paradoxical effects of testosterone is its role in DNA replication licensing. In order to maintain cellular viability and genome integrity, chromosomal DNA must be precisely replicated once and only once before cell division occurs.22 Since the genome is too long to start replication from one end continuing to the other end, DNA synthesis has to occur at one of thousands of origins of replication simultaneously.10 The authorization for replication takes place in the early G1 phase and must be cancelled at the end of this phase to avoid rereplication, which could lead to an S-phase arrest of the cell. In PCa cells, the AR acquires a role as a licensing factor, which means that it must be degraded in order to allow relicensing in the subsequent cell cycle. In the early G1 phase, anti-androgens such as bicalutamide can block proliferation of androgen-sensitive PCa cells by deactivating the AR licensing capabilities. If AR licensing took place, degradation would be mandatory at a later stage in G1 phase. Upregulation of the AR protein and/or ligand-induced AR stabilization during this critical time frame results in growth inhibition. This time dependence for AR stabilization provides a theoretical rationale for intermittent androgen blockade.23 New agents targeting the androgen axis in castration-resistant prostate cancer Traditionally, advanced PCa is treated by surgical or chemical castration, which reduces testosterone to castrate levels (≤ 0.5 ng/ml). This effect lasts for a sustained period of time until CRPC emerges, which emphasises that traditional therapies causing surgical or chemical castration do not abrogate all sources of testosterone as approximately 10% of the body’s testosterone is produced by the adrenal 118 glands and by de novo synthesis of testosterone by PCa cells. Therefore, inhibiting testosterone synthesis in addition to blocking testicular function presents a compelling rationale for treating PCa.24 Examples of novel androgen-modulatory therapeutic modalities that are already available to the clinician, as outlined above, are the following. Abiraterone acetate (ZytigeВ®, Jannsen-Cilag, Neuss, Germany) is an inhibitor of CYP17, which is a key enzyme in androgen synthesis. It is also required in the cell-autonomous androgen production (backdoor pathway). Two studies, each enrolling more than 1000 patients who were given abiraterone acetate and who either did25 or did not undergo chemotherapy26 for metastatic CRPC, reported improved overall survival. This is probably due to a reduction in available androgen levels27 and clearly indicates that CRPC clinically remains androgen responsive. A large phase 3 study (known as AFFIRM; NCT00974311) was carried out in men with metastatic CRPC who experienced disease progression after previous treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy and were subsequently given enzalutamide (XtandiВ®, Astellas, Tokyo, Japan). The trial was stopped in November 2011 after a planned interim analysis showed a 35% reduction in the risk of death in the enzalutamide group compared with the placebo group (median survival 18.4 months vs. 13.6 months respectively; hazard ratio 0.631; P < 0.0001). The data of this study also confirm the central role of AR-signalling throughout the disease and emphasize that CRPC is neither androgen independent nor hormone refractory.28 In the near future, studies should be conducted combining abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide to target testosterone and the AR with the aim of increasing survival in CRPC patients. To our knowledge, it is not currently possible to synchronize cells so that they are in the same cell cycle and testosterone administration is not effective in a clinical setting. To date, all therapeutic modalities target the ligand-binding domain of the AR; however, if the N-terminal is blocked, interaction of the AR and androgen-responsive elements is reduced, resulting in impaired protein expression. A small molecule called EPI-001 has the capacity to block the N-terminal and may be a promising way to further impair the androgen axis in PCa in the future.29 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276) ВState-of-the-art revie We are in a highly exciting era regarding the management of PCa, especially CRPC. A plethora of novel therapies based on our increasing understanding of molecular networks underlying cellular PCa activity are now available. Optimal use of such therapies for patients requires familiarity with the biological processes of both normal and malignant prostate cells. 14 15 References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Huggins C, Stevens RE, Hodges CV. Studies on prostate cancer. The effects of castration on advanced carcinoma of the prostate gland. Archiv Surg 1941; 43:209–23. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1977. 2013. URL: http://www. nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1977/ (accessed July 2013). Fowler JE Jr., Whitmore WF Jr. The response of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate to exogenous testosterone. J Urol 1981; 126:372–5. Morris MJ, Huang D, Kelly WK, et al. Phase 1 trial of high-dose exogenous testosterone in patients with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Eur Urol 2009; 56:237–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.073 Szmulewitz R, Mohile S, Posadas E, et al. A randomized phase 1 study of testosterone replacement for patients with low-risk castration-resistant prostate cancer. Eur Urol 2009; 56:97–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2009.02.022 Azzouni F, Godoy A, Li Y, Mohler J. The 5 alpha-reductase isozyme family: a review of basic biology and their role in human diseases. Adv Urol 2012; 2012:530121. Siiteri PK, Wilson JD. Testosterone formation and metabolism during male sexual differentiation in the human embryo. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1974; 38:113–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jcem-38-1-113 Litvinov IV, De Marzo AM, Isaacs JT. Is the Achilles’ heel for prostate cancer therapy a gain of function in androgen receptor signaling? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003; 88:2972–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002022038 Saraon P, Jarvi K, Diamandis EP. Molecular alterations during progression of prostate cancer to androgen independence. Clin Chem 2011; 57:1366–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2011.165977 D’Antonio JM, Vander Griend DJ, Isaacs JT. DNA licensing as a novel androgen receptor mediated therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer 2009; 16:325–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1677/ERC-08-0205 Scher HI, Sawyers CL. Biology of progressive, castrationresistant prostate cancer: directed therapies targeting the androgen-receptor signaling axis. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:8253–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2005.03.4777 Mohler JL, Gregory CW, Ford OH 3rd, et al. The androgen axis in recurrent prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:440–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR1146-03 Mostaghel EA, Page ST, Lin DW, et al. Intraprostatic androgens and androgen-regulated gene expression В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 persist after testosterone suppression: therapeutic implications for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2007; 67:5033–41. http://dx.doi. org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-3332 Montgomery RB, Mostaghel EA, Vessella R, et al. Maintenance of intratumoral androgens in metastatic prostate cancer: a mechanism for castration-resistant tumor growth. Cancer Res 2008; 68:4447–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-0249 Waltering KK, Urbanucci A,Visakorpi T. Androgen receptor (AR) aberrations in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 360:38–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2011.12.019 Locke JA, Guns ES, Lubik AA, et al. Androgen levels increase by intratumoral de novo steroidogenesis during progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2008; 68:6407–15. http://dx.doi. org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-5997 Feldman BJ, Feldman D. The development of androgenindependent prostate cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2001; 1:34–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35094009 Pienta KJ, Bradley D. Mechanisms underlying the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:1665–71. http://dx.doi. org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-0067 Qi J, Tripathi M, Mishra R, et al. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Siah2 contributes to castration-resistant prostate cancer by regulation of androgen receptor transcriptional activity. Cancer Cell 2013; 23:332–46. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.ccr.2013.02.016 Xu K, Wu ZS, Groner AC, et al. EZH2 oncogenic activity in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells is Polycombindependent. Science 2012; 338:1465–9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1126/science.1227604 Niu Y, Altuwaijri S, Lai KP, et al. Androgen receptor is a tumor suppressor and proliferator in prostate cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:12182–7. http://dx.doi. org/10.1073/pnas.0804700105 Nishitani H, Lygerou Z. Control of DNA replication licensing in a cell cycle. Genes Cells 2002; 7:523–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2443.2002.00544.x Vander Griend DJ, Litvinov IV, Isaacs JT. Stabilizing androgen receptor in mitosis inhibits prostate cancer proliferation. Cell Cycle 2007; 6:647–51. http://dx.doi. org/10.4161/cc.6.6.4028 Stein MN, Goodin S, Dipaola RS. Abiraterone in prostate cancer: a new angle to an old problem. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:1848–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432. CCR-11-1805 Fizazi K, Scher HI, Molina A, et al. Abiraterone acetate for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: final overall survival analysis of the COU-AA-301 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol 2012; 13:983–92. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70379-0 Ryan CJ, Smith MR, de Bono JS, et al. Abiraterone in metastatic prostate cancer without previous chemotherapy. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:138–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1209096 de Bono JS, Logothetis CJ, Molina A, et al. Abiraterone and increased survival in metastatic prostate cancer. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1995–2005. http://dx.doi. org/10.1056/NEJMoa1014618 119 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:115–120 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.276) ВState-of-the-art revie 28 120 Scher HI, Fizazi K, Saad F, et al. Increased survival with enzalutamide in prostate cancer after chemotherapy. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1187–97. 29 Sadar MD. Small molecule inhibitors targeting the “achilles’ heel” of androgen receptor activity. Cancer Res 2011; 71:1208–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472. CAN_10-3398 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277)   State-of-the-art review Biomarkers for screening and early detection of prostate cancer Malte Rieken1,2 and Shahrokh F Shariat1,3 Department of Urology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA, 2Department of Urology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, and 3Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 1 Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a significant health burden and the high prevalence and natural course of the untreated disease make PCa ideal for screening and early detection. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the recent evidence on biomarkers for screening and early detection of PCa. A review of the current literature on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and novel biomarkers in PCa diagnosis and screening was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed to identify relevant publications. PSA is currently the main biomarker for PCa screening and diagnosis, and two out of three recent randomized controlled trials on PSA screening for PCa showed a 20–40% risk reduction of PCa-specific mortality in the screened group. In contrast, one study did not show any beneficial effect of PSA screening. Although each study had flaws, the study that reported no benefit from PSA screening had a high contamination rate in the control group and non-compliance in the screening group. However, PCa screening was associated with overdiagnosis, which led to overtreatment. Therefore, there is a need for novel biomarkers that are more specifically associated with PCa and its biological and clinical behaviour. Several such biomarkers are currently being investigated as an adjunct to PSA; however, none can currently replace PSA. Among novel biomarkers, PCa antigen 3 (PCA3) and TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusions appear to be most promising and, currently, PCA3 is reported as the more efficient diagnostic test in patients who have had a previous negative biopsy. Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a significant burden to men’s health. It is the most common cause of cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death. In 2008, approximately 900 000 men were diagnosed with PCa worldwide, with the highest Correspondence: Shahrokh F Shariat, Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, WГ¤hringer GГјrtel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences rates in Europe, North America, South America and Oceania. An estimated one in six men in the USA will be diagnosed with PCa in their lifetime; however, the risk of dying from PCa is only 1 in 35.1 PCa lends itself to early detection as it has a slow natural course if untreated, allowing for the cancer to be diagnosed before it progresses to an advanced and incurable stage. In addition, most tumours have a long latency period and remain contained within one organ, allowing for potentially life-saving therapeutic interventions.2 Moreover, screening or early detection can be performed with a simple test to determine the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. The benefits and disadvantages of PSA-based screening have become the subject of intense investigations and debate. First and foremost, the high prevalence of PCa makes the disease a socioeconomic, as well as personal, problem. Autopsy series have, for example, shown PCa in a high proportion of men dying from other causes, rising from 27% in men aged 41–50 years to 65% in men aged 71–80 years.3 Second, treatment of PCa can be associated with serious and life-long side-effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction;4 therefore, screening should identify only men with clinically significant PCa in its early stages. In recent years, there has been debate concerning the utility and potential harms of PSA-based PCa screening. This review summarizes the latest evidence on this subject and gives an overview of future candidate biomarkers. 121 121 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277) State-of-the-art review Methods A non-systematic literature search using the MEDLINE/PubMed database was conducted to identify original articles, review articles and editorials regarding PSA and novel biomarkers in PCa diagnosis and screening. Searches were limited to the English language, humans and adults. All abstracts were reviewed and the corresponding full-length articles for those that were most relevant were analysed. Prostate-specific antigen screening Prostate-specific antigen is a glycoprotein secreted by prostate epithelial cells. It was first studied in the late 1970s and replaced prostatic acid phosphatase as a PCa biomarker in the 1980s.5 In conjunction with a digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA has become a widely used tool for PCa screening.6,7 However, an elevated blood level of PSA does not automatically indicate PCa as the PSA level can be elevated in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia or inflammation. There is a large body of retrospective or case–control prospective studies on PSA-based PCa screening. However, owing to various methodological limitations, conclusions based on these studies are limited.8 Recently, three prospective randomized trials assessed the impact of PSA-based screening on PCa mortality. Each of these trials is discussed separately below and the results are shown in Table 1. Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian cancer screening trial The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) trial accrued close to 77 000 men aged 55–74 years from1993 to 2001 at 10 different centres in the USA.9 The trial reported information on PCa incidence, cancer-specific mortality (CSM), all-cause mortality and cancer staging. Participants were randomly assigned to 6 years of annual PSA tests and 4 years of DRE. The PSA cut-off was 4 ng/ml, and patients with a PSA above the cut-off, or suspicious DRE results, were advised to seek further diagnostic evaluation. Compliance rates were 85% for PSA testing and 86% for DRE. The incidence of PCa per 10 000 person-years after 7 years was 116 in the screened group compared with 95 in the control group. The incidence of death per 10 000 person-years was 2.0 in the screened group and 1.7 in the control group. The authors concluded that, after 7–10 years of follow-up, the rate of death 122 TABLE 1  Overview of randomized controlled trials of prostate cancer screening Study details Number of participants Age range (years) Ratio of screening to no screening Primary endpoint Median follow-up (years) Main results Conclusion PLCO9 ERSPC10 GГ¶teborg11 77 000 men 182 000 men 20 000 men 55–74 50–74 50–64 1:1 1:1 1:1 CSM CSM CSM 7 9 14 Incidence of death per 10 000 personyears: 2.0 in the screening group ; 1.7 in the control group 20% reduction in relative risk of death from PCa in screened group compared with control group To prevent one death: number of men that need to be screened: 1410; number of men that need to be treated: 48 Rate of death PSA-based from PCa very screening reduced low and not the rate of death significantly from PCa by 20% different PSA-based between the screening screened group associated with and control high risk of group overdiagnosis 44% reduction in relative risk of death from PCa in screened group compared with control group To prevent one death: number of men that need to be screened: 293; number of men that need to be treated: 12 PCa mortality reduced almost by half in the screened group Benefit of PCa screening compares favourably to other cancer screening programmes from PCa was very low and did not differ significantly between the two groups. The PLCO trial has been criticized for various reasons, the first of which was the high contamination rate in the control group. Reflecting community practice in the USA, approximately 44% of patients in the control group had at least one PSA test prior to study entry. Furthermore, in the first year of the trial, the rate of PSA testing in the control group was 40% and increased to 52% by the sixth year of study inclusion, suggesting that the control group contained men who were less likely to harbour PCa. In addition, В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277) State-of-the-art review some cancers that are detectable on initial screening may have been already removed from the study population. Second, the biopsy rate was only around 40% in men who had an elevated PSA.12 Third, a PSA level of 4 ng/ml was used as cut-off and a low cut-off level may lead to detection of low-stage cancers that are associated with higher CSM. Fourth, the follow-up time of 7 years was too short to detect a significant effect of PCa screening, given the natural course of untreated PCa. An analysis of the PLCO data with a focus on comorbidities showed a significant decrease in the risk of CSM in men with no or minimal comorbidities who were randomly assigned to PSA screening versus usual care (22 vs. 38 deaths). It was reported that treatment needed to be given to an additional five men before one PCa death at 10 years could be prevented. These data suggest that selective use of PSA screening for men in good health appears to reduce the risk of PCa CSM with minimal overtreatment.13 European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer The European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) trial was a European-based multi-institutional trial that was initiated in 1991 for men between the ages of 50 and 74 years. In total, 72 952 men were randomly assigned to PSA screening at 2-year or 4-year intervals in centres in Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.10 The control group consisted of 89 435 men who did not undergo screening for PCa. Most centres used a PSA cut-off of 3.0 ng/ml as an indication for biopsy, except in Finland, where a PSA of 4.0 ng/ml was used.10 During a median follow-up of 9 years, the cumulative PCa incidence was 8.2% in the screened group compared with 4.8% in the control group. The rate ratio for CSM in the screened group was 0.80, indicating a 20% relative risk reduction in death from PCa in relation to the control group. However, in order to prevent one death from PCa, 1410 men would need to be screened and 48 men would need to be treated. The reduction in mortality due to PSA screening in the ERSPC study was further increased to 30% when adjusting for non-compliance in the screened population and contamination in the control group.14 An analysis of follow-up data regarding the development of metastatic disease from the four В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences centres conducting the ERSPC study was published in 2012. After a median follow-up of 12 years, 256 men in the PSA-screened group and 410 men in the control group were diagnosed with metastatic PCa, resulting in a cumulative PCa incidence of 0.67% and 0.86% per 1000 men, respectively. This finding translates into a 42% reduction for men who were actually screened and an absolute risk reduction of metastatic disease of 3.1 per 1000 randomized men.15 Despite several methodological strengths, the results of the ERSPC trial should be interpreted with caution. The risk of overdiagnosis was estimated to be around 50% and the benefit of screening appears to be restricted to men in the core age group of 55– 69 years.16 In addition, the results of the ERSPC trial showed that PCa screening is associated with a high risk of overtreatment. Moreover, a control subject with high-risk PCa was more likely than a subject in the PSA-screened group to receive radiotherapy, expectant management or hormonal treatment instead of radical prostatectomy. However, the trial group (screened or control) had only a minor role in treatment choice compared with other variables, and the differences in treatment between groups are unlikely to play a major role in the interpretation of the results of the ERSPC trial.17 GГ¶teborg trial The GГ¶teborg screening trial was originally an independent trial and later joined the ERSPC.11 It accrued 20 000 men aged 50–64 years who were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to screening with PSA every 2 years versus no screening.11 The primary endpoint of the study was CSM. During the median follow-up of 14 years, 12.7% of men in the screening group and 8.2% of men in the control group were diagnosed with PCa. The rate ratio for CSM was 0.56, which translated into a 44% relative risk reduction of death from PCa in the PSA-screened group of the study. In order to prevent one death from PCa, 293 men would need to be screened and 12 men would need to be treated. Interestingly, the GГ¶teborg study reported better outcomes of screening than the PLCO and the ERSPC trial. This may be explained by differences in trial design and cohort composition such as younger patients, shorter intervals for screening, lower rate of PSA testing prior to study entry, lower rate of contamination in the control group and longer follow-up.16 123 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277) State-of-the-art review Current debate on prostate-specific antigen screening Based on the results of the three major screening trials, various health organizations published recommendations on PSA screening. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published the most widely debated statement. In a 2012 update of a previous analysis, the USPSTF recommended against PSA-based PCa screening for all men in the general US population, regardless of age.18 The American Urological Association (AUA) clearly opposed this position and published a response to the recommendation of the USPSTF, which can be found online (http://www.auanet. org/content/media/USPSTF_AUA_Response. pdf ). The AUA currently promotes a baseline PSA value in all men aged 40 years and screening is discouraged in men with a life expectancy less than 10 years.19 The ongoing debate reflects the current uncertainties and opposing positions regarding PCa screening and emphasizes the necessity for novel biomarkers that could help avoid the overdiagnosis and overtreatment associated with PSA-based PCa screening. Novel biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis Currently, PSA remains the predominant tool in PCa diagnosis and screening; however, PSA is a poor predictor of disease. Approximately 65–70% of men presenting with an elevated PSA between 4 and 10 ng/ml will have a negative biopsy result.20 In addition, prostate biopsies can be associated with significant morbidity21 and the limitations of PSA in screening and prognostication of PCa facilitated the search for new blood-based or urine-based biomarkers for PCa diagnosis and screening.22,23 A large part of the limitation of serum PSA is the low specificity because it is not a PCa-specific marker. Methods to enhance PSA specificity have assisted clinicians in deciding which patients should undergo biopsy, but have not necessarily improved diagnostic accuracy or facilitated optimal therapeutic decisionmaking (e.g. PSA density, complex PSA, free PSA, etc).23 More accurate tests that can stratify patients according to their risk of developing PCa and identify men who require repeat prostate biopsy and those at risk for aggressive disease are required. Since the introduction of PSA, advances in DNA sequence and RNA transcriptome profiling have broadened our understanding of cancer biology24 and novel 124 assays are able to detect PCa-associated biomarkers in various biological fluids including serum and urine. The three most advanced urinary tests are discussed below. Prostate cancer antigen 3 Prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) is the most prominent, non-PSA-based biomarker for PCa. PCA3 is a non-coding RNA that has been shown to be elevated in > 90% of PCa tissues, but not in normal or benign prostatic hyperplastic tissue.25,26 Owing to the high sensitivity and specificity of PCA3 in PCa tissue, assays were further developed to detect PCA3 in urine, which led to the currently available transcription-mediated amplification-based urine assay.27 The assay uses PSA transcripts as internal controls for RNA quality and presence of prostate-specific nuclear material. The PCA3 score is generated by the PCA3 to PSA ratio.28 In several studies, PCA3 appeared to be superior to PSA in predicting PCa based on biopsy alone.28–32 A urine PCA3 score of > 35 had an average specificity of 76% and sensitivity of 66% for the prediction of PCa at biopsy, whereas serum PSA had a specificity of only 47% at about the same sensitivity (65%).29 Urine PCA3 measurements provide additional information to the PSA test with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.66–0.72, compared with 0.54–0.63 for serum PSA alone.30 Combining PCA3 analysis with PSA testing further improves both measures, resulting in an AUC of 0.71–0.75.31 In a study of 495 men, PCA3 had a negative predictive value of 90% and was independently associated with PCa.32 The PCA3 score is not influenced by age, prostatitis, prostate volume or 5a-reductase inhibitors. In men with elevated serum PSA levels and one or two previous negative biopsy results, elevated PCA3 scores were associated with a higher risk of PCa. In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PCA3 as a diagnostic test for PCa in the setting of a previous negative biopsy. PCA3 has become the first basis for the molecular diagnostics in clinical urological practice. One limitation of the PCA3 test is the cut-off score used to determine the test as positive. As expected, while sensitivity increases, specificity of the assay decreases with lower cut-offs. Furthermore, a low PCA3 score does not exclude cancer and, therefore, not reaching a satisfactory negative predictive value in order to rule out PCa. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277) State-of-the-art review Studies on the predictive value of PCA3 for aggressive disease have been contradictory. No significant association between PCA3 score and any prognostic parameter (including stage, Gleason score, tumour volume or extraprostatic extension) was found in independent studies;33,34 however, other studies found an association between high PCA3 scores and a Gleason score of ≥ 7, extracapsular extension and high tumour volume.35,36 Recently, PCA3 score was found to be a valuable predictor of low-volume, insignificant cancer35,36 and, as such, PCA3 could be of use in selecting patients for active surveillance. However, in men with significant PCa, PCA3 may not differentiate the aggressiveness of a tumour; therefore, a biomarker indicative of tumour aggressiveness is still an unmet need for patients suffering from PCa. TMPRSS2–ERG Gene rearrangements are known events in cancers such as haematological malignancies and have also been described in PCa. TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions are one of the most common genetic events in PCa, are present in 50% of all cases and are specific for PCa but can also be detected in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia.24 It was shown that men with extremes of TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusion and PCA3 have different risks of cancer and different aggressiveness of the cancer, as seen in the biopsy. In combination with other clinical and pathological parameters (combined using the multivariate prostate cancer prevention trial risk calculator), urine TMPRSS2–ERG and PCA3 may guide the urgency of biopsy after the detection of an elevated serum PSA.37 The combined measurement of PCA3 and TMPRSS2-ERG in urine outperformed serum PSA for PCa diagnosis and may represent a promising urine test for PCa.37 However, urine expression of PCA3 and TMPRSS2–ERG is related to urine PSA mRNA and thus the tests are not informative if the PSA mRNA level is too low. Furthermore, it has to be kept in mind that both PCA3 and TMPRSS2–ERG are currently helpful only as adjuncts to PSA. There is currently a need for studies determining the performance of the tests in the absence of PSA. Prostate-specific membrane antigen Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of prostate epithelial cells. It has been reported that PSMA is upregulated in PCa tissue but not in benign prostatic tissues and no overlap in PSMA expression has been found between benign В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences prostatic hyperplasia and PCa, indicating that PSMA is a very promising diagnostic marker.38 It has been shown that high PSMA expression in PCa cases is correlated with tumour grade, pathological stage, aneuploidy and biochemical recurrence.39,40 In addition, increased PSMA mRNA expression in primary PCas and metastasis has been reported to correlate with PSMA protein overexpression.40 The clinical utility of PSMA as a diagnostic or prognostic marker for PCa has been hindered by the lack of a sensitive immunoassay for this protein. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction studies have shown that PSMA, in combination with its splice variant, could be used as a prognostic marker for PCa.41 In the normal prostate, PSMA splice variant expression is higher than that of PSMA, whereas in PCa tissues the PSMA expression is more dominant; therefore, the ratio of PSMA to its splice variant is highly indicative of disease progression. Designing a quantitative PCR analysis that discriminates between the two PSMA forms could yield another application for PSMA in diagnosis and prognosis of PCa.42 In men with serum PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/ml with no previous biopsies, PSMA mRNA measured in postprostate massage urinary sediments was superior to PCA3 in predicting cancer upon biopsy. At 70% specificity, the sensitivity for PSMA and PCA3 was 64% and 46%, respectively.43 Because of its specific expression on prostate epithelial cells and its upregulation in PCa, PSMA has become a target for therapies and the proposed strategies range from targeted toxins and radionuclides to immunotherapeutic agents.44 First-generation products have entered clinical testing. Conclusions Prostate-specific antigen testing has dramatically changed the diagnostic approach and clinical presentation of PCa. While PSA is associated with PCa, it has only moderate specificity. The benefits of PSA screening have been established in different trials and include earlier diagnosis of disease, reduction in initial diagnosis of metastasis and improvement in PCa-specific mortality. However, PSA screening is also associated with substantial overdiagnosis and overtreatment; therefore, the treatment decision should be tailored to the risk of metastasis and PCa-specific mortality. New biomarkers are currently adjunctive to PSA and can guide further diagnostic 125 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:121–128 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.277) State-of-the-art review tests after initial negative biopsy. When used in the proper context, future biomarkers may prevent unnecessary biopsies and help identify patients who are likely to benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they may be helpful in risk stratification that can lead to an individualized treatment decision. To achieve this goal, there is an urgent need to discover more accurate non-invasive tests for PCa diagnosis and to allow the stratification of patients with life-threatening PCa. Because of the ease of collection, and the fact that prostate cells are directly released into the urethra through prostatic ducts after DRE or prostate massage, urine has become the future of non-invasive biomarker testing. Many studies26,27,29–34 have shown the feasibility of urine for the non-invasive detection of PCa and biomarker research is a focus at many laboratories, where several biomarkers are promising owing to their specificity for the disease in tissue. To our knowledge, only a few of these biomarkers have shown to be useful as urinary marker to date, and two PCa-specific RNA-based biomarkers have been identified (PCA3 and TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusions). The recent FDA approval of PCA3 has led to its introduction in clinical practice and the combination of both markers has been marketed for clinical use as well. Compared with single biomarkers, the combination of several biomarkers considerably improves the prediction of PCa in urine samples and also reflects the biology of the disease, which can be indolent or aggressive. In the era of individualized therapy, the biomarker combinations are necessary not only to predict PCa at biopsy, but also to predict the aggressiveness of the cancer. Preliminary results show that the PCa-specific TMPRSS2–ERG gene fusion may be indicative of the aggressiveness of cancer upon biopsy, although further studies are warranted. As mentioned above, in PCa biomarker development, the greatest unmet need is a biomarker that stratifies men at risk of aggressive PCa, eventually leading to a reduction of unnecessary interventions. Conflict of interest Dr Shariat is on the advisory board for Ferring Pharmaceuticals. 126 References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Wolf AM, Wender RC, Etzioni RB, et al. American Cancer Society guideline for the early detection of prostate cancer: update 2010. CA Cancer J Clin 2010; 60:70–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.20066 Galper SL, Chen MH, Catalona WJ, Roehl KA, Richie JP, D’Amico AV. Evidence to support a continued stage migration and decrease in prostate cancer specific mortality. 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Critical assessment of preoperative urinary prostate cancer antigen 3 on the accuracy of prostate cancer staging. Eur Urol 2011; 59:96–105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2010.10.024 Tomlins SA, Aubin SM, Siddiqui J, et al. Urine TMPRSS2:ERG fusion transcript stratifies prostate cancer risk in men with elevated serum PSA. Sci Transl Med 2011; 3:94ra72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/ scitranslmed.3001970 Burger MJ, Tebay MA, Keith PA, et al. Expression analysis of delta-catenin and prostate-specific membrane antigen: their potential as diagnostic markers for prostate cancer. Int J Cancer 2002; 100:228–37. Minner S, Wittmer C, Graefen M, et al. High level PSMA expression is associated with early PSA recurrence in surgically treated prostate cancer. Prostate 2011; 71:281–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pros.21241 Ross JS, Sheehan CE, Fisher HA, et al. Correlation of primary tumor prostate-specific membrane antigen expression with disease recurrence in prostate cancer. 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Urol Oncol 2013; 31:144–54. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2012.04.016 127 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:129–132 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.280)   State-Of-the-art Review Focal ablation of prostate cancer Georg Schatzl Department of Urology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and Karl Landsteiner Institute of Andrology and Prostate Research, Vienna, Austria Abstract The aim of the article was to evaluate the treatment potential for focal therapies of prostate cancer (PCa). A literature research was performed to evaluate efficiency of the minimally invasive methods of PCa treatment. The two treatment methods evaluated were high-intensity focused ultrasonography (HIFU) and cryoablation. There are few studies with sufficient long-term follow-up and follow-up criteria are very diverse. The increasing number of cryoablation and HIFU treatments in the last 10 years confirms the considerable demand for minimally invasive treatment for localized PCa. Focal ablation of PCa is an interesting treatment option for low-risk PCa, but there are not many opportunities for this treatment and the patient experience is often negative. Introduction treatment but also in those who may be wary of the potential side-effects of radical prostatectomy, such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence.2,4 Potential alternative treatments include cryoablation, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and brachytherapy.2 Furthermore, active surveillance has been accepted as an alternative to active treatment, although Cooperberg et al.5 reported that only 10% of patients who are considered appropriate for active surveillance actually opt for this management. Treatment options In the last 15 years, these minimally invasive treatment options for localized PCa have been studied not only in men deemed unfit for surgical There are few focal treatment options for PCa, with only high-intensity focused ultrasonography (HIFU) or cryoablation described in the literature; however, research has been limited by the relatively small number of patients.6–8 In comparison, treatment of the whole prostate gland has been well documented. Chapelon et al.9 reported that HIFU induced coagulation necrosis and can destroy Dunning R3327 PCa cells in rats. In 1995, Madersbacher et al.10,11 described the effects of HIFU in 10 cases of localized PCa and reported the effectiveness of coagulation necrosis through histological examination. Moreover, HIFU treatment of other tissues, such as benign prostate tissue, testicular tumours and kidney tumours, resulted in coagulation necrosis. Recently, Uchida et al.12 examined 181 men suffering from PCa who were treated by HIFU with the Sonoblate 500 deviceпЈЄ (Focus Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USA). However, long-term studies of focal ablation are rare.6–8 Correspondence: Georg Schatzl, Department of Urology, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Email: [email protected] The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines describe HIFU of the prostate as an experimental treatment.2 Critics of focal ablation argue that, since 80% of prostate tumours are multifocal,13 the utility of Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common form of cancer in men worldwide.1 With the increasing incidence of localized disease, minimally invasive treatment options for those deemed unsuitable for open surgery have become a focus of research and innovation. The current approaches to treatment (surgery, external irradiation treatment and brachytherapy) are the gold standard but are associated with important side-effects.2 SchrГ¶der et al.3 report that 1410 men have to be screened and 48 men have to be diagnosed to prevent one PCarelated death over an period of 9 years.2 The effects of ovvertreatment are also not negligible, with a survival benefit at 15 years of only 1% among a prostatespecific antigen (PSA)-screened population.3 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 129 129 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:129–132 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.280) State-Of-the-art Review HIFU for diagnosis and treatment is limited. Ahmed et al.8 reported that 23% of patients showed evidence of cancer after focal ablation and 8% were found to have clinically significant disease according to the Epstein criteria. In contrast, we treated all patients with a recurrent form of the disease with repeat HIFU of the entire prostate gland. Bahn et al.14 reported that, in a study of 70 men, 17% had a recurrent form of the disease 1 year after focal cryoablation: 1.4% at an ipsilateral site and 16% at a contralateral site.14 However, in that study, 31% of treated men refused a rebiopsy, which limits the authors’ conclusions.14 Ahmed et al.8 suggest two different strategies for HIFU: disease control and cancer cure. Whereas the disease control strategies treat only clinically significant lesions, cancer cures strategies treat all cancerous lesions.13 The authors recommend controlling the PSA levels for 3 months, obtaining a biopsy of the untreated area after 2–3 years and using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).15 However, these hypotheses are limited by the lack of valid criteria for follow-up. The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) criteria are valid for radiation therapy, but are not approved for HIFU or cryoablation. Many new HIFU devices have recently been developed; however, there are few studies with sufficient long-term follow-up. Thuroff et al.16 reported 1.47 HIFU sessions per patient, or a retreatment rate of nearly 50%, in a European long-term multicentre study employing the Ablatherm system (EDAP TMS, Lyon, France). Blana et al.17 described 1.17 sessions per patient in a study of 146 patients, with 21 patients receiving two treatments and two patients receiving three treatments. Uchida et al.18 reported a retreatment rate of 34% in men without neoadjuvant androgen suppression and of 31% in men with androgen suppression treated with the Sonoblate 500 system.18 The increasing number of cryoablation and HIFU treatments in the last 10 years confirms the considerable demand for minimally invasive treatment for localized PCa.19 Data are available for follow-up for an average of 5–7 years for cryotherapy. The most recently developed devices are associated with lower complication rates than earlier technologies, with the exception of an observed rise in erectile dysfunction. Aus et al.19 reported an 130 incontinence rate of 4.4% following cryoablation using the most recent generation of cryomachines, compared with 2–27% using older technology.19 However, the rate of erectile dysfunction is very high, at 80–87%, using new technology compared with using the older equipment, for which there are limited data. Following treatment of the whole gland, rates of erectile dysfunction range from 25% to 61%12,17–19 and Poissonier et al.20 noted an impotence rate of 39% without the nerve-sparing procedure.20 Uchida et al.18 observed an erectile dysfunction rate of 9%,12 whereas Ahmed et al.15 reported no changes in the 15-question International Index of Erectile Function score at 6 and 12 months following hemiablation.8 Ahmed and Emberton15 found that the International Prostate Symptom score decreased from 22 to 12 after 1 year. It has been reported that control biopsy is preferable to MRI, after 6 or 12 months, since the sensitivity of T2-weighted sequences for PCa ranges from 37% to 96% and the sensitivity ranges from 21% to 67%. 21–23 Nogueira et al.23 reported that the sensitivity of PCa detection with transrectal MRI was between 2% and 20% and the sensitivity ranged from 91% to 95%, which suggested that transrectal MRI is not sufficient to identify small tumours for local treatment.23 Trivedi et al.24 detailed the limitations for MRI, such as detection rate and costs, in a cost– benefit analysis.24 Using the ASTRO criteria, in which three consecutive rises of PSA above the PSA nadir suggests treatment failure, nearly 90% of patients were disease free 7 years after treatment; however, using a fixed cut-off level of > 0.5 ng/ml, the rate decreased to nearly 65%.12 Therefore, a definition for the biochemical disease-free survival following minimally invasive treatment is required. Other focal ablations include focal laser ablation and focal photodynamic therapy. The number of treatments currently available is very low and the follow-up period very short.25 Focal ablation of PCa is a interesting treatment option for low-risk PCa, but there are not many opportunities for focal ablation and the patient experience is often negative. In addition, a definition of biochemical disease-free survival following minimally invasive treatment is required for the future. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:129–132 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.280) State-Of-the-art Review References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C, Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2008, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC. CancerBase No10. Lyon, France: International Agency of Research on Cancer; 2010. Heidenreich A, Bellmunt J, Bolla M, et al. European Association of Urology. EAU guidelines on prostate cancer. Part 1: screening, diagnosis, and treatment of clinically localised disease. Eur Urol 2011; 59:61–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2010.10.039 SchrГ¶der FH, Hugosson J, Roobol MJ et al. Screening and prostate cancer mortality in a randomized European study. N Engl J Med 2009; 360:1320–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0810084 Parker C, Muston D, Melia J, Moss S, Dearnaley D. A model of the natural history of screen-dedected prostate cancer and the effect of radical treatment on the overall survival. Br J Cancer 2006; 94:1361–8. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6603105 Cooperberg MR, Broering JM, Kantoff PW, Caroll PR. Contemporary trends in low risk prostate cancer: risk assessment and treatment. J Urol 2007; 178:14–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2007.03.135 Muto S, Yoshii T, Saito K, Kamiyama Y, Ide H, Horie S. Focal therapy with high-intensity-focused ultrasound in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2008; 38:192–9. Truesdale MD, Cheetham PJ, Hruby GW, et al. An evaluation of patient selection criteria on predicting progression-free survival after primary focal unilateral nerve-sparing cryoablation for prostate cancer: recommendations for follow up. Cancer J 2010; 16:544–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ PPO.0b013e3181f84639 Ahmed HU, Freman A, Kirkham A, et al. Focal ablation for localised prostate cancer: a phase I/II Trial. J Urol 2011; 185:1246–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. juro.2010.11.079 Chapelon JY, Ribault M, Vernier F, Souchon R, Gelet A. Treatment of localised prostate cancer with transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound. Eur J Ultrasound 1999; 9:31–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0929-8266(99)00005-1 Madersbacher S, Pedevilla M, Vingers L, Susani M, Marberger M. Effect of high- intensity focused ultrasound on human prostate cancer in vivo. Cancer Res 1995; 55:3346–51. Madersbacher S, Schatzl G, Djavan B, Stulnig T, Marberger M. Long-term outcome of transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Eur Urol 2000; 37:687–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000020219 Uchida T, Ohkusa H, Nagata Y, Hyodo T, Satoh T, Irie A. Treatment of localized prostate cancer using highintensity focused ultrasound. BJU Int 2006; 97:56–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.05864.x Stamey TA, Freiha FS, McNeal JE, Redwine EA, Whittemore AS, Schmid HP. Locallised В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 prostate cancer: relationship of tumor volume to clinical significance for treatment prostate cancer. Cancer 1993; 71:933–8. http://dx.doi. org/10.1002/1097-0142(19930201)71:3+<933::AIDCNCR2820711408>3.0.CO;2-L Bahn D, de Castro Abreu AL, Gill I, et al. Focal cryotherapy for clinically unilateral, low-intermediate risk prostate cancer in 73 men with a median follow up of 3.7 years. Eur Urol 2012; 62:55–63. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.eururo.2012.03.006 Ahmed HU, Emberton M. Benchmarks for success in focal ablation of prostate cancer: cure or control? World J Urol 2010; 28:577–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ s00345-010-0590-y Thuroff S, Chaussy C, Vallancien G, et al. High- intensity focused ultrasound and localized prostate cancer: efficacy results from the European multicentric study. J Endourol 2003; 17:673–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/089277903322518699 Blana A, Rogenhofer S, Ganzer R, Wild PJ, Wieland WF, Walter B. Morbidity associated with repeated transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of localized prostate cancer. World J Urol 2006; 24:585–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00345-006-0107-x Uchida T, Ohkusa H, Yamashita H, et al. Five years experience of transrectal high intensity focused ultrasound using the Sonablate device in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Int J Urol 2006; 13:228–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2042.2006.01272.x Aus G. Current status of HIFU and cryotherapy in prostate cancer – a review. Eur Urol 2006; 50:927–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.07.011 Poissonnier L, Chapelon JY, Rouviere O, et al. Control of prostate cancer by transrectal HIFU in 227 patients. Eur Urol 2007; 51:381–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.04.012 Kirham AP, Emberton M, Allen C. How good is MRI at dedecting and chracterising cancer within the prostate? Eur Urol 2006; 50:1163–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.06.025 Wu J, Gonzalgo ML. Use of magnetic resonance imaging to accurately detect and stage prostate cancer: the hype and the hope. J Urol 2011; 186:1756–7. Nogueira L, Wang L, Fine S, et al. Focal treatment or observation of prostate cancer: pretreamtent accuracy of transrectal ultrasound biopsy and T2 weighted MRI. Urology 2010; 75:472–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2009.04.061 Trivedi H, Turbey B, Rastinehad AR, et al. Use of patient specific MRI based prostate mold for validation of multiparametric MRI in localisation of prostate cancer. Urology 2012; 79:233–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2011.10.002 Zaak, D, Stroka R.; HГ¶ppner M et al. Photodynamic therapy by means of 5 ALA induced protoporphyrin IX in human prostate cancer: preliminary results. Med Laser Appl 2003; 18:91–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/1615-1615-00092 131 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281)   State-of-the-art review The Martini-Clinic technique of open radical retropubic prostatectomy Alexander Haese, Markus Graefen, Thorsten Schlomm, Thomas Steuber, Georg Salomon, Uwe Michl, Lars BudГ¤us, Hans Heinzer and Hartwig Huland The Martini-Clinic Prostate Cancer Center, University Clinic Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany Abstract Despite the emergence of robotic approaches, the technique of open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) is still the predominant approach for surgical treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer in most clinics worldwide. The principles of this technique and its oncological efficacy were published decades ago; however, the surgery carried out today has undergone continuous refinements, reducing the morbidity rate and significantly improving postoperative functional outcomes such as urinary continence and erectile function. We report on the current technique of open nerve-sparing radical RP with data analysis to address the issues of urinary continence, potency, cancer control rates and perioperative morbidity. The analyses are based on 1875 patients who were treated with nerve-sparing RP in the Martini-Clinic. The key elements of open radical RP are a selective ligation of the dorsal vein complex and early release of the neurovascular bundles using a high anterior tension-free and energy-free intrafascial technique, intraoperative frozen section (NeuroSAFE technique) and full functional length urethral sphincter preparation (FFLU technique). During dissection of the urethra, the posterior insertion at Denonvilliers’ fascia is preserved and remains in situ, and is selectively opened above the seminal vesicles. The later seminal vesicles are completely removed inside Denonvilliers’ fascia and six muscle-sparing interrupted sutures are used for anastomosis. Functional and oncological outcome data were determined, which were prospectively collected using validated questionnaires and intraoperative and perioperative morbidity data were also evaluated. Patient age and the extent to which the nerve-sparing approach was influenced by urinary continence and potency. Overall, 97.4% of men less than 60 years of age, and 84.1% of men over 70 years, had complete urinary continence 1 year after nerve-sparing RP. In preoperative potent men, erections sufficient for intercourse were seen in 84–92% of patients who underwent bilateral nerve sparing and in 58.3–70% of men who underwent unilateral nerve sparing. Median blood loss was 590 ml (range 130–1800 ml) and the transfusion rate was 4.5%. Median operative time was 175 minutes (range 95–215 minutes). In organ-confined cancers, recurrence-free survival and cancer-specific survival at 10 years after RP were 87% and 98.3%, respectively. Open intrafascial nerve-sparing RP combines excellent long-term cancer control rates with superior functional outcome and a low morbidity. Introduction Open retropubic prostatectomy (RP) is one of the standard surgical approaches for treating clinically localized prostate cancer.1 Recently, aside from the established open retropubic or perineal approach, conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy and robotassisted radical prostatectomy have experienced increasing popularity.2,3 Today, most clinics have a preferred surgical approach, based on their surgical school, and favourable outcomes are reported with all techniques.2–8 In a recent review article, no superiority, in terms of functional and oncological outcome, was reported for any particular technique except for lower blood loss and transfusion rates associated with robotic prostatectomy.9 However, all techniques are under constant refinement and it is important that updated results of existing techniques are published to allow an ongoing and timely comparison of the available approaches. Such studies aid the fair judgement of developments in each technique and help to better assess functional outcome, efficacy and morbidity. We report our current technique of open nerve-sparing RP, including cancer control rates, functional outcome and perioperative morbidity. Correspondence: Alexander Haese, The Martini-Clinic Prostate Cancer Center, University Clinic Eppendorf, Maratinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 133 133 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review Surgical methods Equipment recommendations for open nerve-sparing retropubic prostatectomy We consider a self-retraining retractor system (Bookwalter autoretractor,пЈЄ Codman, Le Locle, Switzerland), which has 4- to 5-fold magnification surgical loupes and a xenon headlamp for optimal exposure and illumination of the operative field. No specific positioning of the patient is necessary. We recommend spinal anaesthesia and additional total intravenous anaesthesia. Intravenous fluid replacement should be limited to 500 ml until the prostate is removed. Based on an individual fast-track concept, discharge from hospital in a good physical condition is possible 3–4 days after surgery and a minimum hospital stay of 4 days postoperatively is required in Germany for legal reasons. FIGURE 1  The dorsal vein complex adjacent to the prostate, starting on the superior half of the prostate at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions. Open radical retropubic prostatectomy – step-by-step Incision of the endopelvic fascia and preparation of the dorsal vein complex After an 8–12 cm subumbilical vertical medial skin incision, Retzius’ space is established. The endopelvic fascia is incised and fibres of the levator ani muscle are carefully pushed away. However, fibres from the levator urethrae are preserved to maintain the anterior position of the urethra. The attachments of the detrusor apron, also called the puboprostatic ligaments, are isolated and then removed. Throughout the procedure, no coagulation enhancers should be used in the vicinity of the neurovascular bundle or the surface of the prostate to avoid damage to the nerves. A superficial stay suture (3-0 monofile suture using a UR-6 needle) is created distally to the prostate and will later be used for the selective ligation of the dorsal vein complex. The lateral parts of the fascia below the 10 and 2 o’clock positions of the sphincter muscle, also called Mueller’s ligaments, are not touched as they separate the sphincter from the neurovascular bundle (Figures 1 and 2). To prevent backflow bleeding, an additional 2-0 Vicryl suture is placed in the midline of the prostate. The trans-section of the exposed dorsal vein complex, situated between the continuation of the endopelvic 134 FIGURE 2  Only the endopelvic fascia and the membrane of the external sphincter are included within the oversewn distal part of the dorsal vein complex. Mueller’s ligaments, with the adjacent neurovascular bundles below the 10 and 2 o’clock positions, are marked with red arrows. fascia superiorly and the fascia of circular striated sphincter muscle inferiorly, is initiated near the apex of the prostate. The dorsal vein complex is dissected without any ligation until the fascia of the external sphincter is visible. While the fascia of the external sphincter is incised, care is taken that the muscle fibres of the external sphincter that are directly underneath are kept intact. The blood loss during the trans-section is typically moderate, averaging 150–250 ml of blood loss per patient. The selective suturing of the distal parts of the dorsal vein complex between the 10 and 2 o’clock positions involves two layers: the ventral part of the dorsal vein complex, which consists of the continuation of the endopelvic fascia; and the dorsal part, which is covered by the fascia of the external sphincter. This В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review approach ensures that functional tissue of either the sphincter fibres or the urethra is not incorporated into the ligation and that traction to the adjacent tissue is avoided (Figure 3). Intrafascial nerve-sparing procedure The dissection of the neurovascular bundles starts on the anterosuperior part of the prostate with an incision to the parapelvic fascia, because the majority of nerves run on the inferolateral part of the prostate. The neurovascular bundles are mobilized and lateralized before the urethra is dissected (Figure 3). For careful dissection, the attached levator fascia and periprostatic fascia are carefully lifted and incised at the anterior aspect of the prostate above the 10 and 2 o’clock positions. The underlying space, including the nerves, fatty tissue and small vessels supplying the prostate, is identified. When the correct plane of dissection is entered, the shiny, smooth and reflecting surface of the prostatic capsule becomes visible. The neurovascular bundles are gently pushed laterally and inferiorly using the blunt tip of the scissors. The dissected fascia and vessels are clipped with 5 mm rectangular titanium clips and 3 or 5 mm 45В° angle titanium clips, or selective stitches [5-0 resorbable polydioxanone (PDS) sutures], to control arterial bleeding. The neurovascular bundle can be released when the periurethral area is 3–5 cm proximal to the base of the prostate and the bundle can be released into the perivesical fat to avoid tension on the bundle and to expose the prostatic pedicles. FIGURE 3  Longitudinal section of the prostate. Most of the fibres of the neurovascular bundles are running adjacent, on the lateral and lower parts of the prostate; therefore, dissection should begin on the superior part of the prostate. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Full functional length preparation of the urinary sphincter To preserve a maximum amount of functional tissue, the preparation of the sphincter and urethra begins at the apex. Fibres of the circular striated sphincter muscle, covering the apex outside of the prostate, are carefully pushed distally with blunt scissors until the longitudinal smooth muscle fibres become visible. Subsequently, the longitudinal smooth muscle fibres, running inside the prostate, are incised. Transection of the longitudinal fibres is performed approximately 3 mm within the prostate, superior to the apex of the prostate. The remaining muscle fibres are gently pushed distally for preservation. Subsequently, the urethra is incised anteriorly and the preparation is performed for two-thirds of its circumference. By beginning the subtle dissection with the fibres covering the apex of the prostate, the entire length of the functional urethra is preserved (Figure 4).10 Anastomotic sutures and prostate removal Six sutures are required for a complete anastomosis. At the 3 o’clock, 1 o’clock, 11 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions, a UR-6 needle with a 3-0 PDS suture is passed through the ligated dorsal vein complex, which is used as an anchor. The needle is then passed through the mucosa of the urethra and only a small part of the sphincter muscle is incorporated. At the 5 o’clock and the 7 o’clock positions, the last two 3-0 PDS sutures are generated with a UR-6 needle. These also fix the dorsal part of the sphincter to Denonvilliers’ fascia and the raphe of the sphincter muscle for traction of the whole membranous urethra (Figure 5), which is similar to the technique described by Rocco et al.11 As mentioned above, perivesical fat FIGURE 4  Preparation of the apex and sphincter, with the circular and longitudinal muscle fibres dissected very close to the apex of the prostate, ensuring the preservation of a maximum amount of functional tissue. 135 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review Indication for nerve-sparing and lymph node dissection FIGURE 5  Principle of anastomotic sutures. The sutures are placed through the everted bladder mucosa. Traction of the whole membranous urethra is reached by including the Denonvilliers’ fascia and the raphe of the sphincter muscle within the 6 o’clock suture. is mobilized during the nerve-sparing procedure to release the bundles and avoid traction during the surgery. In addition, the release of the fatty tissue up to 3–5 cm proximal to the base of the prostate allows an exact visualization of the prostatic pedicles, which then are selectively ligated or clipped. At the base of the prostate, the Denonvilliers’ fascia is incised for preparation of the seminal vesicles. By incising the Denonvilliers’ fascia, a ventral part of this fascia is left on the specimen to prevent positive margins. The part of the Denonvilliers’ fascia covering the seminal vesicles is incised and is left in situ in order to protect the underlying neurovascular bundle. The tips of the seminal vesicles are identified and the adjacent vessels are clipped and dissected with 5 mm titanium clips. No thermal energy is used to protect the integrity of the nerves running close to the tips of the seminal vesicles. If required, the bladder outlet is narrowed with a tennis-racket suture (3-0 Vicryl) and eversion of the mucosa. The operating field is checked and if bleeding close to the neurovascular bundle occurs, 5-0 PDS sutures, or clips, are used to control the bleeding. End of the procedure The needles of the six anastomotic sutures are placed through the everted bladder mucosa and tied in a single-knot technique to avoid compromising the blood supply, which results in a stricture rate of < 1%. The wound is closed using a self-resorbable intracutaneous suture, which has good aesthetic results. Whether a drain is carried out is left to the discretion of the surgeon. 136 The indication that nerve-sparing surgery (bilateral vs. unilateral vs. no nerve sparing) and lymph node dissection is required is based on nomograms used to predict the probability of side-specific extraprostatic extension and lymph node invasion.12,13 To further increase the oncological safety of a nerve-sparing procedure, frozen sections (NeuroSAFE)14 of the lateral surface of the prostate are taken from every patient.15 In the Martini-Clinic, preoperative nomography and intraoperative sections are used to avoid positive surgical margins in inadequately indicated nervesparing procedures (i.e. in patients with capsular penetration) and to identify as many candidates for nerve-sparing RP as possible. As the advantages of nerve-sparing RP are obvious compared to non-nerve-sparing RP, it seems necessary to identify as many suitable cancers for nerve-sparing RP as possible. Using nomography to estimate the side-specific likelihood of organ confinement in combination with NeuroSAFE intraoperative frozen section analysis in the Martini-Clinic, the rate of patients undergoing nerve-sparing RP for pathologically organ-confined disease is as high as 98.3%. These results corroborate that we strive to carry out nerve-sparing RP as much as possible using frozen section analysis to minimize side-effects on functional outcome. NeuroSAFE frozen sections are cut from the apex to the base of the complete dorsolateral part of the prostate and the sides of the slice are inked in different colours (Figures 6 and 7).15 If tumour cells extend to the outer surface on microscopic evaluation, we remove the corresponding neurovascular bundle and its adjacent tissue. Although NeuroSAFE frozen section analysis does not completely eliminate the risk of positive surgical margins, it does effectively minimize the risk. Results Perioperative parameters and morbidity Preoperative parameters and morbidity were based on the data from 1150 patients, whereas the functional results reported below are based on 637 preoperative potent men. The median operating time was 175 minutes (range 95–215 minutes), the median blood loss was 590 ml (range 130–1800 ml) and the transfusion rate was 4.5%. There was no rectal injury, В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review NVB (a) Right side: Intrafascial nerve sparing NVB (b) Right side: Intrafascial nerve sparing FIGURE 6  (a) The right side of the prostate. (b) The right side of the prostate is inked green before removing the slice for frozen section analyses and intraoperative evaluation of the surgical margin. NVB, neurovascular bundle. (a) (b) FIGURE 7  (a) The different sides of the slice for frozen section analyses. (b) The different sides of the slice for frozen section analysis are inked green on the outside of the prostate and towards the neurovascular bundle, and inked yellow on the inside of the prostate. This technique enables the pathologist to differentiate between true- and false-positive surgical margins. ureteral injury or perioperative death. All patients were routinely investigated by pelvic ultrasound before discharge to detect a pelvic haematoma (present in 5.3% of patients) or lymphocele (present in 7.5% of patients). Surgical revision for pelvic haematoma was necessary in 0.4% of patients and lymphoceles were treated only when compression of the external iliac vein was seen by Doppler sonography; these cases (0.8% of patients) were managed by puncture therapy. No patient had to undergo laparoscopic fenestration for lymphoceles; however, deep vein thrombosis was observed in 1.3% of patients 14 days postoperatively. Functional outcome Urinary continence 1 year after surgery The reported number of required pads for urine leakage after nerve-sparing RP is commonly used to assess postoperative urinary continence. In the Martini-Clinic, validated questionnaires (International В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Continence Society and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30 questionnaires) are routinely conducted 1 year after surgery. Continence results were stratified by age and extent of nerve sparing (the unilateral vs. the bilateral approach). In men aged  70 years, urinary continence 1 year after nerve-sparing RP was reported to be between 93.2% and 97.4% and did not seem to be influenced by the extent of nerve sparing (Table 1). Among men > 70 years of age, urinary continence was observed in 94.5% after bilateral nerve-sparing RP; however, after unilateral nerve-sparing RP, only 84.1% achieved continence, suggesting a meaningful effect of the extent of nerve sparing on urinary continence in this patient group.16 Some 2.6–6.8% of patients < 70 years of age reported needing two pads per day, and this did not seem to be influenced by the extent of nerve sparing. However, among men aged > 70 years, 3.7% needed two pads after bilateral nerve-sparing RP and 10.7% needed two pads after 137 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review TABLE 1  Continence levels 1 year after surgery < 60 years 60–70 years > 70 years Number of pads used in 24 hours Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing 0–1 1–2 > 2 95.9% 3.3% 0.7% 97.4% 2.6% 0.0% 93.8% 5.5% 0.7% 93.2% 6.8% 1.8% 94.5% 3.7% 1.8% 84.1% 10.7% 5.2% unilateral nerve-sparing RP. More than two pads were used by 0.7% of men ≤ 70 years who underwent bilateral nerve-sparing RP and up to 1.8% of men who underwent unilateral nerve-sparing RP. Among men > 70 years, more than two pads were used by 1.8% and 5.2% of patients after bilateral and unilateral nerve-sparing RP, respectively. There was no complete urinary incontinence. Erectile function 1 year after surgery Evaluation of postoperative potency was restricted to men with documented good preoperative erectile function who underwent a unilateral or bilateral nerve-sparing RP and in whom information on postoperative erectile function 1 year after surgery was available. The five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was given before surgery and 12 months after RP for all patients.17 There are several approaches to describe postoperative erectile function and the IIEF-5 score is one of the most commonly used questionnaires. Many centres do not report postoperative IIEF scores but report patients’ ability to perform intercourse after RP instead. Such results strongly correlate; nevertheless, the number of potent patients substantially varies by the type of evaluation and the definition of being potent. Question 2 of the IIEF-5 questionnaire asks for erections sufficient for penetration after sexual stimulation. By this definition, potency rates varied from 84% to 92% in men who underwent a bilateral nerve-sparing RP and from 58.3% to 70% following unilateral nerve-sparing RP (Table 2). The use of proerectile medication, such as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, was left to the patient’s discretion and 20% of men used such medications. The potency rates of only 25–59% of men returned to a normal score of > 19 (based on the IIEF questionnaire). Oncological results In this article, we describe our current technique of nerve-sparing RP and, therefore, cannot present meaningful oncological long-term follow-up data for this specific cohort. All prostatectomy specimens were inked and underwent a 3 mm step-section procedure for pathological work-up. Using margin status as a surrogate parameter for cancer control, the positive margin rate was 5.2% in pT2 cancers and 27.1% in pT3 cancers. However, because our surgical approach is based on previous reports from the Martini-Clinic, we report on long-term data addressing prostate-specific antigen recurrence-free survival and, more importantly, cancer-specific survival rates.4,18 At 10 years after RP, the biochemical recurrence-free survival rates ranged from 5.9% to 87%, depending on the pathological stage, and cancer-specific survival rates ranged from 72.2% to 98.3%. Discussion Retropubic prostatectomy has been performed for several decades and the groundbreaking work on anatomy and surgical technique was published by Walsh and Donker more than 30 years ago.1 Several studies have published results of this technique TABLE 2  Ability to perform intercourse 1 year after surgery < 60 years Ability to have intercourse 138 60–70 years > 70 years Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing Bilateral nerve sparing Unilateral nerve sparing 92.0% 58.3% 84.0% 70.0% 84.0% 63.6% В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review and the ongoing modifications.4–8 The refinements observed in this report are certainly no reinvention of the technique, but nuances of the prescribed approach have changed. One modification in the current technique is a more precise dissection of the posterior urethra. The continence rate 1 year after surgery, defined as no pad used or one safety pad used only, increased from 92% in 2006 to 95.5% in our latest questionnaire series in 2011 on more recent patients. The above-mentioned modification may be responsible for that increase and the intrafascial approach for the nerve-sparing procedure and the increased number of NeuroSAFE intraoperative frozen sections, including the complete capsule corresponding to the neurovascular bundle, is another alteration from previous studies. The current positive surgical margin rate in pT2 cancers has fallen in recent years from 9.4% to 5.2%.18 These data have to be viewed in the context that 98.3% of patients with organ-confined disease at final pathology are undergoing a nerve-sparing procedure. The intrafascial approach has also slightly increased potency rates reported by patients in the present study, with 58.3–92% of men reporting having postoperative erections sufficient for intercourse. Potency assessment based on whether an IIEF score of > 19 was reached resulted in potency rates falling to 25–59%, a phenomenon that has already been described by Menon et al.3 In that study, 70% of preoperative potent men had erections sufficient for intercourse 1 year after surgery; however, only half of these patients returned to a normal Sexual Health Inventors for Men score, indicating the necessity of using identical and validated assessment tools when differences in potency rates of published studies are considered. Cancer control rates cannot be provided on the present cohort as these are recent patients. Nevertheless, the presented data based on the patients who underwent surgery earlier showed favourable recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rates. Although we cannot prove that such data can be extrapolated to the present patient cohort, we believe that long-term cancer control rates will further improve in the present study. This is based on the fact that positive margin rates are lower in the present study than in previously studied patients.18 The importance of negative margins on outcome has been discussed extensively and we believe that intraoperative frozen sections are one of the keys to В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences achieving favourable functional outcomes without compromising the procedure.19 Interestingly, the recurrence-free survival rate in a previous report from the Martini-Clinic in pT2 cancers at 10 years was 80% and increased to 87% in our recent analysis.18 This change may be due to favourable cancers within defined cohorts, which is often associated with the phenomenon that the year of surgery may have prognostic impact.20 One of the aims of this report is to demonstrate that the decrease in morbidity of RP is based not on the methods used but on the experience of the surgical team. Complication rates, and especially transfusion rates, in the current study are in the range of a high-volume endoscopic series, which highlights our hypothesis.9 Prospective trials are needed to show whether or not any method is advantageous over another. Conclusions Open radical RP is still the most frequently performed surgical approach for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Surgical refinements include a strict intrafascial approach and subtle preservation of the posterior urethra and its insertion. In the hands of experienced surgeons, open radical RP provides excellent long-term cancer control rates, favourable functional outcome and low perioperative morbidity. References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Walsh PC, Donker PJ. Impotence following radical prostatectomy: insight into etiology and prevention. J Urol 1982; 128:492–7. Stolzenburg J-U, Rabenalt R, Do M, et al. Intrafascial nerve-sparing endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2008; 53:931–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2007.11.047 Menon M, Shrivastava A, Kaul S, et al. Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy: contemporary technique and analysis of results. Eur Urol 2007; 51:648–58. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.10.055 Graefen M, Walz J, Huland H. Open retropubic nervesparing radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2006; 49:38–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2005.10.008 Kessler TM, Burkhard FC, Studer UE. Nerve-sparing open radical retropubic prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2007; 51:90–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.10.013 BarrГ© C. Open radical retropubic prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2007; 52: 71–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.11.057 Secin FP, Touijer K, Mulhall J, Guillonneau B. Anatomy and preservation of accessory pudendal arteries 139 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:133–140 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.281) State-of-the-art review 8 9 10 11 12 13 140 in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2007; 51:1229–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2006.08.030 Mattei A, Naspro R, Annino F, Burke D, Guida Jr R, Gaston R. Tension and energy-free robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with interfascial dissection of the neurovascular bundles. Eur Urol 2007; 52:687–95. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2007.05.029 Ficarra V, Novara G, Artibani W, et al. Retropubic, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a systematic review and cumulative analysis of comparative studies. Eur Urol 2009; 55:1037–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2009.01.036 Schlomm T, Tennstedt P, Huxhold C, et al. Neurovascular structure-adjacent frozen-section examination (NeuroSAFE) increases nerve-sparing frequency and reduces positive surgical margins in open and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: experience after 11,069 consecutive patients. Eur Urol 2012; 62:333–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2012.04.057 Rocco F, Carmignani L, Acquati P, et al. Early continence recovery after open radical prostatectomy with restoration of the posterior aspect of the rhabdosphincter. Eur Urol 2007; 52:376–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2007.01.109 Steuber T, Graefen M, Haese A, et al. Validation of a nomogram for prediction of side specific extracapsular extension at radical prostatectomy. J Urol 2006; 175:939–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(05)00342-3 Briganti A, Chun FK-H, Salonia A, et al. Validation of a nomogram predicting the probability of lymph node invasion among patients undergoing radical prostatectomy and an extended pelvic 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 lymphadenectomy. Eur Urol 2006; 49:1019–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.01.043 Schlomm T, Heinzer H, Steuber T, et al. Full functionallength urethral sphincter preservation during radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2011; 60:320–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2011.02.040 Eichelberg C, Erbersdobler A, Haese A, et al. Frozen section for the management of intraoperatively detected palpable tumor lesions during nervesparing scheduled radical prostatectomy. Eur Urol 2006; 49:1011–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2006.02.035 Eastham JA, Kattan MW, Rogers E, et al. Risk factors for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy. J Urol 1996; 156:1707–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S00225347(01)65488-0 Salomon G, Isbarn H, Budaeus L, et al. Importance of baseline potency rate assessment of men diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy. J Sex Med 2009; 6:498–504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01089.x Chun FK, Graefen M, Zacharias M, et al. Anatomic radical retropubic prostatectomy – long-term recurrence-free survival rates for localized prostate cancer. World J Urol 2006; 24:273–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00345-006-0058-2 Yossepowitch O, Bjartell A, Eastham JA, et al. Positive surgical margins in radical prostatectomy: outlining the problem and its long-term consequences. Eur Urol 2009; 55:87–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2008.09.051 Cagiannos I, Karakiewicz P, Graefen M, et al. Is year of radical prostatectomy a predictor of outcome in prostate cancer? J Urol 2004; 171:692–6. http://dx.doi. org/10.1097/01.ju.0000107260.98031.0e В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200)   REVIEW Hepatic stellate cell – vitamin A-rich cells SF Bennaser and NC Bird Liver Research Group, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield, UK Abstract Quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are characterized by their localization of perisinusoidal cells and their long cytoplasmic processes, extending both along and around the sinusoids as well as between the hepatocytes. These long cytoplasmic processes, which have numerous vitamin A-containing lipid droplets, are essential for the identification of HSCs in the quiescent phase. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (Abcam, Cambridge, UK) is another crucial marker for HSCs which may allow a distinction to be made between the HSCs and other fibroblastic liver cells. However, induction of alpha-smooth muscle actin (О±-SMA) is the most reliable marker of stellate cell activation because it is absent from other resident hepatocytes in a normal or injured liver, with the exception of the smooth muscle cells surrounding large vessels where it is present. Desmin has been used as a typical marker for contractile stellate cells in rodent livers; however, its expression is unreliable in humans. Furthermore, HSCs’ transdifferentiation to the active phase has been proven to rely on E-cadherin switching to N-cadherin during HSC activation. Significant evidence now exists to consider HSCs as the main matrix-producing cells in the process of the liver fibrosis. Liver injury, regardless of the aetiology, tumour growth and metastases will ultimately lead to activation of HSCs. Several studies have dissected the molecular mechanisms involved in liver fibrosis, most of which are intimately connected to HSCs. As a result, a number of key steps in the process of stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis have been identified as potential therapeutic targets that may be clinically useful in preventing, or treating, liver fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cell Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were described first by Kupffer in the nineteenth century.1 He reported the finding of stellate cells in 1876 by using a gold chloride method that identified vitamin A droplets.2 Recently, HSCs have been considered to be mesenchymal cells with differing functions that are critical to the state of the liver and the response Correspondence: Dr Sirag Bennaser, Liver Research Group, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield, UK. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences to liver injury.1 Confusion arose during research and reporting on HSCs owing to the different names in use to refer to these cells; in 1996, investigators in the field agreed to the standard name hepatic stellate cell to refer to the quiescent phase of the cell type found in a normal liver.1 This term is now widely accepted2 as an alternative to the former litany of names including perisinusoidal cell, Ito cell, lipocyte, parasinusoidal cell and fat-storing cell (FSC). Hepatic stellate cells are located in the subendothelial space (space of Disse) between the basolateral surface of the hepatocytes and the endothelial cells that line the sinusoidal space. These cells represent approximately one-third of the non-parenchymal cell population and approximately 15% of the total number of cells in a normal liver.3 Some researchers have found a difference in the distribution of normal liver HSCs between species. In humans, there is a slight predominance of HSCs in the pericentral zone,4 whereas in porcine liver there is a higher concentration of HSCs in the periportal zone.5 The significance of these different patterns of cell distribution between species is not understood.1 In a normal human liver, stellate cells have spindle-shaped cell bodies with oval, or elongated, nuclei, the cytoplasm of which extends into the recesses between the neighbouring parenchymal cells. Additionally, each cell has a moderately developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, a juxtanuclear small Golgi complex6 and dendritic cytoplasmic processes.7 These dendritic cytoplasmic processes have numerous microprojections (spines) which wrap around the sinusoids between the endothelial cells and parenchymal cells.8 The significance of these spines was unclear until a 141 141 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW recent study showed that they play a critical role as the leading edge of the cell by sensing chemotactic signals and mechanically transmitting the cell under a contractile force.9 and a marker of contractile cells. It has been widely used as a stellate cell marker in human and rodent liver; however, in human liver, the expression of desmin is inconsistent.17,18 This may be related to the distribution of desmin, i.e. desmin-negative cells may be concentrated in the pericentral zone whereas desmin-positive cells may be typically concentrated in the periportal zone.19 In the quiescent phase, the HSCs can also be detected by vitamin A contained within lipid droplets using vitamin A autofluorescence, which creates a rapidly fading blue-green fluorescence at 328 nm (Figure 1A).20 Lipid droplets also represent a characteristic morphological feature of these cells that can be detected in a normal liver (Figure1B).21 Von Kupffer originally described HSCs using a gold chloride method, which is a technique that was later modified.2 Using gold chloride staining on the human liver, a higher number of cells were detected in the centrolobular zone.22 Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (Abcam, Cambridge, UK) is an intermediate filament marker for astrocytes which can be detected in normal stellate cells only, and for a period of up to 2 days after their isolation (Figure 2).23 Another stellate cell marker is actin, which comprises six isoforms including gamma (Оі) and beta (ОІ) non-muscle actin, known as cytoplasmic actin. In contrast, alpha-smooth muscle actin (О±-SMA), О±-cardiac, О±-skeletal and Оі-smooth A single HSC usually surrounds more than two sinusoids. On the anti-luminal surface of the cells, multiple processes extend from the HSC through the space of Disse to make contact with the hepatocytes.8 This close contact with the hepatocytes may facilitate the intercellular transport of soluble mediators and cytokines.1 HSCs also make direct contact with nerve endings,10,11 a finding which has emerged from papers identifying neurotrophin receptors.12 In addition, functional studies have also confirmed that HSCs display a neurohumoral response.13–15 Hepatic stellate cells identification Many antibodies have been developed for the different cytoskeletal and cell surface markers that have facilitated the extensive features of the stellate cell’s phenotype. These markers revealed heterogeneity and plasticity in the adult liver, depending on their lobular location, the type of liver investigated (human or non-human) and whether the tissue was normal or injured. Desmin is an intermediate filament present in stellate cells16 (a) (b) FIGURE 1  (a) Vitamin A autofluorescence excited at 330 nm (the light blue regions). (b) Visualization of lipid droplets within the HSCs obtained from a Wistar rat liver incubated with Oil red O to stain lipid vesicles red. Г—40 magnification. (These photos are the unpublished results of a research project by Sirag Bennaser in 2010.) 142 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW FIGURE 2  Immunocytochemistry reveals GFAP in quiescent HSCs at day 0. The regions that fluoresce green due to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) represent the GFAP protein whereas the regions that are stained blue by 4’, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) are the nuclei of the quiescent cells. x20 magnification. Scale bar = 100 µm. (These photos are the unpublished results of a research project by Sirag Bennaser in 2010.) FIGURE 3  Immunocytochemistry technique expressed actin filaments (Abcam, Cambridge, UK) in activated HSCs at day 10. The regions that fluoresce green due to FITC represent actin filaments whereas the regions that are stained blue by DAPI are the nuclei of the activated cells. x20 magnification. Scale bar = 100 µm. (These photos are the unpublished results of a research project by Sirag Bennaser in 2010.) muscle actin (Оі-SMA) are considered tissue-specific actin isoforms.24 The enhanced expression of О±-SMA is the most consistent marker of stellate cell activation as it is absent from other resident hepatocytes in normal or injured liver, with the exception of the smooth muscle cells surrounding large vessels, where it is present (Figure 3).1 TABLE 1  A summary of the HSC markers in the quiescent and activated phases There are continuous changes in gene expression during the fluctuating phenotype stages of a stellate cell. For instance, the quiescent cell has a pattern of gene expression that changes during the activated phase and that continuously changes during the myofibroblast-like phase. The pattern of gene expression changes in an ageing stellate cell to become more inflammatory and less fibrogenic.25 A study26 has reported the change from E-cadherin to N-cadherin in activated stellate cells during liver fibrosis, which suggests that HSC activation represents transdifferentiation from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype (Table 1).26 Hepatic stellate cells function in normal and injured liver In a normal human liver under standard physiological conditions, stellate cells store and transport vitamin A compounds and 50–80% of the total retinoid produced by the body is stored in these В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Marker Quiescent HSCs Activated HSCs Desmin – Vitamin A autofluorescence Lipid droplets GFAP О±-SMA E-cadherin N-cadherin + + + – + - + in the periportal area of the liver lobule. However, outside this area, the positivity of desmin is approximately 50% – – – + + +, positive; –, negative. cells.27,28 Stellate cells also exert immunoregulatory activity by producing chemokines which promote monomorphonuclear and polymorphonuclear leucocyte infiltration, activate neutrophils and regulate lymphocyte populations.2,29 They express Toll-like receptors which cause HSC activation when interacting with bacteria.30,31 HSCs also act as antigen-presenting cells that activate T-lymphocytes.30,32 Stellate cells secrete, and respond to, a variety of cytokines (Table 2) and they modify the activity of various growth factors. Stellate cells 143 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW TABLE 2  Cytokines associated with HCS activity. The expression and interaction of HSCs with a large variety of biological molecules allow them to mediate multiple activities and functions (adapted from reference 2) Cytokines Cytokine actin Transforming growth factors: TGFОІ1, TGFО± Proliferative or fibrogenic Platelet-derived growth factors: PDGF-B Hepatocyte growth factor Stem cell factor Fibroblast growth factors: aFGF, bFGF Vascular endothelial growth factor Insulin-like growth factors: IGF-I, II Endothelin-1: ET-1, endothelin-converting enzyme Antifibrogenic Apoptotic Hepatic stellate cells and clinical liver dysfunction Plasminogen: urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 Fibrillar collagens: collagens I, II Chemotactic or inflammatory Regenerative also express adhesion molecules such as intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and neural cell adhesion molecule, and they mediate detoxification of ethanol and xenobiotics.2,33 Overall, stellate cells exhibit proliferation, chemotaxis, fibrogenesis, contractility, matrix degradation activity and retinoid loss when activated.1 They have roles in inflammation,34 cell survival and apoptosis,35 fibrinogenesis, matrix metalloproteinase expression, liver regeneration and monitoring of cellular pH.1 144 Fibrosis is an overgrowth, hardening and scarring of connective tissue caused by excessive deposits of extracellular matrix components, including collagen. Myofibroblasts are a cellular source of fibrosis, which, when activated, become the primary collagen-producing cell. Myofibroblasts develop from different kinds of cells, for instance resident mesenchymal cells, developing epithelial and endothelial cells (termed epithelial–mesenchymal and endothelial–mesenchymal transition respectively) and circulating fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes that are derived from bone marrow stem cells.36 Stellate cell activation refers to the alteration of a resting vitamin A-rich cell to one that is proliferating, fibrogenic and contractile, which is the main pathway of hepatic fibrosis.1 The activation of stellate cells consists of two major phases – initiation and perpetuation – which is then followed by the resolution of the fibrosis once the underlying cause subsides. The initiation phase, known as the preinflammatory stage, is associated with early changes in gene and phenotype expression that induce the cells to respond to cytokine stimulation. It begins primarily from paracrine stimulation, which is a result of changes in the surrounding extracellular matrix and the exposure to lipid peroxides and the products of damaged hepatocytes.1 In contrast, perpetuation involves maintaining the activated phenotype and fibrosis under the effects of these stimuli. Nonetheless, the resolution of fibrosis is related to pathways that lead the stellate cell to apoptosis or reversion to the quiescent phase.37 Leptin Renin, angiotensin II Macrophage colony-stimulating factor Platelet-activating factor CD40 Tumour necrosis factor О± Opioids Toll-like receptor ligands: TLR4, CD14 Interleukin 6 Neurotrophins: NT-4, nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor Interleukin 10 Adiponectin Follistatin Fas signalling Stellate cells and liver fibrosis Extracellular matrix accumulation in the space of Disse produces a disruption of the normal, fenestrated microanatomy of the hepatic sinusoids. This mechanism is identified as the capillarization of the sinusoids38 that vitiate the normal bidirectional exchange between the portal venous blood and parenchymal cells. This causes toxic or nutrient substances to be degraded, or metabolized, by the hepatocytes and therefore to enter the bloodstream. In addition, this mechanism leads to problems that are mainly due to portal hypertension and declining hepatocellular synthetic function, for instance hyperbilirubinaemia, hepatic encephalopathy, В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW hypoalbuminaemia and a deficiency of coagulation factors.39 An accumulation of data40 suggests that stellate cells also play a role in the regulation of portal venous blood and affect portal blood resistance. Strong evidence supports the view that portal hypertension may be partially created by the modulation of the contractile activity of stellate cells in the space of Disse under the effect of the vasoactive components.38 In the experimental field, portal hypertension can be reduced by 20–30% by using pharmacological agents. Currently, stellate cells are regarded as therapeutic targets to prevent and treat the complications of chronic liver disease.40 Hepatic stellate cells and tumour metastases Hepatic stellate cells have a role in tumour growth and metastatic processes. Experimental studies on rats have reported that a conditioned medium from cultures of hepatocellular carcinoma hepatocytes could induce HSC activation.41 Injection of colon carcinoma cells in nude mice provoked the formation of hepatic metastatic foci and the activation of HSCs.42 The latter produced hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor ОІ1 (TGF-ОІ1), which induced tumour cell migration and proliferation. Similarly, tumour cells secreted platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B and enhanced stellate cell locomotion and proliferation.42 In vitro experiments on melanoma cells that cause liver metastases concluded that tumour cells activate HSCs, which in turn promote angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor expression.43 Experiments on rats44 showed that co-cultures of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) and HSCs presented spontaneous differentiation, with HSCs forming the core of the cell population and SECs forming the surface. In vitro-activated stellate cells, cultured with SECs, expressed a functional smooth muscle cell phenotype and formed capillary-like structures in angiogenesis assays. Tumours may activate HSCs and therefore these studies44 implicated their mediation in neoangiogenesis through interactions with SECs. In hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases, most investigations are concerned with the activated HSCs that are responsible for the formation of cancer stroma and fibrotic capsules.45,46 In addition, in biliary malignancy and hepatocellular carcinoma, activated stellate cells contribute to the accumulation of tumour stroma.47,48 These В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences results support those of the animal studies that suggested that activated stellate cells play a role in hepatic metastases,43,49 and cell culture studies have demonstrated paracrine activation of stellate cells by tumour cells.41 Conclusion Hepatic stellate cells, also known as FSCs, reside in the space of Disse between hepatocytes and the hepatic sinusoids. In a normal human liver, the main function of HSCs is to store vitamin A as well as to produce extracellular matrix components. After liver injury, cytokines are stimulated following secretion from inflammatory cells, Kupffer cells and dysplastic hepatocytes. HSCs then undergo activation, which marks the transition from quiescent vitamin A-rich cells into proliferative, migrated, contractile and protein-synthesizing myofibroblasts that are regarded as the major cell type responsible for liver fibrosis.1 Myofibroblasts were recently postulated to be a component of the prometastatic liver microenvironment because they can transdifferentiate into highly proliferative and motile myofibroblasts that are implicated in the desmoplastic reaction and tumour growth.50 The activation of HSCs is a complex process regulated by multiple factors, for example TGF-ОІ1 and PDGF signalling pathways, which may present as therapeutic targets in the prevention and treatment of liver metastases. It would be worth investigating whether targeting the HSCs/myofibroblasts with a growth factor antagonist in coordination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery would be effective in reducing liver metastases and increasing the survival rate of patients by targeting both tumour cells and the tumour milieu.51 Acknowledgement I thank Dr NC Bird (Liver Research Group, Floor K, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield) for his guidance and advice in the preparation of this manuscript. Disclosure No author has any potential conflict of interest. 145 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 146 Friedman SL. Hepatic stellate cells: protean, multifunctional, and enigmatic cells of the liver. 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Hepatology 1984; 4:709–14. http://dx.doi. org/10.1002/hep.1840040425 Schmitt-Graff A, Desmouliere A, Gabbiani G. Heterogeneity of myofibroblast phenotypic features: an example of fibroblastic cell plasticity. Virchows Arch 1994; 425:3–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00193944 Friedman SL, Rockey DC, McGuire RF, Maher JJ, Boyles JK, Yamasaki G. Isolated hepatic lipocytes and Kupffer cells from normal human liver: morphological and functional characteristics in primary culture. Hepatology 1992; 15:234–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.1840150211 Ballardini G, Groff P, Badiali de Giorgi L, Schuppan D, Bianchi FB. Ito cell heterogeneity: desmin-negative Ito cells in normal rat liver. Hepatology 1994; 19:440–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.1840190224 Friedman SL, Roll FJ, Boyles J, Bissell DM. Hepatic lipocytes: the principal collagen-producing cells of normal rat liver. 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Lab Invest 2002; 82:323–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.3780426 Lim YS, Lee HC, Lee HS. Switch of cadherin expression from E- to N-type during the activation of rat hepatic stellate cells. Histochem Cell Biol 2007; 127:149–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00418-006-0233-y Hendriks HF, et al. Distributions of retinoids, retinoid-binding proteins and related parameters in different types of liver cells isolated from young and old rats. Eur J Biochem 1988; 171:237–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1988.tb13782.x Hendriks HF, Blaner WS, Wennekers HM, et al. Perisinusoidal fat-storing cells are the main vitamin A storage sites in rat liver. Exp Cell Res 1985; 160:138–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0014-4827(85)90243-5 Maher JJ. Interactions between hepatic stellate cells and the immune system. Semin Liver Dis, 2001; 21:417–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-17555 Winau F, Quack C, Darmoise A, Kaufmann SH. Starring stellate cells in liver immunology. Curr Opin Immunol 2008; 20:68–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coi.2007.10.006 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:141–148 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.200) REVIEW 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Brun P, Castagliuolo I, Pinzani M, PalГ№ G, Martines D. Exposure to bacterial cell wall products triggers an inflammatory phenotype in hepatic stellate cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2005; 289:G571–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00537.2004 Winau F, Hegasy G, Weiskirchen R, et al. Ito cells are liver-resident antigen-presenting cells for activating T cell responses. Immunity 2007; 26:117–29. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2006.11.011 March S, Graupera M, Rose Sarrias M, et al. Identification and functional characterization of the hepatic stellate cell CD38 cell surface molecule. Am J Pathol 2007; 170:176–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2007.051212 Aleffi S, Petrai I, Bertolani C, et al. Upregulation of proinflammatory and proangiogenic cytokines by leptin in human hepatic stellate cells. Hepatology 2005; 42:1339–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.20965 Qamar A, Sheikh SZ, Masud A, et al. In vitro and in vivo protection of stellate cells from apoptosis by leptin. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51:1697–705. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9244-8 Wynn TA. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis. J Pathol 2008; 214:199–210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/path.2277 Friedman SL. Hepatic fibrosis – overview. Toxicology 2008; 254:120–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2008.06.013 Moreira RK. Hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2007; 131:1728–34. Gressner AM, Weiskirchen R. Modern pathogenetic concepts of liver fibrosis suggest stellate cells and TGF-beta as major players and therapeutic targets. J Cell Mol Med 2006; 10:76–99. http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2006.tb00292.x Reynaert H, Thompson MG, Thomas T, Geerts A. Hepatic stellate cells: role in microcirculation and pathophysiology of portal hypertension. Gut 2002; 50:571–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.50.4.571 Faouzi S, Lepreux S, Bedin C, et al. Activation of cultured rat hepatic stellate cells by tumoral hepatocytes. Lab Invest 1999; 79:485–93. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 Shimizu S, Yamada N, Sawada T, et al. In vivo and in vitro interactions between human colon carcinoma cells and hepatic stellate cells Jpn J Cancer Res 2000; 91:1285–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1349-7006.2000.tb00916.x Olaso E, Salado C, Egilegor E, et al. Proangiogenic role of tumor-activated hepatic stellate cells in experimental melanoma metastasis. Hepatology 2003; 37:674–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/jhep.2003.50068 Wirz W, Antoine M, Tag CG, et al. Hepatic stellate cells display a functional vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype in a three-dimensional co-culture model with endothelial cells. Differentiation 2008; 76:784–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-0436.2007.00260.x Lunevicius R, Nakanishi H, Ito S, et al. Clinicopathological significance of fibrotic capsule formation around liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2001; 127:193–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ s004320000199 Mazzocca A, Coppari R, De Franco R, et al. A secreted form of ADAM9 promotes carcinoma invasion through tumor–stromal interactions. Cancer Res 2005; 65: 4728–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-4449 Enzan H, Himeno H, Iwamura S, et al. Alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive perisinusoidal stromal cells in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 1994; 19:895–903. Schmitt-Graeff A, Jing R, Nitschke R, DesmouliГЁre A, Skalli O. Synemin expression is widespread in liver fibrosis and is induced in proliferating and malignant biliary epithelial cells. Hum Pathol 2006; 37:1200–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.humpath.2006.04.017 Olaso E, Santisteban A, Bidaurrazaga J, Gressner AM, Rosenbaum J, Vidal-Vanaclocha F. Tumor-dependent activation of rodent hepatic stellate cells during experimental melanoma metastasis. Hepatology 1997; 26:634–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.510260315 Vidal-Vanaclocha F. The prometastatic microenvironment of the liver. Cancer Microenviron 2008; 1:113–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12307-008-0011-6 Kang N, Gores GJ, Shah VH. Hepatic stellate cells: partners in crime for liver metastases? Hepatology 2011; 54:707–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hep.24384 147 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225)   Review Literature review of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo1 and Douglas John Lindsay Maloney2 Department of Urology, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK, and 2Department of Pathology, Airedale District General Hospital, Steeton, Keighley, West Yorkshire, UK 1 Abstract Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is a rare tumour that resembles small cell carcinoma in the lung and elsewhere. Because of its rarity, practitioners may not be familiar with the biological behaviour of this tumour. The aim of this article is to review the literature on small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Various internet search engines were used to explore the literature on small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder including Google, Google Scholar, UpToDate, Pub Med and Educus. About 42 references were selected as the basis for the literature review. Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is an aggressive tumour that typically presents with advanced or disseminated disease. This is a rare disease, accounting for only 0.5–1.0% of all bladder malignancies. Affected individuals show no age, sex or clinical differences from those with the typical type of urothelial carcinoma. Some cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder arise from urothelial carcinoma in situ while others arise from totipotent stem cells in the submucosa. The tumours are usually large polypoid masses that can occur anywhere in the bladder. Microscopically, the tumours appear as loosely cohesive sheets, or nests, of small to intermediate-sized cells with minimal cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei, stippled or coarsely granular chromatin, indistinct nucleoli and no nuclear overlapping. Mitotic activity and necrosis are common and the tumours may co-exist with other forms of in situ, or invasive, carcinoma. Radical cystectomy is the main treatment for small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, unless metastatic disease is present, followed by systemic treatment. Response to chemotherapy is good, similar to treatment for small cell carcinoma of the lung, but the overall prognosis remains poor. There is no consensus regarding treatment of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder although general recommendations for the approach to treatment of this aggressive disease have been suggested. Introduction Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is an uncommon, aggressive and poorly differentiated Correspondence: Mr Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo, Department of Urology, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences neuroendocrine tumour that has similar behavioural characteristics to small cell carcinoma of the lung.1 Gilligan et al.1 reported that although small cell carcinoma has been classified as an isolated entity, the results of a molecular study by Cheng et al.2 indicate that small cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma are derived from the same clonal population. Gilligan et al.1 reported that small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder has frequently been found in association with other histological forms of bladder cancer. Cheng et al.3 reported on a sample of 66 cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, of which 44 (67%) were associated with other types of tumours and 38 (58%) were associated with elements of urothelial carcinoma. This paper reviews the literature on small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and provides a discussion of the topic. Epidemiology Sved et al.4 and Koay et al.5 reported that between 1991 and 2005 the annual incidence of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder increased from 0.05 to 0.14 cases per 100 000. Nevertheless, small cell carcinoma accounts for less than 1% of all urinary bladder malignancies worldwide. Cheng et al.3 reported that a history of smoking is associated with the development of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, and Koay et al.5 reported that the prevalence of small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder is higher in whites than in nonwhites (91% vs. 9%). Koay et al.5 also found that 149 149 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review men are more frequently affected than women (76% vs. 24%), the median age at diagnosis is 73 years and patient survival varies substantially depending upon the presence or absence of distant metastases at the time of initial diagnosis but the median overall survival is 11 months. Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is rare, accounting for only 0.5–1.0% of all bladder malignancies, and affected individuals show no age, sex or clinical differences from those with the usual type of urothelial carcinoma.6 Aetiology Gaisa et al.7 reported that at least some cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder arise from urothelial carcinoma in situ, whereas Shahab8 reported that small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder may arise from totipotent stem cells in the submucosa. Clinical features It has been suggested that the clinical features of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder are similar to those of other bladder tumours, and reflect the presence of a mass.1 It has also been suggested that the tumour normally infiltrates the wall of the urinary bladder, leading to either ulceration or bleeding, and that most patients present with locally advanced disease or metastatic disease.1 Koay et al.5 reported that, of a sample of 642 patients presenting with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, 12% had stage I disease, 32% stage II disease, 14% stage III disease and 36% stage IV disease at the time of presentation; the remaining 6% of the tumours were unstaged. It has been stated by Koay et al.5 that most patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in the USA present with poorly differentiated (33% of patients) or undifferentiated tumours (43%), and the most common sites for tumours to form in the urinary bladder are the lateral wall (16%) and the the dome (10%), although they can occur anywhere. Twenty-four per cent of patients in a study reported by Koay et al.5 had distant metastases at the time of initial diagnosis and a further 5% had multiple lymph node metastases that were stage N2 or N3. 150 Paraneoplastic syndromes can occur, but not as commonly as with small cell carcinoma of the lung.1,9 It has also been stated that in the majority of cases (65%) small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is advanced by the time of diagnosis or soon after.6 Occasionally, it may be associated with hypercalcaemia and ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). A diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder should be made whenever a tumour includes a significant component of small cell because the prognosis will be affected by this component.6 This disease is aggressive and metastases of the regional lymph nodes and the peritoneal cavity develop rapidly; median survival is reported to be 11 months.5,6 Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder rarely co-exists with tumour cells that exhibit skeletal muscle differentiation10 and in this case 5-year survival ranges from 8% to 16%.3 Pathology Gross findings Jiang and Cheng11 reported that small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder has a polypoid, or nodular, appearance and frequently has an ulcerated surface. Gross examination reveals a solid tumour that originates from the mucosa and often penetrates deeply into the wall of the urinary bladder. Microscopic findings With regard to the microscopic findings, Cheng et al.3 reported that 68% are usually admixed with classic urothelial carcinomas or adenocarcinomas of the urinary bladder. The histological features of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder are the same as those of small cell carcinoma in other organs.11 Microscopic examination of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder reveals sheets and nests of loosely cohesive, small, round or oval cells with very scant cytoplasm (Figure 1). The cell nuclei of the tumour are typically hyperchromatic with coarsely granular chromatin, and nuclei moulding can almost invariably be seen. Figures 1 to 7 show haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of a muscle-invasive small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder at different magnification. The tumour shown in these figures consists of sheets of small dark pleomorphic cells with scant cytoplasm and finely stippled nuclear В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review FIGURE 1  Haematoxylin and eosin staining at × 100 magnification. The tumour consists of sheets of small dark pleomorphic cells with scant cytoplasm and finely stippled nuclear chromatin. There are some pink strands of detrusor muscle confirming the tumour to be at least a stage pT2. FIGURE 2  Haematoxylin and eosin staining at × 400 magnification. FIGURE 3  An additional view of haematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumour in Figure 1 at × 400 magnification. FIGURE 4  Haematoxylin and eosin staining at × 200 magnification. chromatin. In Figure 1, some pink strands of detrusor muscle are apparent, confirming the tumour had invaded the muscle and was therefore at least stage pT2. In addition, the tumour was solid and contained no other elements (e.g. there were no elements of transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma). Mitosis is present, the nucleoli are absent or small and tumour necrosis is present.11 Cytological examination of the urine specimen of patients suffering from small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder often reveals single and loosely cohesive clusters of tumour cells with typical small cell carcinoma morphology. Cytology В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Cytological examination of urine specimens from patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder shows numerous tumour cells in loose clusters. The cells tend to be larger than lymphocytes and show scant cytoplasm. The nuclei tend to be eccentric with evenly dispersed, but coarse, chromatin and the nucleoli tend to be indistinct.6 Immunohistochemistry Immunohistochemistry is a useful tool in the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary 151 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review FIGURE 5  An additional view of haematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumour in Figure 4 at × 400 magnification. FIGURE 6  An additional view of haematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumour in Figure 4 at × 400 magnification. FIGURE 7  An additional view of haematoxylin and eosin staining at of the tumour in Figure 4 × 400 magnification. FIGURE 8  Immunohistochemistry for small cell neuroendocrine marker CD56 at × 400 magnification. bladder because neuroendocrine markers, including chromogranin A, synaptophysin, CD56 and neuron-specific enolase, are quite often focal or diffusely positive. Figure 8 shows positive immunohistochemical staining of the muscle-invasive small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder for CD56. Figures 9 and 10 show positive immunohistochemical staining for synaptophysin at × 200 magnification (Figure 9) and × 400 magnification (Figure 10). however, a combination of low-molecular-weight cytokeratin, CAM5.2 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) is mostly positive. Documented immunohistochemical positive stains in small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder include: в– в– в– в– Some authors12,13 have stated that a definitive diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder can be achieved based on morphology alone as immunohistochemisty frequently fails to identify the markers mentioned previously. A cocktail of cytokeratin markers is quite often non-reactive; 152 в– в– EMA and CAM5.2 (which result in a visible dot-like perinuclear pattern); neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin, both of which frequently express neuroendocrine features;14 variable c-Kit (27% of small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are positive for c-Kit expression),15 chromogranin (weak/focal if present), cytokeratin 716 and thyroid transcription factor 1.17 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review FIGURE 9  Immunohistochemical staining of small cell carcinoma showing positive staining for synaptophysin at × 200 magnification. FIGURE 10  Immunohistochemical staining of small cell carcinoma showing positive staining for synaptophysin at × 400 magnification. Pernick6 stated that neuroendocrine stains are of questionable value to many researchers for the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder as this is based on a morphological diagnosis. It has been documented that immunohistochemical stains for various markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen marker, cytokeratin 20 marker and human papillomavirus (HPV) marker are negative for small cell carcinoma.8 to broad-spectrum HPV DNA amplification and typing and were immunohistochemically examined to test for the expression of p16, Rb and p53 proteins. The results showed that HPV DNA was detected in every case (100%) and 18 cases (82%) were found to harbour HPV type 18. The tumour cells in 20 of the cases (91%) exhibited strong nuclear staining for p16, which was associated with a complete loss of Rb nuclear staining in 16 cases (73%), and the p53 protein was essentially undetectable in all cases. HPV DNA was not detected in nine colorectal and eight urinary bladder small cell carcinoma samples that were included in the study for comparison. While similar p16 and Rb expression patterns were observed in these HPV-negative colorectal and urinary bladder small cell carcinoma samples, a different expression pattern for p53 was noted, in which strong nuclear staining was seen in 8 of the 17 cases (47%, P = 0.0004 compared with cervical tumours). Wang and Lu18 reported that these observations indicate that different mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of small cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix compared with colorectal small cell carcinomas or small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder. These observations also support the suggestion that overexpression of nuclear p16 serves as an indication of Rb malfunction in tumour cells, which may or may not result from high-risk HPV infection. The aforementioned results of protein expression may relate only to carcinomas of the cervix; however, the small sample size of small cell carcinomas of the bladder does not allow for a definite conclusion to be reached. Electron microscopy Electron microscopic examination of small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder tissue may reveal only few dense core granules.6 Detection of human papillomavirus DNA and the expression of p16, retinoblastoma protein and p53 proteins in small cell carcinoma Human papillomavirus has been implicated as an aetiological agent for the development of primary small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.18 It has been demonstrated that the HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins are able to inactivate the tumoursuppressing functions of p53 and retinoblastoma protein (Rb). With regard to squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, HPV infection is also associated with overexpression of p16, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor.18 Wang and Lu18 reported on 22 cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that were subjected В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 153 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review Genomic alterations Terracciano et al.19 reported that small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder shows abundant genomic abnormalities, typically more than 10, similar to small cell carcinomas of other organs.19 Terracciano et al.19 also reported that the most frequent changes occurring in small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder are deletions of 10q, 4q, 5q and 13q and gains in 8q, 5p, 6p and 20q. They also showed that small cell carcinoma has been caused by acquisitions of genomic alterations in a typical invasive urothelial carcinoma. In addition, genomic DNA amplifications are identified in many loci where oncogenes are located.19 Differential diagnosis It has been suggested that the following tumours should be considered in the differential diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder:6 в– в– в– в– в– в– High-grade urothelial carcinoma that, by definition, should lack any appreciable small cell component such as p63+ or synaptophysin. A limited immunohistochemical panel including pan-cytokeratin, synaptophysin and p63 can discriminate high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma and small cell carcinoma from high-grade urothelial carcinoma.20 Lymphoma, in which tumour cells are smaller and positive for CD45 and B- or T-cell markers.6 Metastatic small cell carcinoma, in which there is usually no associated urothelial carcinoma.6 Treatment Gilligan et al.1 stated that there is currently no consensus regarding the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder because there are no randomized clinical trials on which definitive recommendations could be made for the management of patients. However, the results of several retrospective studies and one prospective phase II study provide some insight into the therapeutic approach to the management of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.1,21–24 Localized disease Some authors3,4,25,26 have reported that patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder are likely to have a poor prognosis, even when it is 154 evident that the disease is localized, as a result of the potential development of disseminated disease. However, some studies1,21 have shown that small cell carcinoma of the bladder responds to the same chemotherapy procedures that are used for the management of small cell carcinoma of the lung and that some patients can achieve lasting complete remission. Some of these studies1,21 have also reported that combination or aggressive systemic chemotherapy, followed by local therapy (cystectomy or radiotherapy), may increase the long-term survival rate among who present with clinically localized disease.1,21 Cystectomy may or may not be accompanied by adjuvant chemotherapy, but cystectomy alone is associated with a relatively poor prognosis.4,22,23 Siefker-Radtke et al.23 reported a retrospective series of 25 patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder who initially underwent cystectomy between 1985 and 2002. They reported that the 5-year cancerspecific survival was 36%, and 7 of these 25 patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy; nevertheless, their outcome was not better than the outcome of those patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Choong et al.22 reported a series of 44 patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder who were treated between 1975 and 2003. They reported that 7 out of 17 patients (41%) were cured following radical cystectomy alone. They also reported that the patients who received perioperative chemotherapy, instead of surgery alone, were more likely to be cured irrespective of whether they had stage II (100% vs. 71%), stage III (50% versus 13%) or stage IV (20% versus 0%) disease. In relation to the Choong et al.22 study, Gilligan et al.1 commented that the number of patients treated was too small to make the conclusions valid. Cheng et al.3 reported on 64 patients, of whom 59% underwent cystectomy while the remainder did not. The study found that there was no difference in the survival outcome of the two groups in that the 1- and 5-year survival rates were 57% and 16%, respectively, in the cystectomy group in comparison with 55% and 18%, respectively, in the group without cystectomy. Sved et al.4 reported on the analysis of published literature on a number of patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Of 20 patients who underwent cystectomy alone, 11 died as a result of В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review their carcinomas, four were in complete remission, one was continuing to live with the disease and four were lost to follow-up. The study also reported that, of the 23 patients who underwent cystectomy with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, six died as a result of their carcinomas, 11 were in complete remission and six were continuing to live with the disease. The summary of the outcome of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder treatment was detailed by Sved et al.4 as follows: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– Twenty patients underwent cystectomy alone and their mean survival was 12.9 months. Eighteen patients underwent cystectomy and chemotherapy and their mean survival was 27 months. Five patients underwent cystectomy and radiotherapy and their mean survival was 29.2 months. Two patients underwent cystectomy and chemotherapy/radiotherapy and their mean survival was 6 months. Twelve patients underwent partial cystectomy and/or chemotherapy/radiotherapy and their mean survival was 34.9 months. Thirteen patients underwent chemotherapy alone and their mean survival was 6.5 months. Fifteen patients underwent chemotherapy plus radiotherapy and their mean survival was 32.9 months. Forty patients underwent radiotherapy alone and their mean survival was 7.8 months. Twenty-eight patients underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumour alone and their mean survival was 8.6 months. A number of studies4,24,25,27–30 have reported on the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cystectomy or radiotherapy in responders. However, Gilligan et al.1 stated that there are no definitive data which indicate whether cystectomy and radiation therapy improves the outcome compared with chemotherapy alone, or whether there is any difference in the outcome with cystectomy alone versus radiation therapy alone. In relation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus cystectomy, Siefker-Radtke et al.24 reported a phase II study which included 18 patients with clinically localized small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder who had either cT2 (stage II) or cT3b (stage III) disease. The study reported that the patients were initially treated with four cycles of chemotherapy, in which В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences a combination of ifosfamide and doxorubicin was alternated with a combination of etoposide plus cisplatin. During subsequent cystectomy, 14 out of the 18 patients (78%) had either no evidence of residual disease or only carcinoma in situ and the median overall survival was 58 months; at the time of reporting the study results, 13 out of the 18 patients were alive and disease free. In another study, Siefker-Radtke et al.23 reported that, among patients who initially underwent cystectomy for small cell carcinoma, the 5-year cancer-specific survival was higher for those who also received preoperative chemotherapy than for those who did not (78% and 36%, respectively); in addition, no cancer-related deaths were observed beyond 2 years in those who had also received preoperative chemotheraphy. Likewise, Quek et al.25 reported that 14 patients who received either preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy alongside cystectomy had significantly longer overall survival (P = 0.051) and relapse-free survival (P = 0.003) than the 11 patients who underwent cystectomy alone. Nevertheless, there were only two long-term survivors among the 25 patients in this study. With regard to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, some authors27,29–32 have used radiotherapy as an alternative to cystectomy. Bex et al.29 reported on a sample of 17 patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder who underwent transurethral resection of the tumour and were then treated with platinumbased chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. They reported that a complete local response was achieved in 15 of the 17 patients (88%); the overall survival was 33 months and seven patients remained disease free; however, four patients developed local recurrence. Lohrisch et al.32 reported on a sample of 10 patients who underwent chemoradiation for small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in which they observed a 70% disease-free survival rate at the 2- and 5-year mark, and five patients were alive at the time of publication of the article in 1999. Metastatic disease Siefker-Radtke et al.24 and Mukesh et al.27 reported that metastatic small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is highly responsive to chemotherapy regimens similar to those used in the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the lung. Siefker-Radtke et al.24 and Ismaili et al.33 reported a median survival of 155 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review approximately 7–13 months for those presenting with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, which was treated using chemotherapy. However, Gilligan et al.1 reported that these responses were generally transient and most patients relapsed. Gilligan et al.1 stated that the most commonly reported treatment is etoposide in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin; however, numerous other treatments have been reported, as listed by Kelly et al.21 including: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– platinum compounds (cisplatin, carboplatin) podophyllotoxins (etoposide, teniposide) camptothecins (irinotecans, topotecan) alkylating agents (ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide) anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin, amrubicin) taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel) vincristine other less frequently used drugs with single-agent activity (nitrosoureas, methotrexate, gemcitabine and vinorelbine). Siefker-Radtke et al.24 reported 12 patients who presented with stage IV disease, five wth only lymph node involvement and seven with involvement of other sites, with or without lymph node disease. They reported that the patients were treated with a chemotherapy regimen in which cycles of ifosfamide plus doxorubicin were alternated with cycles of etoposide plus cisplatin. Three of the patients who originally had lymph node metastases showed complete remission following chemotherapy and underwent surgical consolidation. The overall median survival for this cohort of patients was 13 months. One of the patients remained disease free 28 months following the original treatment. Other studies22,33,34 have reported either very small numbers of patients treated by chemotherapy and/or used different chemotherapeutic treatments for different patients and therefore it is difficult to estimate response rates and comparative outcomes for different treatments. Brain metastases Accoording to Gilligan et al.,1 brain metastases are a frequent complication of small cell carcinomas of the lung but there are only limited data regarding the frequency of brain metastases in patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Siefker-Radtke et al.24 reported brain metastases in 8 out of 16 patients (50%) with stage III or IV small cell carcinoma of the bladder but none of the 14 patients 156 with stage II disease. Ismaili et al.33 reported that 2 out of 12 relapsing patients (17%) who were treated between 1996 and 2007 had central nervous system involvement; however, a number of larger studies observed a lower prevalence of brain metastases in cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.23,27,35 Gilligan et al.,1 in a pooled analysis of 15 series in which the sites of the metastatic disease were identified, found that 37 out of 342 patients had developed brain metastases [11%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.5–14.1%]. Gilligan et al.1 reported that prophylactic cranial irradiation decreases the incidence of brain metastases and prolongs survival in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung; thus, prophylactic cranial irradiation is generally given to patients with small cell lung cancer patients in whom spread of the disease is limited and response to initial therapy is good. Gilligan et al.1 also stated that there are no data evaluating this approach for patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. In conclusion, the treatment for small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder may be summarized generally as follows: в– в– в– в– Radical cystectomy should be performed except in the presence of metastatic disease, in which case systemic therapy would be required.36 There is a high response rate to chemotherapy, which is similar to the treatment used for lung tumours. However, the overall prognosis is still poor.27 Discussion Since the report of the first case of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in 1981,37 the majority of patients diagnosed with this rare disease have been male. The male to female ratio is 7.6:1 and the disease typically presents between the ages of 60 and 80 years.37–39 Several studies40–43 have reported that most patients who present with small cell carcinoma of the lung or other extrapulmonary sites have a history of extensive smoking. Nevertheless, most patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder are non-smokers. Kayler et al.44 stated that it is unclear whether tobacco contributes to disease progression in view of the paucity of information regarding small cell carcinoma of the bladder. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review Mills et al.14 reported that the majority of small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder have histological patterns consistent with transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or spindle cell carcinoma. Atkin et al.45 conducted a cytogenetic study to illustrate that small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder display rearrangement of the long arms of chromosomes 6, 9, 11, 3 and 18, with hypertriploid DNA and expression of p53. Pearse46 reported that immunohistochemical studies have revealed the existence of neurosecretory granules in the majority of small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder, which led some researchers to form the opinion that small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are derived from neuroendocrine precursor and decarboxylation cells. However, other studies37,42,47 have suggested a multipotential stem cell origin, which would account for the minor component of admixed non-small cell carcinoma which is commonly seen in these tumours. Partanen et al.48 reported that small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder rarely demonstrated ectopic hormone production. Grignon et al.49 reported hyperphosphataemia without hypercalcaemia prior to tumour resection, which suggested that humoral production disturbed phosphate metabolism; however, the phosphate level returned to normal following resection. Reyes and Soneru41 reported that the association between small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and hypercalcaemia was attributed to skeletal metastasis. Gilligan et al.1 made the following recommendations for the management of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Localized disease In the case of patients with localized disease, when the tumour has been assessed as stage II or stage III and when the patient’s overall condition permits aggressive therapy, Gilligan et al.1 recommend a combined modality approach which includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy using a platinum-based combination, as is used for small cell lung cancer, followed by specific treatment directed towards the primary tumour (for example, cystectomy or radiotherapy; grade 1B). в– в– Gilligan et al.1 suggest the use of the combination of cisplatin plus etoposide (grade 2C). They report В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences в– в– that this approach has been associated with a higher incidence of long-term, disease-free survival than in historical series treated with cystectomy alone, or cystectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. They also suggested that following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, cystectomy rather than radiotherapy should be performed to treat grade 2C small cell bladder tumour. They further recommend that in the case of patients who are not surgical candidates (e.g. patients with inoperable tumours), radiotherapy should be the alternative method of treatment. Disseminated disease In the case of patients with disseminated disease, Gilligan et al.1 recommend systemic chemotherapy using a regimen that is also used to treat advanced small cell carcinoma of the lung (grade 1B). Brain metastasis в– в– в– в– Gilligan et al.1 recommend that patients with stage I or stage II disease and brain metastases who achieve complete remission after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus either cystectomy or radiotherapy should not undergo prophylactic cranial irradiation (grade 2C). For patients with stage III or IV disease who have partial or complete response to the treatment, Gilligan et al.1 recommend prophylactic cranial irradiation as an additional treatment; however, they also state that the advantages and disadvantages should be discussed with the patient. Gilligan et al.1 also report that although there are no data for patients with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, prophylactic irradiation decreases the incidence of brain metastases and prolongs survival in those with small cell carcinoma of the lung; however, whole-brain irradiation can have substantial neurological side-effects. Future directions Ismaili50 reported that: 1 Although the results of cisplatin-based chemotherapy are promising, most patients die as a result of metastatic disease. 157 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review 2 Developments in molecular biology have led to the investigation of new molecules in a large number of tumours including small cell carcinoma of the lung. Overexpression of a number of receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) on endothelial cells, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-KIT, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) on tumour cells, has prompted the scientific community to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new molecules that target signalling pathways controlled by proteins such as bevacizumab, sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, Imatinib, cetuximab, erlotinib, gefitinib, lapetinib, everolimus and bortezomib in metastatic small cell cancer of lung. Puglisi et al.51 based their report on preliminary studies and suggested that targeting angiogenesis would be the most promising strategy for the treatment for small cell carcinoma of the lung. Ismaili50 added that in analogy to small cell carcinoma of the lung, the role of the aforementioned molecules would be the most promising treatment for metastatic small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. A number of studies28,52–54 have recommended the following strategies for the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Surgically resectable disease Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical resection should be considered the initial treatment of choice in surgically resectable small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder. Some authors23,24 have reported that this can achieve a cure in 78–80% of patients. Sequential chemoradiotherapy is the second treatment option and is reported29,32 to have a cure rate of 36–70%. If surgery was performed first, some studies22,25 suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy should be sought postoperatively. Advanced disease In advanced disease, cisplatin chemotherapy should be considered the initial treatment of choice for patients who have an acceptable performance 158 status (e.g. a score of 0–1 on the Zubrod scale) and acceptable renal function (glomerular filtration rate > 60 ml/min). The therapeutic treatment should be centred on the chemotherapy regimen – etoposide plus cisplatin or a sequential protocol of ifosfamide plus doxorubicin on day 1 and etoposide plus cisplatin at day 21. However, in patients who do not have an acceptable performance status or renal function, cisplatin should be replaced by carboplatin with a target area under the concentration versus time curve of 5–6 mg/ml/min. Prognosis A number of authors3,22 have reported that the prognosis of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is poor and that the 5-year survival rate for all stages is 19% (CI 16–25%). Choong et al.22 reported that the 5-year survival rate of patients with stage II, III and IV disease was 63.6%, 15.4% and 10.5%, respectively. Choong et al.22 also reported that the prognosis of patients with advanced disease, stage III or IV, is significantly poorer (P < 0.0001) than that of patients with stage II disease. Other authors25,33,55 have reported that small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder with pure small cell histology had a poorer prognosis in comparison with tumours which had mixed small cell histology. Ismaili50 stated that, in view of the rarity of the disease, no other prognostic factors had been identified. Conclusions Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is an aggressive tumour that typically presents with advanced or disseminated disease. It is rare, accounting for only 0.5–1.0% of all bladder malignancies, and patients show no clinical, age or sex differences from those with typical urothelial carcinoma. Some cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder arise from urothelial carcinoma in situ whereas some small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder may arise from totipotent stem cells in the submucosa. Small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are usually large polypoid masses and can occur anywhere in the bladder. Microscopically, small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder are seen as loosely cohesive sheets, or nests, В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:149–162 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.225) Review of small to intermediate-sized cells with minimal cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei, stippled or coarsely granular chromatin, indistinct nucleoli and no nuclear overlapping. Mitotic activity and necrosis are common and the tumours may co-exist with other forms of in situ or invasive carcinoma. Co-existence of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with other types of carcinoma is common and immunohistochemistry plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of urinary bladder using the markers of neuroendocrine tumours. The strategy to treat small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder was extrapolated from the strategy used to treat small cell carcinoma of the lung. In cases where the tumour may have to be surgically resected, the treatment should include multimodal therapy with chemotherapy being delivered initially, followed by radical resection or radiotherapy. Radical cystectomy is the main treatment for small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, unless metastatic disease is present, followed by systemic treatment. Response to chemotherapy is good, similar to response to treatment for small cell carcinoma of the lung; however, the overall prognosis remains poor. In cases where the disease is in the advanced stages, chemotherapy with a platinum agent, such cisplatin in suitable patients, is the mainstay of treatment. There is currently no consensus regarding the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder; however, Gilligan et al.,1 among others, have made general recommendations for the approach to treatment of this aggressive disease. Small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder with pure small cell histology have been shown to have a poorer overall prognosis than small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder with mixed small cell histology. There is a dire need for further investigations of small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder in order to improve our knowledge regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this rare disease. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 References 1 Gilligan TD, Raghavan D, Dizon DS. Small cell carcinoma of the bladder. UpToDate Inc. 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Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder-histogenesis, genetics, diagnosis, biomarkers, treatment, and prognosis. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007; 15:8–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.pai.0000213106.12731.d7 Ismaili N, Elkarak F, Heudel PE, Flechon A, Droz JP. Small cell cancer of the bladder: the Leon-Bernard cancer centre experience. Indian J Urol 2008; 24:494–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0970-1591.44255 161 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209)   REVIEW Asymptomatic bacteriuria and urinary tract infections in pregnancy – a review of the literature Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo North Manchester General Hospital, Department of Urology, Manchester, UK Abstract The approach to the management of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnancy, including the choice of antibiotics, is not always straightforward. The aim of this article is to review the literature on AB and UTI in pregnancy and to discuss the findings. Various internet search engines were used to identify references regarding pregnancy-associated AB and UTI, which formed a framework for the literature review. Both conditions were found to be common in pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated UTI is defined as either a lower urinary tract infection (acute cystitis) or an upper urinary tract infection (acute pyelonephritis). The approach to the management of pregnancy-associated AB and UTI presents a complex issue, including the choice of antibiotics. UTIs occur when there are at least 100 000 organisms present per ml of urine in an asymptomatic patient, or more than 100 organisms per ml of urine with accompanying pyuria (more than seven white blood cells per ml in a symptomatic patient). A diagnosis of UTI requires a positive culture and identification of the pathogen, especially in patients with vague symptoms. UTIs are associated with risks to both the mother and the fetus, including pyelonephritis, preterm birth, low birthweight and increased risk of perinatal mortality. AB occurs when the bacterial count is greater than 100 000 organisms per ml in two consecutive samples of urine and in the absence of declared symptoms. If AB remains untreated during pregnancy, the risk of developing cystitis is 40% and the risk of developing pyelonephritis is 25–30%. The tendency for AB to progress to pyelonephritis is higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women and is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birthweight and perinatal mortality. Appropriate antibiotics are recommended for both pregnant and non-pregnant women. Short-term courses have been recommended to minimize antimicrobial exposure to the fetus. The prognosis of the majority of pregnant women with UTI or AB during pregnancy is good. Most long-term sequelae are due to complications associated with septic shock, respiratory failure or hypotensive hypoxia with extreme gangrene. UTIs associated with pregnancy have few direct sequelae in view of the fact that fetal bloodstream infection is rare; nevertheless, uterine hypoperfusion due to maternal dehydration, maternal anaemia Correspondence: Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo, North Manchester General Hospital, Department of Urology, Manchester, UK. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and direct bacterial endotoxin damage to the placental vasculature may result in fetal cerebral hypoperfusion. Untreated upper UTIs in pregnant women are associated with low birthweight, prematurity, premature labour, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, maternal anaemia and amnionitis. UTIs which occur during pregnancy are associated with intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and caesarean delivery. In order to avoid or minimize complications that may be associated with AB and UTI during pregnancy, both should be appropriately treated. Several antibiotic treatments are available and details of the antibiotic therapies are discussed below. Introduction Pregnancy causes a number of changes to a woman’s body, including mechanical and hormonal changes that may increase the risk of urinary stasis and vesicoureteric reflux. These changes, combined with a short female urethra (approximately 3–4 cm) and difficulty with hygiene as a result of distended abdomen during pregnancy, are responsible for the increase in frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women. UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections occurring during pregnancy. In view of the physiological changes associated with pregnancy, pregnant patients are regarded as immunocompromised hosts for UTIs. These physiological changes add to the risk of serious infectious complications that may be associated with asymptomatic and symptomatic UTIs, even in pregnant women who are considered to be healthy. This article provides a review of the literature on asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) and UTIs, including a summary of the salient points and recommendations 163 163 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW regarding the management of AB and UTIs during pregnancy. Literature review Definitions of key terms Conventionally, UTI has been categorised as upper urinary tract infection (acute pyelonephritis) or lower urinary tract infection (acute cystitis). Asymptomatic bacteriuria can be diagnosed when a positive urine culture is identified in a patient who is asymptomatic. Urinary tract infection Urinary tract infection has been defined as the presence of at least 100 000 organisms per ml of urine in an asymptomatic patient, or more than100 organisms per ml of urine when accompanied by pyuria (more than seven white blood cells per ml in a symptomatic patient). It has been stated that a diagnosis of UTI should be supported by a positive culture for a uropathogen, especially in patients with vague symptoms. It has also been reported that UTIs are associated with risks to both the mother and the fetus, including pyelonephritis, preterm delivery, low birthweight and perinatal mortality.1 Asymptomatic bacteriuria Asymptomatic bacteriuria is usually defined as the presence of > 100 000 organisms per ml of urine in two consecutive samples of urine in an asymptomatic patient. It has been stated that the risk to pregnant women of developing cystitis following untreated AB is 40% and the risk of developing pyelonephritis is 25–30%, and that these cases account for 70% of all cases of symptomatic UTI in unscreened pregnant women.1 Acute pyelonephritis It has been reported that pyelonephritis is the most common urinary tract complication in pregnant women and occurs in approximately 2% of all pregnancies.1 It has also been reported that acute pyelonephritis characteristically presents alongside nausea, vomiting, increased frequency of micturition, urinary urgency and dysuria. Additionally, women who have additional risk factors (for example, 164 diabetes, immunosuppression, neurogenic bladder, sickle cell anaemia or recurrent persistent UTIs prior to pregnancy) are at increased risk for the development of a complicated UTI.1 Acute cystitis Acute cystitis affects the lower urinary tract only; inflammation of the urinary bladder may be a sequel of bacterial or non-bacterial causes, for example viral infection or radiation.1 It has been stated that about 1% of pregnant patients develop acute cystitis and 60% of these patients are found to have a negative result on initial screening.1 Their symptoms include dysuria, haematuria, suprapubic discomfort, increased frequency of micturition, urinary urgency and nocturia, which are symptoms that are often difficult to distinguish from the symptoms related to the pregnancy itself; in addition, upper urinary tract disease (for example, pyelonephritis) complicates acute cystitis in 15–50% of cases.1 Pathophysiology Epidemiology of asymptomatic bacteriuria Stenqvist et al.2 reported that bacteriuria occurs in 2–7% of pregnancies, and is more common in multiparous women. A similar prevalence of bacteriuria is seen in non-pregnant women and the causative species and their virulence factors are similar in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. In view of these facts, the basic mechanism of bacterial entry into the urinary tract is likely to be the same for both pregnant and non-pregnant women.2 Kaitz3 reported that bacteriuria often develops within the first months of pregnancy and is frequently associated with a reduction in the ability of the kidney to concentrate urine, which would suggest involvement of the kidney.3 A number of authors4–6 have suggested that the smooth muscle relaxation and subsequent ureteral dilatation that is associated with pregnancy facilitates the ascent of bacteria from the urinary bladder to the kidney. As a result, bacteriuria during pregnancy has a greater propensity to progress to the kidneys and the risk of developing pyelonephritis is 20- to 30-fold higher in pregnant women with AB than in non-pregnant women without AB.7 A number of authors5,8–11 have observed an association between bacteriuria and an increased В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW risk of preterm birth, low birthweight and increased risk of perinatal mortality. Naeye8 reviewed more than 50 000 pregnancies between 1959 and 1966, and found that the rate of perinatal mortality of any cause was higher among women who developed bacteriuria and/or pyuria (there was no comment regarding absence or presence of symptoms in this review paper) in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy than in those who did not. Reports of various studies5,12–16 have shown that treatment of bacteriuria during pregnancy reduces the incidence of these complications and lowers the long-term risk of sequelae following AB.17 Diagnosis of asymptomatic bacteriuria Nicolle et al.18 reported that the diagnosis of AB should be based on the result of a urine specimen culture that has been collected with minimal contamination and that, in the case of asymptomatic women, bacteriuria should be diagnosed based on two consecutive voided urine specimens with isolation of the same bacterial strain in quantitative counts of ≥ 105 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml, or a single catheterized urine specimen with one bacterial species isolated with a quantitative count of ≥ 102 cfu/ml. Hooton et al.19 stated that, despite the aforementioned, in clinical practice, only one voided urine specimen is usually obtained and treatment is usually commenced in women with asymptomatic bacterial counts of ≥ 105 cfu/ml without a confirmatory repeat culture. Hooton et al.19 also reported that, in order to avoid the risk of infection, routine catheterization to screen for bacteriuria is not warranted.19 Hooton et al.19 reported that in order to avoid falsepositive results, proper handling and processing of the specimen is vital. Isolation of more than one species, or the presence of Lactobacillus or Propionibacterium, may suggest a contaminated specimen, and isolation of Lactobacillus necessitates treatment if it is the only organism that has been isolated in consecutive urine cultures with high colony counts, although the significance in pregnancy is unknown. A number of studies that have examined rapid screening tests, for example reagent strip, enzymatic screen or interleukin 8, have found that the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of these tests for the detection of AB in pregnant women are nowhere near those of urine culture and therefore should not be В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences used.20–22 Furthermore, urine cultures are beneficial in guiding therapy and this can be pertinent in pregnancy, when there is reduction in the number of safe therapeutic alternatives. Lin and Fajardo23 stipulated that screening for AB should be undertaken either during the first prenatal visit or between weeks 12 and 16 of pregnancy. Hooton et al.19 reported that rescreening for bacteriuria could be considered in women who are at high risk, for example women with haemoglobin S, women during preterm labour and women with urinary tract abnormalities. Infectious Diseases Society of America (ISDA) 2005 guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AB in adults recommended screening urine during pregnancy and treatment of a positive urine culture.18 A number of studies have found that early screening and treatment for AB during pregnancy is associated with benefits for both the mother and the fetus.6,13–15 It is widely accepted that penicillin and cephalosporins are reasonably safe antibiotics to prescribe to pregnant women. However, it may be inappropriate to prescribe antibiotics with high protein binding, for example ceftriaxone, within 24 hours of parturition because of the risk of displacement of bilirubin and subsequent development of kernicterus.19 Some problems are reported to be associated with some drugs during pregnancy: в– в– в– в– в– в– Nitrofurantoin and sulphonamides: Crider et al.24 reported an association with birth defects. Hooton et al.19 suggested that if there is an alternative antibiotic which is safe and effective, then the safest course would be to avoid nitrofurantoin during the first trimester of pregnancy. Nitrofurantoin: Ben David et al.25 reported nitrofurantoin to be a cause of haemolytic anaemia in both the mother and the fetus with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Some studies26,27 estimated the risk of haemolytic anaemia, in association with the use of nitrofurantoin, to be 0.0004% of cases but authors26,27 recommend that nitrofurantoin should be avoided near term in order to avoid haemolytic anaemia in both the mother and the fetus. Sulphonamides: in view of the fact that sulphonamides have the ability to increase the level of unbound bilirubin in the neonate 165 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW в– в– в– в– в– в– (despite the fact that kernicterus related to in utero sulphonamide exposure has so far not been reported), Hooton et al.19 advised that the use of sulphonamides during pregnancy should be avoided. Trimethoprim: Crider et al.24 advised that trimethoprim should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy as it is a folic acid antagonist and has caused abnormal embryo development in experimental animals. Although it is not a proven teratogen in human beings, some studies28,29 have reported a possible association between the use of trimethoprim and birth defects. Hooton et al.19 suggested that as pregnant women are routinely prescribed folic acid supplements, the use of trimethoprim should be avoided. Fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines: Hooton et al.19 stated that fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines are inadvisable during pregnancy. Fosfomycin: Stein30 reported that the use of fosfomycin is safe during pregnancy. Some authors have stipulated that the use of shortcourse antibiotic therapy is most often effective in eradicating AB during pregnancy.31–33 Hooton et al.19 recommended a short course of the following therapeutic treatments to eradicate AB if the bacteria are susceptible: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– 166 amoxicillin: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; Augmentin: amoxicillin (500 mg) and clavulanate (125 mg) orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; nitrofurantoin: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days; cephalexin: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; fosfomycin: 3 g orally as a single dose. Sulphonamides: Hooton et al.19 advised that sulphonamides should not be given in the final days preceding parturition because they easily traverse the placenta and can displace bilirubin from bilirubin binding sites in the newborn and, therefore, there is a theoretical risk of development of kernicterus in the newborn. Hooton et al.19 also stated that sulphonamides may be used in pregnancy; however, it should be kept in mind that resistance among uropathogens is high and sulphonamides offer no advantage over the aforementioned antibiotics. With regard to patient follow-up, Patterson and Andriole10 stated that a follow-up urine culture should be performed 1 week after the completion of treatment but a short course of treatment fails to eliminate AB in up to 30% of women. Hooton et al.19 recommend repeating the urine cultures at monthly intervals until parturition in order to identify persistent or recurrent bacteriuria. Hooton et al.19 reported that suppressive or prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed in women with persistent bacteriuria after two or more courses of therapy. They suggested that 50–100 mg of nitrofurantoin should be taken orally every day (if the bacterium is susceptible to nitrofurantoin) throughout the pregnancy and that monthly urine cultures are not necessary if suppressive therapy is being given. As breakthrough bacteriuria can occur during suppressive therapy, Hooton et al.19 suggested that a urine culture should be performed at the beginning of the third trimester to ensure the suppression is effective. Acute cystitis Acute cystitis is defined as a symptomatic infection of the urinary bladder that can occur alone or it may be complicated by ascending infection and pyelonephritis. When acute cystitis occurs during pregnancy, it is considered complicated as it is often associated with ascending infection or pyelonephritis.19 Some authors34,35 report that acute cystitis occurs in about 1–2% of pregnant women. Stamm et al.36 stated that: в– в– в– в– в– в– A urine culture should be performed in pregnant women with symptoms suggestive of acute cystitis. Low colony counts in the urine culture specimens have been noted to be significant in symptomatic non-pregnant women, despite the fact that studies to define thresholds representing significant bacteriuria in pregnant women have not been performed. In women who have had uncomplicated cystitis, coliform colony counts in voided urine specimens as low as 102 cfu/ml were adjudged to reflect infection. Nevertheless, Hooton et al.19 reported that the majority of clinical laboratories do not routinely В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW quantify urine isolates to the level of 102 cfu/ml and thus they recommend that it would be reasonable to adopt a quantitative count of ≥ 103 cfu/ml in a symptomatic pregnant woman as an indicator of symptomatic UTI. With regard to treatment of cystitis during pregnancy, some authors10,37 have suggested a 3–7-day course of antibiotics, provided there are no symptoms suggestive of pyelonephritis. Other studies38–40 stated that short-term therapy is associated with decreased costs and side-effects, with improved compliance, and less fetal exposure to drugs.37 another urine culture should be conducted at the beginning of the third trimester and, if a subsequent urine culture is positive, then a different antibiotic therapy should be used, based on the sensitivity pattern of the bacteria and an assessment of the suppressive therapy.19 With regard to recurrent UTIs (recurrent cystitis), the use of prophylactic antibiotics has been recommended for the duration of the pregnancy in the following forms depending on the sensitivity profile of the cystitis-causing strains.19 в– в– Hooton et al.19 suggested the use of one of the following treatment options while awaiting the results of urine culture and sensitivity: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– Augmentin: amoxicillin (500 mg) and clavulanic acid (125 mg) orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; nitrofurantoin: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days; cefpodoxime: 100 mg twice daily for 3–7 days; fosfomycin: 3 g orally as a single dose; trimethoprim–sulphamethoxaxole: one doublestrength dose twice daily for 3 days in the second trimester, but this should be avoided both in the first trimester and near term; amoxicillin: 500 mg twice daily every 12 hours for 7 days for the treatment of Enterococcus infection. Hooton et al.19 additionally warned that fluoroquinolones should be avoided in pregnancy. With regard to follow-up, it has been recommended that a urine specimen should be collected and sent for culture and sensitivity 1 week after completion of treatment to confirm the absence of bacterial growth and resolution of cystitis.19 It has also been recommended that the urine culture should be repeated at monthly intervals until the end of pregnancy to assess for persistent or recurrent bacteriuria.19 It has been suggested that if bacteriuria persists after two or three courses of antibiotic treatment, suppressive therapy could be initiated and a daily oral dose of 50 mg nitrofurantoin at bedtime for the duration of the pregnancy could be prescribed, if the organism is susceptible.19 Monthly urine culture may not be necessary if suppressive therapy is used; however, in order to detect a breakthrough infection, В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Postcoital prophylaxis: if the UTI or cystitis is presumed to be coitus related, treat with 50–100 mg nitrofurantoin orally and postcoitally, or 250–500 mg cephalexin orally and postcoitally. Daily prophylaxis: to be prescribed in situations of increased risk of urinary complications during episodes of UTI or cystitis (for example, if the patient suffers from diabetes mellitus or sickle cell trait). In such situations, prophylaxis must be considered following the first UTI (50–100 mg of nitrofurantoin orally every evening or 250–500 mg of cephalexin orally every evening). With regard to recurrent cystitis or UTIs preceding pregnancy, which is usually related to sexual intercourse and treated with postcoital prophylaxis, Pfau and Sacks41 carried out a prospective study on 33 women with a history of recurrent UTIs and who had a total of 39 pregnancies with a single postcoital dose of either 250 mg cephalexin or 50 mg nitrofurantoin. Only one UTI occurred during pregnancy in comparison with the 130 UTIs that had occurred during a mean observation period of 7 months prior to the use of prophylaxis. Based upon the experience of Pfau and Sacks,41 Hooton et al.19 made the following recommendations: в– в– в– в– In pregnant women who have had recurrent UTIs that are considered to be temporally related to sexual intercourse, postcoital prophylaxis should be used. The preferred prophylactic treatment should be a single postcoital dose of either 250 mg cephalexin or 50 mg nitrofurantoin. Acute pyelonephritis Acute pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidney that tends to present with flank pain, nausea and 167 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW vomiting, pyrexia > 38В°C and/or costovertebral angle tenderness, which may occur in the absence or presence of cystitis symptoms. Some authors10,18 have reported that, although the prevalence of AB in pregnant women is similar to that in non-pregnant women, as many as 30–40% of pregnant women with untreated AB may develop a symptomatic UTI, including pyelonephritis, during pregnancy. Other authors6,18 have reported that the risk of pregnant women developing acute pyelonephritis is reduced by 70–80% if bacteria are eradicated. The pregnancy-related anatomical changes in the urinary tract that predispose pregnant women to pyelonephritis include: в– в– в– в– в– в– pressure on the urinary bladder from the enlarging uterus; an increase in the size of the ureters due to smooth muscle relaxation; the immune suppression of pregnancy; for example, mucosal interleukin-6 levels and serum antibody responses to Escherichia coli antigens are reported to be lower in pregnant women.42 Organisms reported to be cultured in the general obstetric population include: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– E. coli, in 70% of cases;43 Klebsiella or Enterobacter, in 3% of cases; Proteus, in 2% of cases; Gram-negative organisms including group B Streptococcus, in 10% of cases. With regard to the clinical manifestations of acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy, Hooton et al.19 reported that the presentation is similar in pregnant and non-pregnant women and that pregnant women may become ill and are at risk of developing both medical and obstetric complications from pyelonephritis. Complications associated with pyelonephritis in pregnancy which were reported by Hill et al.43 include: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– 168 anaemia: 23%; bacteraemia: 17% in the minority of the pregnant patients who were tested; respiratory insufficiency: 7%; renal dysfunction: 2%. Cox et al.44 reported that the mechanism of anaemia associated with pyelonephritis in pregnancy is not well understood; nevertheless, haemolysis mediated by endotoxin may be of importance. Some authors45,46 estimated that 20% of women with severe pyelonephritis will develop complications that include septic shock syndrome or its variants, including acute respiratory distress syndrome. Thompson et al.47 described acute renal failure with microabscesses and suppurative pyelonephritis in isolated cases, independent of sepsis. A number of authors have reported a relationship between maternal UTI, especially AB, and adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth and low birthweight.6,10,48,49 They have suggested that acute pyelonephritis has a similar association with adverse pregnancy outcomes but the association is not definitely known, in view of confounding variables such as economic status and previous preterm birth. It is worth noting that Hill et al.43 reported that preterm birth occurred in 5% of women with pyelonephritis, which is similar to the rate of preterm birth in the general obstetric population. Hooton et al.19 stated that pyelonephritis should not be an indication for induction of labour or caesarean section. If induction of labour or caesarean section is planned for standard obstetric reasons in patient receiving treatment for pyelonephritis, the authors recommended delaying induction until the patient is afebrile, as long as the delay in delivery is relatively safe for both the mother and the fetus. It has been stated that pregnant women with pyelonephritis are traditionally admitted to hospital and given intravenous antibiotics until the mother has been afebrile for 24 hours and her symptoms have improved.50 With regard to treatment of acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy, Hooton et al.19 recommend that the initial choice of antibiotics should be guided by the local microbiology and sensitivity data; however, generally, parenteral beta-lactams (ОІ-lactams) are the preferred antibiotics which include: 1  In mild to moderate pyelonephritis в– в– ceftriaxone: 1 g every 24 hours; в– в– cefepime: 1 g every 12 hours; В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW в– в– в– в– в– в– aztreonam: 1 g every 8–12 hours (with a warning of the possibility of ototoxicity which occurs with aminoglycosides and that this treatment should be used only if intolerance precludes the use of less toxic agents); ampicillin: 1–2 g every 6 hours; gentamicin: 1.5 mg/kg every 8 hours (with a warning of the possibility of ototoxicity which occurs with aminoglycosides and that this treatment should be used only if intolerance precludes the use of less toxic agents). 2  In severe pyelonephritis with immune compromise and/or incomplete urinary drainage в– в– ticarcillin–clavulanate: 3.1 g every 6 hours; в– в– piperacillin–tazobactam: 3.375 g every 6 hours; в– в– meropenem: 500 mg every 8 hours; в– в– ertapenem: 1 g every 24 hours; в– в– doripenem: 500 mg every 8 hours. According to Hooton et al.,19 fluoroquinolones should be avoided in pregnancy. With regard to duration of therapy, it has been stated that both pregnant and non-pregnant patients with complicated pyelonephritis should show definite improvement within 24–48 hours of therapy. Once the patient has been afebrile for 48 hours, oral antibiotic therapy, guided by culture susceptibility results, can be initiated and the patient can be discharged with a 10- to 14-day course of treatment.50 It has also been advised that if the symptoms and fever persist beyond 24–48 hours of treatment, a repeat urine culture and ultrasonography should be performed to rule out persistent infection and urinary tract pathology.19 Some studies38,51,52 found recurrent pyelonephritis during pregnancy in 6–8% of women and one treatment plan for this is the use of low-dose antimicrobial prophylaxis with an antibiotic to which the bacteria are sensitive, taken by the patient for the duration of the pregnancy.27,50 Some of the recommended antibiotics include: в– в– в– в– nitrofurantoin: 50–100 mg orally every day; cephalexin: 250–500 mg orally every day.27,50 Hooton et al.19 stated that if preventative therapy is given, then monthly urine cultures are not necessary; nevertheless, in view of the fact that breakthrough bacteriuria can occur during preventative therapy, the authors recommend one later urine culture being conducted at the beginning of the third trimester В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences in order to confirm that the preventative therapy is working. Hooton et al.19 recommended that if a follow-up urine culture is positive (≥ 105 cfu/ml), then a course of antibiotics based upon the sensitivity data should be given and, additionally, the preventative treatment plan should be reassessed and adjusted if required. Discussion Awonuga et al.53 conducted a cross-sectional study to determine prevalence of AB in Ibadan, Nigeria, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and relative cost-effectiveness of dipstick tests for nitrite and leucocyte esterase in comparison with laboratory culture. Urine samples obtained from 205 participants in the study were subjected to two tests: reagent dipstick test for nitrite and leucocyte esterase, and a routine laboratory culture. The main outcome measures in the study included sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the reagent dipstick tests as well as likelihood ratios. Awonuga et al.53 reported the following results: в– в– в– в– в– в– The prevalence of AB in pregnancy with routine laboratory culture and using combined leucocyte esterase and nitrite strip tests was 10.7% and 11.7%, respectively. In comparison with laboratory culture of urine specimens, combined strip tests had sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive values of 50%, 92.9%, and 93.9%, respectively, which indicated a statistically significant lower level of accuracy (P < 0.05). The corresponding likelihood ratios for positive and negative strip tests (LR+ and LR–) were 7 and 0.5, respectively. Awonuga et al.53 concluded that combined leucocyte esterase and nitrite dipstick test is not sufficiently sensitive or specific to be used for routine screening of bacteriuria in pregnancy in place of laboratory culture, although it may be cost-effective in low-resource settings. In order to determine the epidemiological profile of women who were admitted to a university hospital in Brazil with a UTI, and to verify the most prevalent agents and response to antibiotic therapy, Calegari et al.54 undertook a retrospective study of 106 pregnant women who were admitted for the treatment of a UTI between 169 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW January 2007 and December 2010. Calegari et al.54 based their evaluation on the analysis of medical records of the pregnant women, observations during the hospitalization period, pregnancy data and the overall outcome. The authors54 performed statistical analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 15.0, and also used the bilateral Fisher exact test and Student’s t-test for data analysis, as well as descriptive statistical methods. Calegari et al.54 reported the following results: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– Positive urine cultures were obtained in 60.5% of the pregnant women who were admitted suffering from a UTI. The most frequent infectious agent that was cultured was E. coli and there was no observed difference in resistance, recurrence or complications between the most frequent aetiological agents. Pregnant women who had suffered from previous UTIs had a higher recurrence risk [odds ratio (OR) = 10.8; P < 0.05]. The antibiotics that were most frequently used were ampicillin and cefazolin. A necessary change of therapeutic agent as a result of bacterial resistance occurred in 11.9% of patients who took cefazolin and 20% of patients who took ampicillin (OR = 5.5; P < 0.05). The rate of gestational complications was the same for both treatments. There was no difference in mean hospitalization duration between the treatments. Calegari et al. concluded that, in their study population, ampicillin showed a higher rate of bacterial resistance than cefazolin, requiring a larger number of treatment alterations; however, this did not result in differences in clinical outcome or duration of hospitalization. 54 Versi et al.55 reported a higher prevalence of bacteriuria among pregnant white women (6.3%) than in pregnant Bangladeshi women (2%). They also reported that pregnancies that resulted in preterm deliveries were strongly associated with bacteriuria in white women but this association was not observed in the Bangladeshi women. Versi et al.55 postulated that the difference between the white and Bangladeshi pregnant women could be due to variation in hygiene practices and clothing. A large population-based study of nearly 200 000 pregnant Israeli women56 found a 2.5% rate of 170 AB and 2.3% rate of symptomatic UTI.56 It was observed in this study population that AB had an association with multiple pregnancy complications which included hypertension, diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation, prolonged hospitalization and preterm labour.56 Mazor-Dray et al.56 reported that their findings may be a marker for the intensity of prenatal care received, rather than a specific causal effect of the UTI. Furthermore, their follow-up study, which examined women with symptomatic UTIs, demonstrated a clear association between UTI and low birthweight and preterm delivery, a finding similar to those of multiple previous investigations.57–59 Whitehead et al.60 reported on a retrospective study of 24 000 births and found the prevalence of UTI during pregnancy to be 28.7% in whites and Asians combined, 30.1% in blacks, and 41.1% in Hispanics. Whitehead et al.60 also reported that: в– в– в– в– в– в– When socioeconomic status was controlled for, no significant inter-racial differences existed. A survey-based analysis of self-reported UTI found similar trends.60 Their study also looked at Native American women and found the highest prevalence of UTIs in this population (24.2%) in comparison with Asian (10.3%), white (16.6%), Hispanic (18.3%) and black (20.3%) women.60 Johnson and Kim61 reported that UTIs are associated with preterm delivery in patients of all races and that the adjusted OR in infants with very low birthweight is 2.8 for blacks and 5.6 for whites, when adjusted for parity, body mass index, maternal age, marital status, cigarette smoking, education and prenatal care. Johnson and Kim61 also reported that the overall relative risk of bacteriuria in blacks or whites was estimated at 1.5–5 and the relative risk of preterm birth in women with bacteriuria was 1.8–2.3. Giraldo et al.62 reported that urogenital infections are extremely prevalent during pregnancy and they are an important cause of premature labour in Brazil. Nevertheless, the prevalence of urogenital infections during childbirth is not well known. Giraldo et al.62 conducted a study to identify urogenital infections which were present at the beginning of labour in both full-term and preterm pregnancies. Giraldo et al.62 reported that, out of 94 women who were admitted to their inpatient maternity clinic, 49 women were В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW in preterm labour and 45 were in full-term labour. Samples of urinary, vaginal and perianal material were collected for microbiological analysis. They reported that: в– в– в– в– The prevalence of general infections in the preterm labour group and the full-term labour group was 49.0% and 53.3%, respectively (P = 0.8300). The rates of urogenital infections in the preterm and full-term labour groups were as follows: UTIs, 36.7% and 22.2% respectively; vaginal candidiasis, 20.4% and 28.9% respectively; bacterial vaginosis, 34.7% and 28.9% respectively; and group B Streptococcus, 6.1% and 15.6% respectively.55 Giraldo et al.62 concluded that urogenital infections were prevalent in women in preterm labour and full-term labour but significant differences between the groups were not observed. Kladensky63 reported that UTIs in pregnant women are a relatively frequent occurrence and the spectrum of these infections ranges from lower urinary tract infection (AB, acute cystitis) to upper urinary tract infection (acute pyelonephritis). Kladensky63 reported that anatomical and functional changes in the urinary tract in pregnancy result in a significantly higher susceptibility to progression of the infection from AB to the stage of acute pyelonephritis. Kladensky63 also reported the following regarding UTIs in pregnancy: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– Untreated AB in pregnancy may lead to the development of acute pyelonephritis in as many as 40% of cases, which includes all the subsequent negative effects not only for the pregnant woman herself, but also, and particularly, for the fetus. Bacteriuria in pregnancy accounts for a significantly higher number of newborns with low birthweight and low gestational age and is associated with a higher neonatal mortality rate than in pregnancy without bacteriuria. In view of the points raised above, it is necessary to perform screening for bacteriuria in pregnant women and, when the finding is positive, treat the bacteriuria. The selection of an appropriate antimicrobial agent for the treatment of a UTI during pregnancy is limited by the safety of a given drug not only for the pregnant woman, but also for the fetus. The selection of an appropriate antibiotic should always be determined by the result of urine culture. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences The efficacy of ОІ-lactams in the treatment of pyelonephritis was demonstrated in a randomized trial of 179 pregnant women with acute pyelonephritis before the 24th week of gestation.38 Wing et al.38 reported that intravenous cefazolin, or intramuscular ceftriaxone, had the equivalent efficacy to the use of intravenous ampicillin in combination with gentamicin. Although a number of authors64–67 reported that the rates of resistance to first-generation cephalosporins had generally been < 10% in their surveillance studies, Warren et al.68 stated that ОІ-lactams, including first-generation cephalosporins, have been generally less effective than trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole, or fluoroquinolones, for the treatment of cystitis. Warren et al.68 reported that given the aforementioned data and the paucity of data evaluating the narrow spectrum of cephalosporins in the treatment of pyelonephritis, they favour the third-generation cephalosporins over the first and second generations, such as cefazolin, for the empirical treatment of acute pyelonephritis. Le et al.26 reported an association of fetal exposure to aminoglycosides with ototoxicity and therefore, in view of this, Hooton et al.19 recommended that aminoglycosides should be avoided in pregnancy associated with pyelonephritis unless intolerance or resistance prohibits the use of less toxic agents. Garau69 reported that carbapenems are usually effective in the treatment of serious extendedspectrum ОІ-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains that cause infections. However, Hooton et al.19 reported that some animal studies have exhibited adverse fetal effects when exposed to imipenem–cilastatin, and, in view of this, they recommended that meropenem, ertapenem or doripenem should be the preferred carbapenems for use during pregnancy. Millar et al.39 randomly assigned 120 pregnant women (less than 24 weeks’ gestation) with pyelonephritis to an outpatient regimen consisting of ceftriaxone (1 g intramuscularly daily for 2 days) followed by 500 mg cephalexin orally four times per day for 10 days, or an inpatient treatment consisting of intravenous cefazolin, followed at discharge by 500 mg cephalexin orally four times per day for 10 days. Millar et al.39 reported that the clinical responses to therapy and birth outcomes were similar in both the outpatient and the inpatient groups. They also reported that six patients who were initially treated with ceftriaxone were eventually admitted 171 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW to the hospital for intravenous therapy and that one woman developed septic shock during observation in the emergency department. Wing et al.40 undertook a study in pregnant women (more than 24 weeks’ gestation) with pyelonephritis to establish whether or not early discharge and outpatient management with cephalexin after initial hospitalization and treatment with ceftriaxone is as effective and safe as conventional inpatient management. They reported that 51% of patients either did not qualify for outpatient management based upon their study criteria or developed complications which precluded early discharge from hospital. The studies of Millar et al.39 and Wing et al.40 suggest that outpatient therapy is less safe and less effective than inpatient treatment for pregnant women with pyelonephritis. It has been stated that for the majority of UTIs and AB during pregnancy, the prognosis is good. Most of the long-term sequelae are due to complications associated with septic shock, respiratory failure and hypotensive hypoxia with extreme gangrene.61 Urinary tract infections in pregnant women have few direct sequelae as fetal bloodstream infection is rare; nevertheless, uterine hypoperfusion as a result of maternal dehydration, maternal anaemia and direct bacterial endotoxin damage to the placental vasculature may result in fetal cerebral hypoperfusion.61 Untreated upper UITs in pregnant women are associated with low birthweight, prematurity, premature labour, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, maternal anaemia and amnionitis.56 UTIs during pregnancy are associated with intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and caesarean delivery.56 Summary Asymptomatic bacteriuria Asymptomatic bacteriuria refers to the presence of a positive urine culture in an asymptomatic person. The risk of developing pyelonephritis is 20- to 30-fold higher in pregnant women with AB than in nonpregnant women without AB7 and the progression of AB to pyelonephritis is associated with an 172 increased risk of preterm birth, low birthweight and perinatal mortality. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is diagnosed following the culture of a urine specimen that has been collected with minimal contamination. Treatment of AB usually commences if a colony urine culture has a count of ≥ 105 cfu/ml. The 2005 Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AB in adults recommended screening all pregnant women for AB and the instituting treatment in the event of a positive culture.18 Hooton et al.19 recommended short courses of any of the following therapeutic treatments to minimize antimicrobial exposure to the fetus: в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– amoxicillin: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; Augmentin: amoxicillin (500 mg) and clavulanate (125 mg)] every 12 hours for 3–7 days; nitrofurantoin: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days; cephalexin: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days. In view of the fact that up to 30% of women are not cleared of AB following a short course of therapy, Hooton et al.19 recommend a repeat urine culture 1 week after completion of antibiotic therapy, as well as repeat urine cultures on a monthly basis until parturition to assess for persistent or recurrent bacteriuria. Acute cystitis Cystitis refers to a symptomatic infection of the urinary bladder which can occur either alone or complicated by ascending infection and pyelonephritis. Acute cystitis in pregnant women is generally considered to be complicated as it is often associated with an ascending infection or pyelonephritis. A urine culture must be performed for pregnant women with symptoms of acute cystitis and a resulting quantitative count of ≥ 103 cfu/ml in a symptomatic pregnant woman should be taken as an indicator of symptomatic UTI. Pregnant women with acute cystitis should be treated with a 3- to 7-day В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW course of antibiotics as long as they do not have symptoms suggestive of pyelonephritis. Hooton et al.19 suggested one of the following empirical treatments should be prescribed while awaiting urine culture and sensitivity results. в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– в– nitrofurantoin: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days; cefpodoxime: 100 mg twice daily for 3–7 days; amoxicillin–clavulanate: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 3–7 days; fosfomycin: 3 g orally as a single dose; trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole: one doublestrength dose twice daily for 3 days in the second trimester (this should be avoided in the first trimester or near term); amoxicillin (for treatment of Enterococcus): 500 mg twice daily every 12 hours for 7 days; fluroroquinolones: should be avoided during pregnancy. A repeat urine culture should be conducted 1 week after completion of treatment and monthly thereafter until parturition. Pyelonephritis Acute pyelonephritis tends to manifest with flank pain, nausea and vomiting, pyrexia > 38В°C and costovertebral angle tenderness, which may occur in the presence or absence of symptoms of cystitis. Organisms responsible for acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy include E. coli (approximately 70%), Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus and Gram-positive organisms inclusive of group B Streptococcus. In view of the high risk of complications associated with pyelonephritis in pregnancy, pregnant women with pyelonephritis are usually admitted to hospital for intravenous antibiotics until they are afebrile for 24 hours and their symptoms have improved. Taking blood samples for a culture is recommended in pregnant women with signs of sepsis or serious underlying medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus.19 The initial choice of antibiotics should depend on the local microbiology and susceptibility data. Parenteral ОІ-lactams are the antibiotics of choice but fluoroquinolones should be avoided during pregnancy.19 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences When the patient has been afebrile for 48 hours on intravenous antibiotics, oral antibiotic therapy, based upon the culture and sensitivity pattern of the causative organism, can be initiated and the patient discharged to complete 10–14 days of antibiotic treatment. Recurrent pyelonephritis occurs during pregnancy in 6–8% of women; therefore, low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis with an agent to which the bacteria is sensitive is recommended for the duration of the pregnancy. Some of the treatment options to choose from include 50–100 mg nitrofurantoin orally every evening, or 250–500 mg cephalexin orally every evening. Conclusions For the majority of UTI and AB cases diagnosed during in pregnancy, the prognosis is good. Most of the long-term sequelae are due to complications associated with septic shock, respiratory failure and hypotensive hypoxia with extreme gangrene. Urinary tract infections which develop in pregnant women have few direct sequelae as fetal bloodstream infection is rare; nevertheless, uterine hypoperfusion as a result of maternal dehydration, maternal anaemia and direct bacterial endotoxin damage to the placental vasculature may result in fetal cerebral hypoperfusion. Untreated upper UTIs in pregnant women are associated with low birthweight, prematurity, premature labour, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, maternal anaemia and amnionitis. UTIs that develop during pregnancy are also associated with intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery and caesarean delivery. In order to avoid, or minimize, complications that may be associated with AB and UTI, both should be appropriately treated during pregnancy. References 1 2 Johnson EK, Kim ED. 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Asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2009; 22:423–7. http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/14767050802360783 Bolton M, Horvath DJ, Li B, et al. Intrauterine growth restriction is a direct consequence of localized maternal uropathogenic Escherichia coli cystitis. Plos One 2012; 7:e33897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0033897 Freire de Vasconcelos-Pereira E, Figueiro-Filho EA, Marcon de Oliveira V, et al. Urinary tract infection in high-risk pregnant women. Revista De Patologia Tropical 2013; 42:21–9. Whitehead NS, Callaghan W, Johnson C, Williams L. Racial, ethnic, and economic disparities in the prevalence of pregnancy complications. Matern Child Health J 2009; 13:198–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/ s10995-008-0344-2 Johnson EK, Kim ED. Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnancy. Medscape; 2012. URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/ article/452604-overview (accessed 11 April 2012). Giraldo PC, Araujo ED, Junior JE, do Amaral RL, Passos MR, Goncalves AK. The prevalence, of urogenital infections in pregnant women experiencing preterm and full-term labour. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2012; 2012:878241. Kladensky J. Urinary tract infections in pregnancy: when to treat, how to treat, and what to treat with. Ceska Gynekol 2012; 77:167–71. Kahlmeter G, ECO.SENS. An international survey of the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens from uncomplicated urinary tract infections: the ECO.SENS 175 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:163–176 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.209) REVIEW 65 66 67 176 project. J Antimicrob Chemother 2003; 51:69–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkg028 Kahlmeter G. Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens in uncomplicated cystitis in Europe: the ECO.SENS study. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2003; 22(Suppl. 2):49–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-8579(03)00229-2 Naber KG, Schito G, Botto H, Palou J, Mezzei T. Surveillance study in Europe and Brazil on clinical aspects and Antimicrobial Resistance Epidemiology in Females with Cystitis (ARESC): implications for empiric therapy. Eur Urol 2008; 54:1164–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. eururo.2008.05.010 Zhannel GG, Hisanaga TL, Laing NM, Decorby KA, Nichol LP. Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli outpatient 68 69 urinary isolates: final results from the North American Urinary Tract Infection Collaborative Alliance (NAUTICA). Int J Antimicrob Agents 2006; 27:468–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.02.009 Warren JW, Abrutyn E, Hebel JR, Johnson JR, Schaeffer AJ, Stamm WE. Guidelines for antimicrobial treatment of uncomplicated acute bacterial cystitis and acute pyelonephritis in women. Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Clin Infect Dis 1999; 29:745–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/520427 Garau J. Other antimicrobials of interest in the era of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases: fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and tigecycline. Clin Microbiol Infect 2008; 14(Suppl. 5):21–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.14690691.2007.01852.x В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239)   Review Chronic neuropathic pain management – a review article Alhan S Khazaal FICM A (Fellowship of Iraqi Commission for Medical Specializations/Anaesthesia and ICU), Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Abstract Introduction Chronic neuropathic pain (NEP) is commonly seen in clinical practice and represents a challenge to patients as well as clinicians. Pain is a complex sensory modality, resulting from the physiological activation of nociceptors that trigger a behavioural process to protect the individual from any existing, or further, tissue damage. Conditions that are frequently associated with NEP can be classified into two main groups: first, conditions that cause damage to the central nervous system (CNS), such as cortical and subcortical strokes; and, secondly, conditions that cause damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) such as ischaemic neuropathy, nerve root compression and phantom pain. There are multiple theories and pathophysiological processes underlying NEP; both basic and human research indicates that a lesion of afferent pathways is necessary for development of NEP. Furthermore, data clearly indicate that several mechanisms can lead to NEP and many of these mechanisms do not depend on the cause of the disease. The main mechanisms for the development NEP are ectopic nerve activity, upregulation of receptor proteins, central sensitization, inflammatory mechanism and disinhibition. The management of chronic NEP is challenging and the primary goal is to treat the pain and associated comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression. The secondary goals of treatment are to improve sleep, the ability to function normally and the overall quality of life. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the most effective treatment in the management of NEP; however, serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), gabapentin and pregabalin, or lidocaine patches are also effective. Randomized controlled trials have reported the efficacy of opioids for different peripheral and central neuropathic disorders; however, using opioids for the treatment of NEP is not necessarily associated with a significant improvement in quality of life, psychological comorbidities or sleep disorders. In summary, management of NEP should be tailored to the individual patient on the basis of pain type(s), the causative disease, the relevant psychological factors and the interactions between the biological and psychosocial processes. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined pain as вЂ�an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage’.1 Pain is a complex sensory modality, resulting from the physiological activation of nociceptors that trigger a behavioural process to protect the individual from any existing, or further, tissue damage; therefore, it is an essential process for survival.1 Correspondence: Dr Alhan S Khazaal, FICM A (Fellowship of Iraqi Commission for Medical Specializations/Anaesthesia and ICU), Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Chronic neuropathic pain (NEP) is commonly seen in clinical practice and represents a challenge to patients as well as clinicians. NEP is defined by the IASP as вЂ�pains resulting from disease or damage of the peripheral or central nervous system and from dysfunction of the nervous system’. NEP can result from damage anywhere along the neuraxis, such as the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system (PNS), spinal nervous system or supraspinal nervous system, and, to the best of our knowledge, does not serve any protective purpose for the individual.1 Conditions that are frequently associated with NEP can be classified into two main groups: first, conditions that cause damage to the CNS, such as cortical and subcortical strokes, traumatic spinal cord injuries, syringomyelia, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia and neoplastic as well as other space-occupying lesions; and, secondly, conditions that cause damage to the PNS such as ischaemic neuropathy, peripheral polyneuropathies, nerve root compression, post-amputation stump and phantom pain, post-herpetic neuralgia and cancer-related neuropathies.1 177 177 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review Clinically, NEP can be differentiated from other types of pain by the notable persistence of pain beyond the healing period. It is also characterized by spontaneous shooting pains and evokes amplified pain in response to noxious or non-noxious stimuli. Symptoms consist of both вЂ�negative’ symptoms such as sensory loss and numbness, and вЂ�positive’ symptoms such as paraesthesia, spontaneous pain and increased sensation of pain.1 Psychological factors, which include emotional and behavioural responses, are fundamental components in the perception and expression of pain and the patient should be considered in the context of the interactions between biological and psychosocial processes. Attempts to manage pain without considering these interactions will inevitably lead to patient frustration and treatment failure. Management of pain should be tailored to the individual patient on the basis of pain type(s), the causative disease, the relevant psychological factors and the interactions between the biological and psychosocial processes.1 The aim of this article is to review the pathophysiology and treatment modalities of NEP. Pathophysiology There are multiple theories and pathophysiological processes underlying NEP; however, it is crucial to review the physiology of normal pain before exploring that of NEP. The term nociception (from the Latin nocere, meaning вЂ�to hurt’) refers to the sensory process that is triggered when pain occurs, whereas the term pain refers to the perception of a feeling or the actual sensation of pain. Nociceptors are unspecialized and unmyelinated nerve endings that transduce a variety of stimuli into nerve impulses, which are interpreted by the brain and lead to the sensation of pain . The nerve cell bodies are located in the dorsal root ganglia, or, in the case the trigeminal nerve, in the trigeminal ganglia, and they send one nerve fibre branch to the periphery of the trigeminal territory and another to the spinal cord or brainstem. There are two types of nociceptors: the C-fibre nociceptors, which respond polymodally to thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli to produce the sensation of delayed and dull pain, and the A delta (d)-fibre nociceptors, which respond to mechanical and mechanothermal stimuli to produce the sensation of immediate and sharp pain.2 178 Normal pain pathways involve activation of nociceptors in response to a painful stimulus. A wave of depolarization is then sent to the first-order neurons, which sodium enters and potassium exits via the sodium–potassium pump. First-order neurons terminate at the brainstem, in the trigeminal nucleus or in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and it is here that the electrochemical signals open voltage-gated calcium channels in the presynaptic terminal, allowing calcium to enter and glutamate (an excitatory neurotransmitter) to be released into the synaptic space. Glutamate binds to N-methyld-aspartate (NMDA) receptors on the second-order neurons, causing depolarization. These neurons then cross over in the spinal cord and ascend to enter the thalamus, where they synapse with the third-order neurons. These, in turn, connect to the limbic system and the cerebral cortex.2 Antinociceptive neurons originate in the brainstem and descend the spinal cord, where they synapse with short interneurons in the dorsal horn, releasing serotonin and noradrenaline. The interneurons modulate the synapse between the first-order neurons and the second-order neurons by releasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which results in pain cessation. Suppression of inhibitory synaptic connections can enhance pain sensation.2 Both basic and human research indicates that a lesion of afferent pathways is necessary for development of NEP.2 Furthermore, data clearly indicate that several mechanisms can lead to NEP and that many of these mechanisms do not depend on the cause of the disease, i.e. the same mechanism underlies different diseases. The main mechanisms for the development NEP are as follows. Ectopic nerve activity The sensation of ongoing spontaneous pain, combined with paroxysmal shooting pain, in the absence of an external stimulation, is caused by ectopic impulse generation within nociceptive pathways. After a peripheral nerve lesion, spontaneous activity is evident in both the injured and neighbouring uninjured nociceptive afferents.3–5 Increasing levels of messenger RNA in association with voltage-gated sodium channels seem to correlate with ectopic activity. In addition, increased expression of sodium channels in injured and intact fibres may lower the action potential threshold until ectopic activity occurs. Similar changes in the В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review second-order nociceptive neurons are thought to occur after a central lesion, which leads to central NEP.6 Upregulation of receptor proteins Nerve injury can induce upregulation of various receptor proteins located in undamaged peripheral nociceptive endings and downregulation of receptor proteins in damaged nerve endings, which may result in spontaneous nerve activity. This spontaneous nerve activity may be induced by normally innocuous tactile stimuli that do not usually induce pain (known as allodynia), or an abnormality such as hyperalgesia (an increased response to normal painful stimuli).2,4,5,7 Central sensitization Central sensitization may develop as a result of ectopic activity in the primary nociceptive afferent fibres without actual structural damage to the CNS. Ongoing discharges of peripheral afferent fibres that release excitatory amino acids and neuropeptides within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord lead to postsynaptic changes in second-order nociceptive neurons, such as the expression of voltage-gated sodium channels. These changes induce neuronal hyperexcitability that enables low-threshold mechanosensitive A beta (b) and Ad afferent fibres to activate second-order nociceptive neurons, resulting in allodynia. Similar mechanisms may take place at the supraspinal levels.2,4,5,7 Inflammatory mechanism Inflammation following a nerve lesion induces activation of macrophages that migrate into the nerve and dorsal root ganglion and release proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (a), which contributes to pain hypersensitivity. Following peripheral and central nerve lesions, activated microglia within the CNS release several immune modulators that also play a role in NEP.7 Disinhibition After a peripheral nerve lesion, inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in the spinal horn are lost. Prevention of interneuron cell death attenuates the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and contributes to NEP. Furthermore, lesions that affect the opioidergic and monoaminergic systems (the inhibitory descending pathways that originate in the brainstem В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and block pain) contribute to pain exacerbation through disinhibition.2,4,5,7 Pharmacological management of neuropathic pain The management of a patient with chronic NEP is challenging and the primary goal is to treat the pain and associated comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression. The secondary goals of treatment are to improve sleep, the ability to function normally and the overall quality of life. Tricyclic antidepressants Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the most effective treatment in the management of NEP. These drugs, which were originally thought to block the reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin, actually block NMDA agonist-induced hyperalgesia and also have sodium channel-blocking properties.8 Although the analgesic effect of TCAs is independent of the antidepressant effect, the analgesic effect could be beneficial to those suffering from depression as depression is commonly associated with NEP.8–11 The anticholinergic effect of TCAs is associated with several adverse effects, such as a dry mouth, constipation, sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, drowsiness, palpitation, orthostatic hypotension, sedation and urinary retention. TCAs can also cause cognitive disorders and disturbance to gait, which may result in falls, particularly in elderly patients.8–11 These adverse effects mean that precautions need to be taken while using TCAs and electrocardiography needs to be conducted before the start of treatment, especially in patients over 40 years of age and/or with a history of ischaemic heart disease, as these patients are at a higher risk of developing adverse effects while taking TCAs. More selective TCAs, such as nortriptyline, cause fewer anticholinergic and sedation effects.8–11 Tricyclic antidepressants should be taken at low dosages initially (10–25 mg in the evening) and then slowly tailored on an individual basis depending on how the patient tolerates the drug. The reported effective dosage of amitriptyline, or its equivalent, ranges from 25 to 150 mg, with the average dosage being 75 mg per day. Owing to the substantial pharmacokinetic variability of TCAs, the monitoring of serum drug concentrations is helpful for guiding treatment.8–11 179 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review Serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors Duloxetine and venlafaxine are serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) that are efficacious in the treatment of painful polyneuropathies. The most common adverse effects associated with duloxetine are nausea, somnolence, a dry mouth, constipation, reduced appetite, diarrhoea, hyperhidrosis and dizziness. Additional rare adverse effects that have been reported are the elevation of plasma glucose, hepatic enzymes or blood pressure. The reported adequate dosage of duloxetine ranges from 60 to 120 mg per day. Treatment should be prescribed at 30 mg per day initially to avoid nausea and increased to 60 mg per day after 1 week. In comparison, only high doses of venlafaxine (150–225 mg per day) are effective. Patients have been reported to tolerate venlafaxine better than duloxetine and the main side-effect is gastrointestinal disturbance.8–11 Anticonvulsants Gabapentin and pregabalin bind to presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels in the dorsal horn, resulting in a decrease in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate and substance P. Studies reporting on diabetic neuropathy12 and post-herpetic neuralgia13 concluded that gabapentin treatment produced significant pain relief and significant improvement in quality of life and patient mood. Pregabalin is an analogue of gabapentin with the same mechanism of action, but demonstrates linear pharmacokinetics and has a higher affinity for the presynaptic calcium channel. It has been shown that pregabalin provides significant pain relief and improved quality of sleep in post-herpetic neuralgia and painful diabetic neuropathy. Pregabalin also produces significant pain relief for chronic central NEP following injury to the spinal cord.9–13 The most common side-effects of gabapentin and pregabalin are dizziness, somnolence, peripheral oedema, weight gain, asthenia, headache and a dry mouth. The reported effective dosage is 1800–3600 mg per day for gabapentin and 150–600 mg per day for pregabalin; however, inconsistent effects have been reported with a dose of 150 mg of pregabalin per day. Both drugs need to be tailored to the individual patient, but the period for tailoring is generally shorter for pregabalin (the dose should be increased by 75 mg every 3 days) than for gabapentin (the dose should be increased 180 by 600–900 mg over 3 days in three divided doses). Gabapentin is generally administered three times a day, with the exception of the extended-release formulation, which releases drug over an extended period of time; pregabalin is generally administered twice a day. Carbamazepine remains the treatment of choice for cases of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia; however, this drug is not recommended for the management of NEP. Topical lidocaine Lidocaine relieves pain through the non-specific block of sodium channels on the ectopic peripheral afferent fibres without causing numbness of the treated skin. Lidocaine patches are generally safe and give low systemic absorption, which offers the benefit of local side-effects only, such as a mild skin reaction. Up to four patches per day may be used to cover the painful area and alteration of the dosage is not necessary. Lidocaine patches are most appropriate for localized peripheral NEP such as post-herpetic neuralgia.14 Tramadol Tramadol shows direct agonist activity at both presynaptic and postsynaptic opioid receptors. Furthermore, it has additional analgesic properties through the inhibition of serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake. Tramadol can induce dizziness, a dry mouth, nausea, constipation and somnolence and can aggravate existing cognitive impairment, particularly in elderly patients. Patients with history of epilepsy, or who are receiving drugs to reduce the seizure threshold, such as TCAs, are at an increased risk of seizures while taking tramadol. Serotonergic syndrome may occur if tramadol is used in combination with serotonergic medication, particularly SNRIs. The effective dose of tramadol ranges from 200 to 400 mg per day, but it should be prescribed at low dosage initially (50 mg per day), and continuous low dosage is recommended for elderly patients and patients with renal impairment and cirrhosis.10,11,15 Strong opioids Opioid analgesics such as oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl and morphine are presynaptic and postsynaptic opioid receptor agonists. Randomized В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review controlled trials have reported the efficacy of opioids for different peripheral and central neuropathic disorders.10,11,15,16 Opioids have a comparable analgesic efficacy to TCAs;17 however, concerns about long-term side-effects, such as immunological changes, physical dependency and drug abuse, may limit the use of strong opioids in patients with chronic neuropathic non-cancerous pain. Oxycodone is the most commonly studied drug for the treatment of NEP and the recommended dose ranges from 10 to 200 mg per day. Using opioids for the treatment of NEP is not necessarily associated with a significant improvement in quality of life, psychological comorbidities or sleep disorders.15 The most common side-effects are constipation, sedation, nausea, dizziness and vomiting; however, these effects generally decrease after long-term treatment. Opioid-induced hyperalgesia, which consists of an increase in pain sensitivity and potential aggravation of existing pain, may also be observed in patients receiving long-term opioid treatment. Miscellaneous drugs Mexiletine Mexiletine is a class 1B local anaesthetic and antiarrhythmic agent that functions by blocking sodium channels. Mexiletine regulates an ectopic neural pacemaker by slowing its conduction and therefore may have a prolonged duration of action. However, mexiletine has produced positive results in only two of seven NEP trials.18 Clonidine Clonidine is an a2-agonist sympathetic blocker which has proved to have benefits for a subset of patients with painful diabetic neuropathy in an enriched enrolment trial.16 Capsaicin Capsaicin is an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptors (TRPV1s) on nociceptive fibres. After several days of capsaicin treatment, TRPV1-containing sensory axons become desensitized, thereby inhibiting the transmission of pain. Standard capsaicin-containing creams have been found to be moderately effective in postherpetic neuralgia; however, these creams need to В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences be applied several times a day and cause a burning sensation before the analgesic effect begins. Recently, a single highly concentrated (8%) capsaicin patch, applied to the painful area for 30, 60 or 120 minutes, has been demonstrated to be effective during weeks 2–12 of post-herpetic neuropathy.15 Adverse effects while using capsaicin are primarily due to local capsaicin-related reactions at the application site (pain, erythema and sometimes oedema and itching). Furthermore, the patient’s blood pressure should be monitored because of the risk of high blood pressure during treatment.15 Cannabinoids The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for the remedy of chronic pain has been extensively investigated. Oromucosal cannabinoids (2.7 mg d-9-tetrahydrocannabinol plus 2.5 mg cannabidiol) have been found to be effective for multiple sclerosis-associated pain and allodynia associated with refractory peripheral NEP.15 Adverse effects include dizziness, a dry mouth, sedation, fatigue, gastrointestinal problems and oral discomfort, and cannabinoids may aggravate existing mental conditions. Oromucosal cannabinoids are currently available for the treatment of NEP only in Canada. Botulinum toxin A Several investigations have suggested that botulinum toxin A (BTX-A), a potent neurotoxin commonly used for the treatment of focal muscle hyperactivity, may have analgesic effects that are independent of its action on muscle tone, possibly by acting on neurogenic inflammation.19 In patients with mononeuropathy, 100–200 units of BTX-A is injected into the painful area, which is usually the area associated with mechanical allodynia; the onset of action of BTX-A is about 1 week and duration of effect 3 months. BTX-A has an excellent safety profile with no systemic side-effects. Summary of current recommendations for medical treatment of neuropathic pain Management of NEP should be tailored to the individual patient on the basis of pain type(s), the causative disease, the relevant psychological factors and the interactions between the biological and psychosocial processes. Classification of evidence 181 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review Table 1  Classification of evidence for drug treatment in commonly studied NEP conditions and recommendations for their use. Treatments are presented in alphabetical order. Drugs marked with an asterisk were found effective in single class II or III studies and are generally not recommended. Reprinted from Attal N, Cruccu G, Baron R, et al. EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain, Eur J Neurol 2010 revision, vol. 17, pp. 1113-e88,15 with permission from John Wiley & Sons Inc. Aetiology Diabetic neuropathyd Level Aa rating for efficacy Level Bb rating for efficacy Duloxetine Gabapentin Gabapentinmorphine Oxycodone Pregabalin TCAse Tramadol alone or with acetaminophen Venlafaxine extended release Botulinum toxin* Dextromethorphan Gabapentinvenlafaxine* Levadopa* Post-herpetic Capsaicin 8% patch neuralgia Gabapentin Lidocaine plasters Opioid (morphine, oxycodone, methadone) Pregabalin TCAse h Central pain Cannabinoids (oromucosal or oral) (multiple sclerosis) Pregabalin (spinal cord injury) a Level A/B rating for Level Cc rating inefficacy or discrepant for efficacy results Recommendations Recommendations as first-line as second- or thirdtreatment line treatment Carbamazepine Phenytoin Duloxetine Gabapentin Pregabalin TCAs Venlafaxine extended release Opioid Tramadolf Gabapentin Pregabalin TCAs Lidocaine plasterg Capsaicin Opioid Capsaicin cream Lacosamide Lamotrigine Memantine Mexiletine Mianserin Oxacarbazepine Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Topical clonidine Topiramate Valproate Zonisamide Benzydamine (topical) Dextromethorphan Fluphenazine Lorazepam Memantine Mexiletine Tramadol Capsaicin cream Valproate* Lamotrigine (central post-stroke pain) Opioid TCAs (spinal cord injury, central poststroke pain) Tramadol (spinal cord injury)* Carbamazepine Gabapentin Gabapentin Pregabalin Duloxetine (found effective TCAs in allodynia in one study) Lamotrigine in spinal cord injury (except in patient with allodynia in one study) Levetiracetam Mexiletine S-Ketamine iontophoresis Valproate Cannabinoids (multiple sclerosis) Lamotrigine Opioid Tramadol (spinal cord injury) Good scientific evidence suggests that the benefits of treatment substantially outweigh the potential risks. Some scientific evidence suggests that the benefits of treatment outweigh the potential risks. b At least fair scientific evidence suggests that there are benefits provided by the clinical service, but the balance between benefits and risks are too close for making general recommendations. Clinicians need not offer it unless there are individual considerations. c Only TCAs, tramadol and venlafaxine were studied in non-diabetic neuropathy. d TCAs include amitriptyline, clomipramine, nortriptyline, desipramine and imipramine. e Tramadol is recommended as a first-line treatment in patients with acute exacerbations of pain, in particular the tramadol–acetaminophen combination. f Lidocaine is recommended as a first-line treatment mainly in elderly patients. g Cannabinoids and lamotrigine are proposed for refractory cases. h 182 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:177–184 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.239) Review for drug treatments in commonly studied NEP conditions, and recommendations for their use, can be seen in Table 1. Tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, pregabalin and SNRI antidepressants are recommended as first-line treatments for NEP by the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group of the IASP10,11,15 and the European Federation of the Neurological Society.10 It is reasonable to initiate treatment with either TCAs or anticonvulsants and, if TCAs fail, then switch to anticonvulsants, or vice versa. If TCAs provide only partial relief, then an anticonvulsant can be added to the treatment plan. Topical lidocaine is recommended as a first-line treatment in for post-herpetic neuralgia, especially in elderly patients. If first-line medications fail, tramadol or conventional opioid analgesics may be useful as second-line treatment; however, these are also recommended as first-line treatments in patients with episodic pain exacerbations10 and for breakthrough pain during the first-line medication-tailoring period. Third-line treatment for management of NEP includes prescription of cannabinoids, mexiletine, clonidine, methadone, lamotrigine, topramate and valproic acid. These should be considered when other options have failed or are not possible and they can be considered as adjunctive therapies if there is no concern regarding polypharmacy or drug interactions. Intractable pain may require treatment with a combination of antidepressants, anticonvulsants and opioids. References 1 2 3 4 5 Baron R, Binder A, Wasner G. Neuropathic pain: diagnosis, pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment. Lancet Neurol 2010; 9:807–19. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70143-5 Baron R. Mechanisms of disease: neuropathic pain – a clinical perspective. Nat Clin Pract Neurol 2006; 2:95–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncpneuro0113 Bostock H, Campero M, Serra J, Ochoa J. Temperaturedependent double spikes in C-nociceptors of neuropathic pain patient. 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A critical review of controlled clinical trials for peripheral neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndromes. Pain 1997; 73:123–39. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0304-3959(97)00049-3 Moulin DE, Clark AJ, Gilron I, Ware MA. Pharmacological management of chronic neuropathic pain – consensus statement and guidelines from the Canadian Pain Society. Pain Res Manag 2007; 12:13–21. Dworkin RH, O’Connor AB, Audett J, et al. Recommendations for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain: an overview and literature update. Mayo Clin Proc 2010; 85:S3–14. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4065/mcp.2009.0649 O’Connor AB, Dworkin RH. Treatment of neuropathic pain: an overview of recent guidelines. Am J Med 2009; 122:S22–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. amjmed.2009.04.007 Backonja M, Beydoun A, Edwards KR, et al. Gabapentin for the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1998; 280:1831–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/ jama.280.21.1831 Rowbotham M, Harden N, Stacey B, Bernstein P, Mangus-Miller L. Gabapentin for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1998; 280:1837–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/ jama.280.21.1837 Baron R, Mayoral V, Leijion G, Binder A, Stergelwald I, Serpell M. 5% Lidocaine medicated plaster versus pregabalin in post-herpetic neuralgia and diabetic polyneuropathy: an open label, non-inferiority twostage RCT study. Curr Med Res Opin 2009; 27:1663–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1185/03007990903047880 Attal N, Cruccu G, Baron R, et al. EFNS guidelines on pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain. Eur J Neurol 2010 revision; 17:1113-e88. Byas-Smith G, Max B, Muir J, Kingman A. Transdermal clonidine compared to placebo in painful diabetic neuropathy using a two-stage вЂ�enriched enrollment’ design. Pain 1995; 60:267–74. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/0304-3959(94)00121-T Raja SN, Haythornthwaite JA, Pappagallo M, et al. Opioids versus antidepressants in post-herpetic neuralgia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Neurology 2002; 59:1015–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/ WNL.59.7.1015 Finnerup B, Otta M, McQuay J, Jensen S, Sindrup H. Algorithm for neuropathic pain treatment: an evidence based proposal. Pain 2005; 118:289–305. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.pain.2005.08.013 Aoki R. Review of a proposed mechanism for the antinociceptive action of Botulinum toxin type A. Neurotoxicology 2005; 26:785–93. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.neuro.2005.01.017 183 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:185–190 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.163)   Original research article Improving the management of placenta praevia accreta Khalid Saleh,1 Nawal M Hubaishi,1 Hena Zaheer,2 Fatima Cherifi1 and Ibtihaj Alanizi1 Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Dubai Hospital, and 2Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 1 Abstract Objectives. The aims of this study were to assess the incidence of placenta praevia accreta, to identify risk factors for this complication and to analyse sonographic findings and the outcomes of interventions. This should improve antenatal diagnosis and facilitate the introduction of a new protocol for conservative management of this condition. Materials and methods. This is a retrospective and descriptive study, over a period of 30 months, of women who underwent a caesarean section (CS) owing to placenta praevia accreta within the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Dubai Hospital, United Arab Emirates. During this time, all files were reviewed and parameters collected, including patients’ profile, risk factors, interventions, complications, blood loss, blood transfusion and length of hospitalization. Results. There were 11 cases of placenta praevia accreta (1 in 909 births). Two major risk factors were identified: the presence of a pre-existing uterine scar and previous occurrence of placenta praevia. Ultrasound findings were of limited use in reaching a diagnosis, resulting in 7 of these 11 patients requiring emergency intrapartum hysterectomy. Two had bladder injuries with blood loss of 2.9 l, and most of the patients required massive transfusion. The mean hospital stay was 7.1 days. The results were compared with those reported in the literature. Conclusions. Previous placenta praevia and previous CS delivery are associated with placenta accreta, and result in an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. A key priority must be the introduction of a new protocol to include leaving the placenta in situ, particularly in women who wish to become pregnant again in the future. Introduction Placenta praevia and placenta accreta occur when the placenta is located wholly or partly in the Correspondence: Fatima Cherifi, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Dubai Hospital, Al Baraha, PO Box 7272, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences lower uterine segment and is morbidly adherent to it. Placenta accreta is defined as an abnormally deep attachment of the placenta, through the endometrium and into the myometrium. There are three forms of placenta accreta, distinguishable by the depth of penetration: placenta accreta describes the partial or complete absence of decidua, with adherence of the placenta directly to the superficial myometrium; placenta increta is an invasion into, but not all the way through, the myometrium; and placenta percreta describes penetration through the full thickness of the myometrium and into the serosa. This is relatively rare but potentially life-threatening, as it often results in complications in the peripartum period such as severe haemorrhage, a possible need for caesarean hysterectomy and even severe injuries to pelvic organs. The aim nowadays is to manage placenta accreta conservatively not only to avoid massive pelvic bleeding and massive transfusions, but also to preserve fertility. The improvement of imaging investigations facilitates a diagnosis, allowing management plans to be discussed with other clinical professionals (e.g. interventional radiologists and anaesthetists), as well as the patient and her family. The association between placenta accreta, placenta praevia and caesarean section (CS) has become more striking in recent years, and the incidence of placenta accreta (including increta and percreta) may have risen 10-fold in the past 50 years.1 Recent reports suggest that the incidence ranges from 1 in 110 to 1 in 2500 deliveries,2 and this incidence is expected to rise as the number of CSs increases. 185 185 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:185–190 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.163) Original research article The present study was conducted over a period of 30 months. The aims of the study were as follows: to determine the incidence of confirmed placenta accreta at Dubai Hospital, United Arab Emirates, and to compare this with the literature; to examine the influence of an antenatal diagnosis in determining approaches to management; to assess the effect of subsequent separation of the placenta during CS on maternal outcomes; to discuss new challenges in management; and to institute new guidelines in our department for the management of future patients with the same pathology, including undertaking caesarean hysterectomy in patients who do not wish to have further pregnancies, or leaving the placenta in situ in those who wish to preserve their fertility. Materials and methods A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted of all pregnant women at or beyond 24 weeks of gestation who were diagnosed with placenta praevia accreta, either antenatally or during CS, between 1 June 2009 and 31 December 2011. Patients were identified from medical files, record books and electronic medical record databases at Dubai Hospital. The medical notes were examined and checked against the database for the following: gestational age at diagnosis and delivery; risk factors; imaging findings; operative interventions and any complications; estimated blood loss; blood unit transfusion; and findings confirmed by the pathology department in cases where hysterectomy was carried out. Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the mean hospitalization period were analysed. The literature was reviewed and our results compared with those of international reports. Results During the study period of 30 months, there were 9577 deliveries at Dubai Hospital, of which 2966 deliveries (31%) were by CS. Eleven cases of placenta praevia accreta were diagnosed. The estimated incidence of the condition, based on the results of this study, is 1 in 909 deliveries. During this study period, no vaginal deliveries were followed by post-partum diagnosis of placenta accreta, nor were there any cases of CS with placenta accreta only. The mean maternal age was 33.5 years (range 25–37 years). The mean gestational age at delivery 186 was 35.7 weeks (range 24–37 weeks). Patients with placenta praevia accreta were pauciparous, with an average parity of three. This does not correspond to the literature, with multiparity considered a risk factor for this condition. All patients with placenta praevia accreta had undergone at least one prior CS (Table 1). An ultrasound examination is performed routinely in all pregnant women attending the hospital. Screening for placenta accreta is carried out only once an antenatal diagnosis of placenta praevia has been made, in view of the association between placenta praevia and the diagnosis of placenta accreta. In most cases, the diagnosis of placenta praevia accreta was made before 30 weeks of gestation. Table 2 shows the level of concordance between ultrasound results and final diagnosis. Although the sample was small, it is clear nonetheless that the sensitivity of ultrasound was poor, compared with that reported in the literature. Only 4 out of 11 patients with placenta praevia accreta (36.4%) had corresponding ultrasound findings. Seven out of 11 patients were misdiagnosed by ultrasound (63.6%), and hysterectomy was necessary in six of these patients. In two cases, the pathology indicated the presence of placenta accreta increta, and in one case placenta accreta percreta. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was requested in five cases. In one case this was cancelled as the patient did not tolerate the examination. Diagnoses based on TABLE 1  Risk factors for placenta praevia and placenta accreta Case number Age Parity Number of Number of previous CSs miscarriages Other risk factors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 1 2 3 2 4 4 1 3 3 – – ERPOC – – ERPOC – – – – ERPOC 35 37 34 25 38 35 35 33 32 36 31 2 3 1 2 3 7 4 7 1 3 3 – – 2 – – 3 2 – – – 3 ERPOC, evacuation of retained products of conception. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:185–190 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.163) Original research article TABLE 2  Concordance between imaging and final diagnosis Case number Interpretation of abdominal ultrasound Interpretation of MRI Hysterectomy (yes/no) Final diagnosis 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Suggestive of accreta Suggestive of accreta Suggestive of accreta Placenta praevia posterior Placenta praevia Placenta praevia Suggestive of partial localized accreta Placenta praevia posterior Placenta praevia Placenta praevia Placenta praevia No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Placenta accreta Placenta accreta Placenta percreta Placenta accreta Placenta accreta Placenta accreta Placenta accreta Placenta accreta/increta Placenta accreta/increta Placenta accreta Placenta increta/percreta Ultrasound result confirmed Not tolerated Not carried out Negative Not carried out Not carried out Ultrasound result confirmed Not carried out Not carried out Negative Not carried out MRI, magnetic resonance imaging. ultrasound were confirmed in two of the remaining four patients; in the other two patients these diagnoses were wrongly excluded. Both of these patients underwent hysterectomy for placenta accreta with intractable post-partum haemorrhage (PPH). With regards to procedure, six patients had elective CSs whereas five underwent emergency CSs. All CSs were carried out in the presence of a consultant. Four units of blood were cross-matched as per protocol for any patient undergoing a CS. As the diagnosis of placenta praevia accreta was not made in 7 out of 11 cases, an attempt was made to separate the placenta after delivery in all patients. In two cases, part of the placenta was left in situ; however, one of these patients subsequently returned to the operating theatre for secondary PPH and required a hysterectomy due to massive bleeding with profound hypotension. Another patient underwent a second laparotomy after collapsing, with 1 l of haemoperitoneum resulting from intraperitoneal bleeding. Ligation of the internal iliac artery was performed to stop the bleeding. Immediately after placenta removal, all patients experienced severe bleeding with hypotension. In all cases, every effort was made to arrest the bleeding before resorting to emergency hysterectomy [including the use of oxytocin (SyntocinonВ®, Sandoz, Sandoz International GmbH, Holzkirchen, Germany), prostaglandin, uterine sutures, bed stitches and Bakriв„ў Balloon (Cook Medical, Limerick, Ireland)], and this may account for the significantly larger volume of blood lost and blood transfused in this group (Table 3). There were two cases of bladder injury В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences during dissection (see Table 3). There were no bowel injuries, despite adhesions and post-partum infection. Blood loss leads to marked circulatory collapse, vasoconstriction and oliguria, and may even be life-threatening. Mean blood loss in the patients in this study was estimated at 2.9 l (range 1.5–5.0 l). An analysis of blood units received during and after surgery suggests that this may be an underestimate (Figure 1). The mean number of blood units transfused was 8.1 (range 5.0–15.0 units). An average of 8.5 units of other blood products were required (range 2.0–15.0 units). All patients with placenta accreta or placenta praevia with PPH were admitted to the ICU for between 24 and 72 hours. The mean length of hospital stay after delivery was 7.1 days. Discussion As numbers of CSs continue to rise, both within Dubai Hospital and worldwide, the problem of placenta praevia accreta will become more common. At Dubai Hospital, 1 in 909 deliveries is affected. This is within the range of figures reported internationally, which varies from 1 in 1102 to 1 in 2510 deliveries affected.3 The association between placenta praevia and prior CS delivery with placenta accreta and the risk of requiring a hysterectomy is well documented.4 Miller et al.3 found that the risk of placenta accreta ranged from 2% in women < 35 years of age with no history of CS to almost 39% in women who had undergone two or more previous CSs and who had an anterior or central placenta praevia. 187 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:185–190 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.163) Original research article TABLE 3  Operation interventions to arrest bleeding a Case number CS Bed stitches Bakri Balloon Lynch technique Uterine artery Internal iliac ligation artery ligation Hysterectomy Pathology 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Elective Emergency Emergency Elective Elective Elective Elective Emergency В Elective В Emergency Emergency Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No Yes No Yes No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yesb Yes Yesc Yesb – – Placenta percreta Placenta accreta Placenta accreta – – Placenta increta Placenta increta Placenta accreta Placenta increta/percreta В No No No Yesa No No No No No No No Second laparotomy required because of haemoperitoneum. Bladder injury sustained. В b Hysterectomy required due to late PPH. c Figure В 4: В blood В products В transfused В Blood В products В 20 RBC 10 FFP 0 PLT 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cryo 7 FIGURE 1  Blood products transfused. Greyscale ultrasonography is now an established first-line investigation for suspected placental invasion of the myometrium and has clear diagnostic criteria: placental lacunae and loss of retroplacental clear space.5 It has reduced the morbidity and mortality from placenta accreta by helping to establish the diagnosis and detect complications antepartum. Comstock5 found that, at 15–20 weeks of gestation, the presence of lacunae in the placenta is the most predictive sonographic sign of placenta accreta, with a sensitivity of 79% and a positive predictive value of 92%. MRI has been shown to be beneficial in some cases when ultrasound findings are equivocal or not diagnostic.6 The use of MRI has a variable sensitivity ranging from 38% 188 8 9 10 11 Case В n umber В В to 88%, and specificity of up to 100% when it is applied as a secondary diagnostic tool. In this study, errors were made on both ultrasound and MRI; the direct consequences were a high rate of morbidity (hysterectomies, bladder injuries and massive blood transfusions). In future, antenatal diagnosis should be improved by training obstetricians and radiologists to approach the diagnosis according to clear, established criteria, which will benefit those patients who wish to avoid hysterectomy in order to preserve their fertility. Owing to a lack of antenatal diagnosis, all patients experienced massive bleeding, leading to emergency peripartum hysterectomy. Hsu et al.7 reported an В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:185–190 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.163) Original research article estimated mean blood loss of 3.8 l, as compared with 2.9 l in this study. The mean quantity of whole blood transfused in the study by Hsu et al. was 15 units,7 as compared with 8.1 units for our patients. Wong et al.8 compared one group of patients who did not receive an antenatal diagnosis with another group given an antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta. They concluded that women without an antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta experienced significantly more haemorrhaging (a mean total blood loss of 3.6 l vs. 1.4 l in the group given an antenatal diagnosis; P = 0.003).8 Despite the limitations of studying a small number of conservatively managed cases, these authors concluded that a clear relationship had been shown between antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta and non-separation of the placenta, with accompanying improved maternal outcome. According to Chan et al.,9 by leaving the morbidly adherent placenta in situ, with or without pelvic arterial embolization, they succeeded in preserving the uterus in three patients. Kayem et al.10 reported on a much larger number of patients with placenta accreta, managed using a similar conservative approach. In this study, the uterus was preserved in 80% of patients, and the number of complications was low compared with historical attempts to remove the placenta.10 In 2009, at a 33 national days meeting of the French National College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), the findings of a large multicentre study comprising 167 patients from 25 university hospitals, who had conservative management for placenta accreta, were presented.11 The results showed that the uterus was preserved in 78.4% of these patients, with maternal morbidity reported in 6% of cases. Of the patients who had conservative management for placenta accreta, 28.2% later became pregnant without the aid of medication. The main drawback of conservative management of placenta accreta is that a long period of follow-up is required for those patients who experience a delay in the spontaneous resorption of the placenta, which may take up to 17 weeks on average (range 4–45 weeks). For this reason, patients should be fully advised of the options available for the management of placenta accreta during the antenatal period. Our department at Dubai Hospital is working towards this goal in order to decrease the rate of morbidity, despite well-known risks of conservative management, e.g. blood transfusion (required in 40% of patients), infection (can affect 28% of patients) and recurrence of placenta accreta in future pregnancies (can affect 30% of patients). В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Conclusion Placenta accreta is a relatively rare but potentially catastrophic obstetric complication. It is likely that its incidence will continue to increase because of increasing numbers of repeat CS deliveries. Antenatal diagnosis is an invaluable aid in perinatal management, as it allows the clinician to anticipate and recognize complications that might not otherwise be expected. Conservative management is one option that should be discussed with the patient, with a view to decreasing massive maternal bleeding and conserving fertility should the patient wish to do so. References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Committee opinion. Number 266, January 2002: placenta accreta. Obstet Gynecol 2002; 99:169–70. Wu S, Kocherginsky M, Hibbard JU. Abnormal placentation: twenty-year analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005; 192:1458–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2004.12.074 Miller DA, Chollet JA, Goodwin TM. Clinical risk factors for placenta previa–placenta accreta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177:210–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70463-0 Nielsen T, Hagberg H, Ljungblad U. Placenta previa and antepartum hemorrhage after previous cesarean section. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1989; 27:88–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000293625 Comstock CH. Antenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta: a review. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2005; 26:89–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/uog.1926 Stolpen AH, Abu-Yousef M, Hansen WF. Antepartum evaluation of suspected placenta accreta: is there a role for MRI? Proc Intl Soc Mag Reson Med 2001; pp. 2082. Hsu YR, Kung FT, Roan CJ. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy due to placenta previa/accreta: 10 years’ experience. Taiwanese J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 43:206–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1028-4559(09)60087-5 Wong HS, Hutton J, Zuccollo J, Tait J, Pringle JC. The maternal outcome in placenta accreta: the significance of antenatal diagnosis and non-separation of placenta at delivery. N Z Med J 2008; 121:30–8. Chan BC, Lam HS, Yuen JH, et al. Conservative management of placenta praevia with accreta. Hong Kong Med J 2008; 14;479–84. Kayem G, Davy C, Goffinet F, Thomas C, Clement D, Cabrol D. Conservative versus extirpative management in cases of placenta accreta. Obstet Gynecol 2004; 104:531–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000136086.78099.0f Sentilhes L, Ambroselli C, Kayem G, et al. Maternal outcome after conservative treatment of placenta accreta. Obstet Gynecol 2010; 115:526–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181d066d4 189 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118)   OriginaL RESEARCH article Quantitative analysis of mercury burden in the wastewater released from dental clinics in the United Arab Emirates Sausan Al Kawas Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Abstract Amalgam waste from dental clinics is a significant source of mercury released into the environment when it is washed down a drain or disposed of improperly. Mercury is of particular concern because of its potential adverse effects on humans and the environment. As a consequence, several measures have been adopted by dental clinics worldwide to reduce mercury discharge into the environment. The aim of this study was to quantitatively asses the mercury burden in the wastewater discharged from some dental clinics in the United Arab Emirates using a cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry technique. Wastewater samples were collected from 28 public clinics at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi over a period of 10–14 days. The average concentration of mercury in all samples was 317.7 µg/l, with a standard deviation of 379.7 µg/l and a range from below the method detection limit (MDL) to 1535.2 µg/l. The results show some variation in mercury concentrations between samples, depending on the type and nature of dental operations undertaken at the specific clinic from which each sample originated. Most of the wastewater released from dental clinics in the study area contains concentrations of mercury which, although lower than levels reported elsewhere in the literature, are unacceptable according to local and international environmental standards. This implies that such wastewater should not be discharged without adequate pretreatment in order to reduce mercury pollution in the environment. Introduction Amalgam is one of the most commonly used materials in restorative dentistry. The amalgam alloy is composed of many metals, including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc.1,2 Amalgam waste from dental practices and clinics is a significant source of mercury Correspondence: Sausan Al Kawas, Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, PO Box 27272, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences released into the environment when it is washed down a drain or disposed of improperly. Mercury is of particular concern owing to its potential adverse effects on humans and the environment. Several studies have shown that exposure to mercury may lead to health complications such as impairment of the developing central nervous system, pulmonary and nephrotic damage and impairment of osmoregulatory functions.3–5 Additionally, mercury is very mobile in the environment and is known to accumulate in fish and other marine organisms, and therefore has the potential to contaminate the entire food chain.5–8 It is also known that dentists and their assistants and patients are directly exposed to mercury, with significant increases in their plasma mercury concentrations reported in comparison with those of control groups.9–12 The public and the environment are also indirectly exposed to this element via mercury emissions from incinerators and mercury in wastewater from dental clinics and households.4,6,13,14 Globally, hundreds of tonnes of mercury are used annually in dental amalgam15 and, according to many investigations, dental clinics appear to be responsible for most of the mercury found in the sludge generated by sewage treatment plants. As a result, dental clinics are considered an indubitable source of environmental pollution with mercury.14,16–18 Increasing knowledge of the health risks associated with exposure to mercury and its accumulation in the food chain and in ecosystems has led to growing 191 191 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118) OriginaL RESEARCH article pressure to reduce emissions of this metal into the environment. Consequently, the mercury waste generated by dental clinics has received increased attention. Additionally, restrictions on the handling and discharge of contaminated waste have been established in several countries. For instance, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has set a maximum contaminant level of inorganic mercury in drinking water of only 2 µg/l.19 Environmental standards set by Dubai Municipality state that the maximum allowable discharge of mercury-containing waste into the sewerage system is 10 µg/l, with no more than 1 µg/l to be released into the land for irrigation.20 In Saudi Arabia, the maximum level of mercury permissible in source water discharged into the public sewer is 50 μg/l,21 and the limit for treated wastewater intended for use in agriculture is just 1 μg/l.22 As a consequence, several measures have been adopted by dental clinics worldwide to reduce quantities of mercury discharged into the environment, including the use of amalgam separators and filters, improvements in the design of the waste discharge system, and the use of high-pressure water cleaning.14,23,24 However, implementation of such measures to reduce mercury waste from dental clinics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is still unregulated. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the mercury burden in the wastewater discharged from a number of dental clinics in the UAE. Materials and methods Equipment TABLE 1  Instrumental parameters for the cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) Parameter Unit Wavelength Slit width Lamp current Measurement time Background correction Vapour type Pre-read delay Sampling mode Calibration mode Measurement mode Replicates standard Replicates sample Smoothing Calibration algorithm Flow rate of reducing agent Flow rate of samples 253.7 nm 0.5R nm 4.0 mA 5.0 seconds BC On Cold vapour 70 seconds AutoMix Concentration Peak area 3 3 5 point Linear 1.0 ml/min 7.0 ml/min The nitric acid (68–70%) and sodium chloride (99.5%) used were purchased from Panreac Quimica (Barcelona, Spain); the sulphuric acid (GPR), hydrochloric acid (37%), hydroxyl ammonium chloride (99%) and stannous chloride (98–103%) from BDH (VWR International Ltd, UK); the potassium permanganate (99.5%) from Surechem Products Ltd (Suffolk, UK); the potassium persulphate (98%) from Fluka (USA); mercury (for calibration, 1001 ± 5mg/l solution in 2 mol/l HNO3) from BDH (England); and CRM (20.0 µg/l ± 0.5% in 2% HNO3) from High Purity Standards (Charleston, SC, USA). An atomic absorption spectrometer (SpectraAA 220 FS, Varian) equipped with a cold vapour generation accessory (VGA-77, Varian) and a T-shaped quartz absorption cell was used for mercury determination. The instrument has been used according to the parameters listed in Table 1. The stannous chloride (25% weight per volume) reducing solution was prepared by adding 25 g of stannous chloride to 20 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The mix was heated to dissolve the stannous chloride then allowed to cool, before diluting the solution to 100 ml with water and mixing. Reagents and solutions Sample collection, treatment and analysis All chemicals used were of analytical reagent grade unless otherwise stated. Water used was obtained from a Milli-Q reagent system (resistivity 18.2 MW cm; Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). All plastic and glassware used was soaked in 4 M nitric acid for a minimum of 12 hours, washed with distilled water and finally rinsed with Milli-Q water before use. Wastewater samples were collected in acid-washed plastic containers from the academic dental centre at the University of Sharjah in Sharjah and Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi. At Zayed Military Hospital, the samples were collected from four different general dental practitioners over a period of 10 days. All the clinicians used dental units fitted with built-in amalgam separators. The samples were collected 192 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118) OriginaL RESEARCH article directly from the final drain outlet of the dental unit prior to its joining the central drainage duct of the hospital sewage system. Clinical dental procedures were not limited to the removal or placement of dental amalgam restorations. The clinicians routinely performed comprehensive dental care which, to an appreciable extent, involved removal of existing amalgam restorations and, less frequently, placement of dental amalgam. The samples were collected continuously from the beginning of the clinical session at 0730 h until the end of the session at 1330 h. At the University of Sharjah academic dental centre, the samples were collected from 24 clinics in two different ways. The first of these was to collect samples directly from the outlets of the dental chairs into the collection containers. These samples were collected from 12 clinics at the end of the day (Table 2). The second method was to take representative samples from 12 dental chairs connected to a central suction unit. Here, the wastewater generated during dental treatments passes into the collection tank and then on through an amalgam separator, and finally reaches the main sewer with no further treatment. These representative samples were collected over a period of 2 weeks (from 7 April to 21 April 2010), after passing through the amalgam separator and before being drained into the main sewer. Collected samples were treated with nitric acid. Concentrated acid was added to each sample container to achieve a final acid concentration of 1%, before storing at 4ВєC in a refrigerator until the time of analysis. The wastewater samples were then digested according to USEPA Method 245.1, by shaking the samples’ containers before taking subsamples for analysis. Subsamples were gravity filtered using 595 filter 45 papers (Schleicher & Schuell), and 50 ml of filtered sample was placed in a 150-ml, clean plastic bottle. This was followed by the addition of 5 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid, 2.5 ml of concentrated nitric acid, 5 ml of potassium persulphate (5%) and 5 ml of potassium permanganate (5%). Samples treated in this way were then placed inside an oven preset to 95ВєC for 2 hours. After cooling to room temperature, hydroxyl amine hydrochloride (12% in 12% sodium chloride) was added dropwise to each bottle until the colour of potassium permanganate disappeared. More hydroxyl amine hydrochloride was added if the potassium permanganate colour reappeared before 15 minutes had elapsed since the В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences first addition. Approximately 1 ml of hydroxyl amine hydrochloride was found to be enough to completely reduce any excess potassium permanganate. Finally, water was added to each bottle to obtain a final volume of 100 ml. All calibration solutions, blanks and CRM were treated in the same way. Concentrations of mercury in the samples were determined using cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Results and discussion The mercury concentrations in the wastewater samples are listed in Table 2. This table also includes the average, standard deviation and range of the mercury concentrations in the samples. The average concentration of mercury in all samples, as shown in Table 2, was 317.7 µg/l, with a standard deviation of 379.7 µg/l and a range from < MDL to 1535.2 µg/l. These results show some variation in mercury concentrations between samples. This variation is expected, and can be explained by differences in the nature of dental operations undertaken at each of the clinics from which samples were collected (e.g. placement or extraction of amalgam fillings, placement of non-amalgam fillings, teeth extraction, and scaling and polishing). Similar findings and explanations have been reported by other investigators.1,16 It should be noted here that the obtained mercury results represent only the soluble fraction of the metal; the actual values are certainly higher because much of the mercury released from the clinics remains insoluble as solid amalgam, which stays trapped inside the chair filters, vaporizes to the air25,26 or settles on the bottom of sample containers. It is also obvious from Table 2 that most of the wastewater samples contain unacceptable concentrations of mercury according to Dubai Municipality standards.20 This means that these samples are considered as hazardous waste (in terms of metals contamination) and should not be discharged into the main sewer without proper treatment to reduce the mercury content to acceptable levels. The levels of mercury found in the study samples are lower than those reported in the literature in several parts of the world.1,14,27,28 The low average level of mercury in these results can be attributed to the use of new alternatives to mercury amalgam (e.g. non-mercury composite), which are available on the market and already employed by dentists in the UAE and other countries. Other factors include 193 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118) OriginaL RESEARCH article TABLE 2  Concentrations of mercury in the samples Sample number Mercury concentration (Вµg/l) Collection date and time Location 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Average Standard deviation Range 528.1 < MDLa 674.7 284.0 98.2 153.9 177.0 245.7 435.2 498.9 131.5 86.6 58.3 84.3 82.3 119.7 1028.0 4.6 1148.0 1095.7 7.2 349.6 865.4 9.7 746.1 1535.2 59.8 406.5 74.8 332.3 93.4 80.7 34.6 136.4 206.3 75.1 68.6 55.9 317.7 379.7 < MDL–1535.2 7 April 2010 at 1300 h 7 April 2010 at 1310 h 8 April 2010 at 1420 h 8 April 2010 at 1620 h 10 April 2010 at 1330 h 10 April 2010 at 1400 h 10 April 2010 at 1620 h 13 April 2010 at 1130 h 13 April 2010 at 1340 h 13 April 2010 at 1630 h 14 April 2010 at 1320 h 14 April 2010 at 1000 h 14 April 2010 at 1600 h 15 April 2010 at 1300 h 15 April 2010 at 1420 h 15 April 2010 at 1620 h 18 April 2010 at 1200 h 18 April 2010 at 1400 h 18 April 2010 at 1615 h 19 April 2010 at 1330 h 19 April 2010 at 1430 h 19 April 2010 at 1645 h 20 April 2010 at 1320 h 20 April 2010 at 1420 h 20 April 2010 at 1600 h 21 April 2010 at 1320 h 21 April 2010 at 1430 h 21 April 2010 at 1620 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h 0730–1330 h UoS clinic A – unit 3 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic A – unit 1 UoS clinic D – unit 4 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 5 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 2 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 5 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 3 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 7 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 1 UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic – central suction unit UoS clinic D – unit 3 UoS clinic – central suction unit Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital Zayed Military Hospital UoS, University of Sharjah. a The MDL is 0.2 µg/l, calculated as three times the standard deviation of nine blank replicates. 194 В© 2013 The Author Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118) OriginaL RESEARCH article the use of amalgam separators in most of the clinics investigated, and the large number of private and public dental clinics in the UAE, which results in fewer patients attending each clinic. A more comprehensive investigation, covering more clinics, should be conducted to build a clearer idea of the total levels of mercury released from dental clinics in their wastewater. Conclusion Most of the wastewater released from dental clinics in this study contains concentrations of mercury which, although lower than what has been reported in the literature, are unacceptable according to local and international environmental standards. This implies that such wastewater should not be discharged without adequate pretreatment. The authorities concerned must monitor the mechanisms employed by dental clinics for the disposal of mercury wastes, and their efficiency in the sorting and handling of amalgam, to reduce the levels of mercury in medical wastes. A more comprehensive investigation, involving a larger number of dental clinics studied over a longer period of time, will certainly provide a clear idea of the levels of mercury in the wastewater from dental clinics, and the impact of mercury pollution on the environment. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Acknowledgements This study was supported by full funding from Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences (Grant No. MRG-18/2007–2008). The author would like to thank Dr Imad Abu-Yousef, Dr Amjad Shraim, Dr Abu baker Siddique and Mr Naser Abdo for their valuable assistance in this study. 14 References 17 1 2 3 4 Arenholt-Bindslev D, Larsen AH. Mercury levels and discharge in waste water from dental clinics. Water Air Soil Pollut 1996; 86:93–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00279147 Desmet F, Lemaitre L, Vanpeteghem AP, Dhauwers R. Recovery of mercury from dental amalgam waste. Mater Chem Phys 1984; 11:305–9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/0254-0584(84)90036-1 Mutter J, Naumann J, Sadaghiani C, Walach H, Drasch G. Amalgam studies: disregarding basic principles of mercury toxicity. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2004; 207:391–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/1438-4639-00305 Counter SA, Buchanan LH. Mercury exposure in children: a review. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2004; 198:209–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2003.11.032 В© 2013 The Author Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 15 16 18 19 20 Hylander LD, Goodsite ME. Environmental costs of mercury pollution. Sci Total Environ 2006; 368:352–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.11.029 Berzas Nevado JJ, Garcia Bermejo LF, Rodriguez Martin-Doimeadios RC. Distribution of mercury in the aquatic environment at Almaden, Spain. Environ Pollut 2003; 122:261–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00290-7 Kennedy CJ. Uptake and accumulation of mercury from dental amalgam in the common goldfish, Carassius auratus. Environ Pollut 2003; 121:321–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00271-3 Zhou HY, Wong MH. Mercury accumulation in freshwater fish with emphasis on the dietary influence. Water Res 2000; 34:4234–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00176-7 Tezel H, Ertas O, Erakin C, Kayali A. Blood mercury levels of dental students and dentists at a dental school. Br Dent J 2001; 191: 449–52. Harakeha S, Sabra N, Kassak K, Doughan B. Factors influencing total mercury levels among Lebanese dentists. Sci Total Environ 2002; 297:153–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00131-6 Jones L, Bunnell J, Stillman J. A 30-year follow-up of residual effects on New Zealand School Dental Nurses, from occupational mercury exposure. Hum Exp Toxicol 2007; 26:367–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327107076824 Zolfaghari G, Esmaili-Sari A, Ghasempouri S, Faghihzadeh S. Evaluation of environmental and occupational exposure to mercury among Iranian dentists. Sci Total Environ 2007; 381:59–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.03.007 Mirlean N, Andrus VE, Baisch P. Mercury pollution sources in sediments of Patos Lagoon Estuary, Southern Brazil. Mar Pollut Bull 2003; 46:331–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00404-6 Vandeven JA, McGinnis SL. An assessment of mercury in the form of amalgam in dental wastewater in the United States. Water Air Soil Pollut 2005; 164:349–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11270-005-4008-1 World Health Organization. Environmental health criteria for mercury. Ambio 1978; 7:28–30. Al Kawas S, Abu-Yousef I, Kanan S, et al. Analysis of mercury in wastewater of some dental clinics in United Arab Emirates. J Int Environ Appl Sci 2008; 3:21–8. Stone ME, Cohen ME, Liang L, Pang P. Determination of methyl mercury in dental-unit wastewater. Dent Mater 2003; 19: 675–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0109-5641(03)00012-5 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Effluent guidelines – detailed studies: dental amalgam. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); 2008. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Drinking water contaminants – list of contaminants and their MCLs. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); 2009. Dubai Municipality. Environmental standards and allowable limits of pollutants on land, water, and air environment. Dubai: Dubai Municipality; 2003. 195 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:191–196 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.118) OriginaL RESEARCH article 21 22 23 24 25 196 Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia). [Technical regulations for discharge of raw wastewater.] Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; 2002. Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (Saudi Arabia). [Technical regulations for use of treated wastewater in forestry and irrigation (Rule 10).] Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; 2002. Batchu H, Rakowski D, Fan PL, Meyer DM. Evaluating amalgam separators using an international standard. J Am Dent Assoc 2006; 137:999–1005. Hylander LD, Lindvall A, Uhrberg R, Gahnberg L, Lindh U. Mercury recovery in situ of four different dental amalgam separators. Sci Total Environ 2006; 366:320–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.07.007 Brown D, Sherriff M. Twenty years of mercury monitoring in dental surgeries. Br Dent J 2002; 192:437–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801395 26 27 28 de la Rosa DA, Velasco A, Rosas A, Sepul V. Total gaseous mercury and volatile organic compounds measurements at five municipal solid waste disposal sites surrounding the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. Atmos Environ 2006; 40:2079–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.11.055 Adegbembo AO, Watson PA. Estimated quantity of mercury in amalgam waste water residue released by dentists into the sewerage system in Ontario, Canada. J Can Dent Assoc 2004; 70:759a–f. Hylander LD, Lindvall A, Gahnberg L. High mercury emissions from dental clinics despite amalgam separators. Sci Total Environ 2006; 362:74–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.06.008 В© 2013 The Author Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119)   ORIGINAL RESEARCH article The impact of child-rearing by maids on mother–child attachment Abdulrahman Al-Matary1 and Jaffar Ali2–4 Children’s Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, 2Research and Scientific Publications Center, Riyadh, 3Stem Cell Unit, Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1 Abstract Introduction. The objective of this study was to assess the perceived negative impact on mother–child attachment of raising children with the help of foreign maids, as practised in Arab Gulf countries. Materials and methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sample was recruited from June 2010 to December 2010 from three tertiary hospitals and shopping centres. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed. Of these, 336 with complete data sets were analysed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the King Fahad Medical City. The analysed data were tabulated in the form of descriptive statistics. Results. Eighty per cent of households had a maid, but only 50% of mothers had careers. The proportion of babies who were not bottle-fed was 31.6%, with 15.7% exclusively breast-fed. Of the 52.8% of babies who were both breast- and bottle-fed, most were usually bottle-fed. The proportions of participants who reported high and low levels of mother–child attachment were 61.9% and 15.6% respectively. Although 22.6% declined to comment on this, questioning revealed a low level of mother–child attachment in this group, and therefore low mother–child attachment totalled 38.2% (15.6% + 22.6%). In 45.2% of cases, mothers stated that bonding was not affected by the maid, whereas 30% stated that bonding was affected. Although 24.2% declined to express their view, further questioning confirmed their discomfort in answering this question; this suggested that they did perceive a lack of bonding, and therefore that this affected a total of 54.2% (24.2% + 30%) of households. Discussion. Although only half of the mothers had careers, a larger proportion of households had maids, indicating an overdependence of mothers on domestic aides. The very low proportion of babies who were Correspondence: Abdulrahman Al-Matary, Children’s Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, PO Box 59046, Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences exclusively breast-fed would suggest that mother–child bonding was affected in a large proportion of households that bottle-fed. However, about two-thirds of the mothers claimed high levels of mother–child bonding, whereas only one-sixth felt that bonding was adversely affected. The remainder were reluctant to discuss this point, suggesting that the problem of low levels of mother–child bonding exists. The study found that almost half of mother–child bonding relationships could be impaired by the presence of maids. Conclusion. This study indicates that mother–child attachment is adversely affected by the presence of maids, which could prove detrimental to the psychosocial development of affected children and the population of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the long term. Family-friendly work policies for mothers and education on responsible parenting are recommended. Introduction One of the most important relationships in any child’s life is that shared with his or her primary caregiver, usually the child’s mother. This is changing in contemporary Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. With increasing national wealth leading to changes in lifestyle, more families now hire maids, often recruited from overseas, to assist in daily chores, which may include child-rearing. This ability to employ maids has provided a freedom not hitherto experienced by these households. Consequently, an increasing number of children are now raised by maids, even where non-working mothers are at home. Career responsibilities may also conflict with maternal duties, by resulting in fewer hours of contact between mother and child. Although statistics are not available, the clinical impression perceived by one of the authors of the present study during routine paediatrician practice supports this assumption. The 197 197 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article present study examines the level of involvement that maids have in day-to-day family life, and whether this has any effect on the strength of the mother–child attachment or bonding. Attachment, as defined by the classic study by Bowlby (reviewed by Bretherton1), is a basic behavioural system whereby the child seeks the sanctuary provided by his or her mother through the establishment of an intimate mother–child relationship. Previous studies have demonstrated that the absence of this relationship has devastating consequences for children’s emotional health.2 The goals of this research were (a) to conduct a pilot study investigating the increasing dependence of Saudi mothers on maids to assist them with the upbringing of their children; (b) to investigate the level of mother–child attachment in the presence of a maid; and (c) to study the prevalence of breastfeeding. The hypothesis being tested was that the involvement of maids in child-rearing affects levels of mother–child attachment. The roles that maids play in society have not been documented in Saudi Arabia, nor perhaps in the GCC countries generally, and thus the findings of this study could have relevance to the entire GCC Arab community. Materials and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed in consultation with an epidemiologist, and was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample was recruited from three different tertiary hospitals and shopping centres by health educators and case managers not involved in the study. In total, 500 questionnaires were distributed, 336 of which yielded complete data sets. The inclusion criteria of the sample included living in Saudi Arabia and having one or more children of at least 1 year of age. Two measures were administered for the study. First, the Demographic Data Sheet (DDS) was developed. The DDS records information such as age, nationality and education level, and addresses the maid’s role within the household and the frequency of breastfeeding. All answers submitted were subject to statistical analysis. The questionnaires were translated from English into Arabic and back by a panel of bilingual experts. This instrument is valid and reliable, and has a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.84. Moreover, the content validity of the revised version of the DSS was established by national experts, and the 198 construct validity was established using exploratory factor analysis. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the King Fahad Medical City. Participants were identified and provided with information regarding the significance and the purpose of the study. Verbal consent was then obtained. The participants were assured that participation was voluntary and that their responses would be treated in confidence. They were also informed they were free to withdraw at any time. Anonymity was advocated in all aspects of data collection. The participants’ identities was neither requested nor required. The questionnaire was designed to enable completion within 5–10 minutes. Completed questionnaires were collected by the researcher and the data analysed and recorded as descriptive statistics. The study investigated the association between the number of maids in a household (and their responsibilities) and a mother’s choice of bottle-feeding over breastfeeding. The study also analysed the relationship between levels of mother–child attachment and the presence of a maid, using a mother–child attachment scale. In addition, any association between the duration, or exclusive use, of breastfeeding and the employment of a maid was analysed. Results The study recruited 336 mothers with at least one child of least 1 year of age. The mean age of the participants was 33 years; the average age at marriage was 21 years. The majority of the mothers were married, educated, had moderate to higher incomes and lived in the capital city, Riyadh. In all, 91% were married, 87% were educated to secondary school level or higher, and 78% had a monthly income of SAR5000 (US$1300) or more. Half of the mothers were employed, working an average of 8 hours per day, and 84% lived in Riyadh. The proportion of babies that were exclusively bottle-fed was 31.5%, with only 15.7% exclusively breast-fed, and 52.8% both breast- and bottle-fed (Table 1). It was determined that 79.9% of the mothers had one or more maids. Thirty per cent of maids had responsibility only for cleaning the house; 16% only looked after the children; and 53% had responsibility both for cleaning the house and nurturing the children (Table 1). It was found that, although almost В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article TABLE 1  Sociodemographic characteristics of the sample 80% of the households employed a maid, only 50% of the mothers had careers. Sample characteristics n (% of sample) Mean age Mean age at marriage Level of education Less than secondary Secondary Diploma Bachelor degree Masters degree or above Total tertiary Total Marital status Married Divorced Widowed Total Residency In Riyadh Outside Riyadh Total Occupation Employed Unemployed 32.79 21.08 Total Mean number of working hours per day Monthly income (SAR) < 3000 3000–4999 5000–9999 10 000–14 999 15 000–19 999 20 000 and over Total Feeding type Breastfeeding Bottle-feeding Both Total Availability of domestic aid Available Unavailable Total Responsibilities of the maid Clean home only Nurture children only Cleaning and nurturing Total 334 7.99 About 16% of the mothers felt that their children did not meet their expectations. Eleven per cent believed that their children made their lives difficult, 18.2% of the mothers had feelings of anger towards their children and 70.6% (100 – 29.4 = 70.6%) believed that their children were impatient. From these responses it was calculated that the overall level of mother–child bonding is high, in the order of 61.9%. 20 (6.1) 51 (15.6) 111 (33.6) 84 (25.5) 43 (13.0) 21 (6.4) 330 When questioned about the impact of hiring a maid on their relationship or bonding with their children, 30.4% of mothers agreed that the relationship was negatively affected, and a large proportion (24.2%) declined to answer the question. The remaining 45.2% of mothers claimed that their relationship with their children was not affected by the presence of a maid (Table 3). 43 (13.0) 108 (32.5) 58 (17.5) 104 (31.3) 19 (5.7) 181 (54.5) 332 303 (90.7) 22 (6.6) 9 (2.7) 334 278 (84.0) 53 (16.0) 331 169 (50.6) 165 (49.4) 51 (15.7) 102 (31.5) 171 (52.8) 324 267 (79.9) 67 (20.1) 334 81 (30.5) 43 (16.2) 142 (53.4) 266 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences The results based on the mother–child attachment scale can be seen in Table 2. The table shows the phrases with which participants were asked to agree or disagree, and the mothers’ responses. These results show that 5.7% of the mothers believed that their children did not love them, while 57% said that they cannot bear to be separated from their children for short periods of time. It was found that 20.7% of the mothers have experienced difficulties in raising their children; 22.1% became worried if their children were not with them; and 14% felt annoyed by their children. It can be seen that 70.7% of the mothers were extremely proud of their children, even though only 11.4% believed that their children have great futures. About 12% of the mothers said that their children did not obey them, and 16.1% found their children troublesome. Discussion Increasing levels of education have enabled women to enter the workforce, which results in less time being available to devote to child-rearing (although the additional income earned by most of these mothers may not be essential for the well-being of the family). Women have the right to an education and subsequently to a career; however, the recruitment of maids appears to have promoted a shift away from traditional Arab family values, which have been regarded as binding households together and leading to the creation of well-balanced individuals with strong family ties and interpersonal relationships. 199 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article TABLE 2  Mother–child attachment scale (English translation of the Arabic questionnaire) Comment Number reporting a high level of mother– child attachment (% of sample) Number declining to Number reporting a low level respond (% of sample) of mother–child attachment It seems that this child obeys me This child has troubled me a lot This child fulfils all of my expectations This child has increased our difficulties I am angry with this child This child is very affectionate towards me This child seems to be promising This child has a lot of patience Total scores 194 (57.9) 196 (58.5) 177 (52.8) 234 (69.8) 208 (62.1) 231 (69) 211 (63) 125 (37.3) 3108 (61.9) 101 (30.1) 85 (25.4) 105 (31.3) 64 (19.1) 66 (19.7) 69 (20.6) 100 (29.9) 111 (33.2) 1133 (22.6) 40 (12) 54 (16.1) 53 (15.8) 37 (11.0) 61 (18.2) 35 (10.5) 24 (7.2) 98 (29.4) 782 (15.6) TABLE 3  The impact of hiring a maid on the mother–child relationship (English translation of the Arabic questionnaire) Question Disagree [n (%)] No response [n (%)] Agree [n (%)] Do you think the relationship between you and your child is negatively affected by the presence of a housemaid? Does your child falls asleep quickly and easily with the housemaid? After hurting him/herself, your child becomes quiet if the housemaid holds him/her. Total scores 106 (44.1) 61 (25.42) 73 (30.42) 138 (47.75) 117 (43.82) 361 (45.35) 75 (25.95) 57 (21.35) 193 (24.25) 76 (26.3) 93 (34.83) 242 (30.40) These strong family ties are perceived to have waned over the last two decades. This could be attributed in part to the hiring of maids, among other factors. Mothers who choose to breastfeed have higher levels of maternal–fetal attachment.3 The emotional state of the mother during pregnancy, and the level of social support received during that time, are related to the mother’s ability to bond with her child both during and after pregnancy.4 Some studies have found that attachment begins in the womb, and women with higher levels of maternal–fetal attachment are more likely to breastfeed than those with lower levels of maternal–fetal attachment.3 In the present study, a very high proportion of babies (31.5%) were entirely bottle-fed. According to Hawwas,5 Islamic law requires breastfeeding for a minimum of 2 years. Only 15.7% of the babies in this study were exclusively breastfed. It was found that about 53% of mothers both breastfed and bottle-fed their babies. If the last two figures are combined, it could be assumed that around 69% of mothers breastfed; however, it is not completely certain that those who both bottle- and breastfeed do not resort to bottle-feeding most of the time. The investigator’s impression after questioning mothers was that most babies in the вЂ�bottle- and breastfed’ 200 group were usually bottle-fed, so that within this group bottle-feeding is the norm. In any event, the low proportion of mothers using breastfeeding alone suggests a very low level of breastfeeding, which does not satisfy the Saudi government’s call for levels of breastfeeding to be in the order of > 60%. The results of the present study showed that the absence of the mother tends to affect breastfeeding, which agrees with a recent study that reviewed mothers suffering from asthma who were unable to breastfeed during the course of their treatment.6 Several respondents indicated that short maternal leave prevented breastfeeding. Interestingly, very few studies worldwide have examined the impact of live-in domestic staff on mother–child attachment. The findings of the present study demonstrate the development of a unique and disconcerting lack of firm mother–child attachment in a select population of households employing maids in Saudi Arabia; this is also relevant to all GCC countries in which the employment of overseas maids is widespread. The results indicate that the level of attachment is lower when a maid is present. Even though the majority of households have maids, only about half the mothers in the study have a career. This indicates that the low attachment between a mother and her child is generally not caused by the absence В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article of the mother due to career commitments, but rather an overdependence on the maid to look after the children even when the mother is at home. Indeed, it is not uncommon to find the baby left almost totally in the care of the maid in households where the mother has no career commitments, a practice which may negatively affect the psyche of the child. This should not imply that refraining from employing maids will be the correct course of action. Maids undeniably perform a valuable service; however, their presence appears to have the potential to undermine mother–child bonding, with serious potential long-term psychosocial implications for the GCC Arab society. The negative implications for the child could have far-reaching consequences, well beyond poor mother–child bonding. The education of mothers in parenting skills to foster mother–child attachment is recommended, as opposed to abandoning the employment of maids. As well as performing an important role in assisting with household chores, maids contribute significantly to the economy of their own, usually less affluent, countries; in turn, this helps foster strong relationships between the provider and host countries. There are, therefore, positive aspects of hiring domestic staff. However, mothers in GCC countries must be more actively involved in raising their children to ensure their healthy development. Studies have shown that the strength of a child’s attachment to his or her parent is related to anxiety symptoms.7 The importance of the presence of an attachment figure has been found to increase with age,3 through mid-childhood and adolescence. Therefore, the continued presence of an attachment figure is important to the emotional security and development of a child. Employment visas are valid for 2 years in Saudi Arabia and, indeed, all GCC countries provide only limited periods of residence for maids. The visa is extendable; nevertheless, most maids choose to move elsewhere or return to their home countries at the end of the contract. Following the departure of a maid, a replacement is usually engaged. Based on current findings and past, unmeasured, observations, it appears that the child bonds with the maid more strongly than with the mother, and with the departure of the maid at the end of her contract the child is left without this emotional support. With the arrival of another maid, the child must establish a new bond, which is again lost at the end of the replacement maid’s contract, and so on. This situation results in a disorganized pattern of attachment during early В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences childhood similar to that seen in challenged mothers8 (e.g. handicapped mothers, those with a poor education, single mothers) and could have serious consequences and implications.9 This lack of attachment could result in a sense of insecurity in the child, and impair his or her normal psychological development; as a consequence, a pathological state of varying degrees of insecurity could manifest in future generations in the GCC countries. The major causes of insecurity in childhood have been described.10,11 These include physical and emotional neglect; physical or emotional abuse; separation from the primary caregiver; changes in the primary caregiver, that is, contact with a succession of maids or staff at day-care centres; frequent moves or placements, especially in orphanages or foster homes; traumatic experiences; maternal depression or withdrawal (caused by a number of factors); and inexperience or a lack of parenting skills on the part of the mother. Poor emotional attachment during childhood may lead to difficulties in forming lasting interpersonal relationships in adult life, which could impair an individual’s ability to get on with others. It may also contribute to high divorce rates as affected individuals struggle to form lasting relationships, and could even lead to increased crimes rates. Another possible outcome of a lack of maternal care in childhood is obesity,12,13 and possibly other diseases not yet known to be associated with this problem. In the present study, maternal employment does not appear to be the cause of poor mother–child attachment, but rather an overdependence on maids to look after children. Another interesting finding concerns the percentage of mothers who chose not to respond to questions about pride, love and anger in relation to their children. This may suggest the mothers either did not know how to respond or were afraid to agree with negative statements about their children. Given the prevailing cultural conditions, it is suspected that these mothers do not wish to acknowledge any negative impact on the mother–child relationship caused by the presence of a maid, and therefore did not answer the question. If this assumption is correct, and the proportion of mothers declining to answer is added to the proportion who agreed that bonding between mother and child was adversely affected, then around half the study population (54.8%) can be said to be affected by impaired mother–child bonding. 201 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article In addition, some maids may be very young girls with no experience of working with children. No reliable source of data can be obtained on the ages of maids. Documents prepared by the International Labour Organization and the Philippine Institute of Development Studies suggest that the minimum age of maids is around 18 years;14,15 however, newspaper reports suggest that maids as young as 16 years of age are employed in the United Arab Emirates.16 These maids are not trained childminders, but rather housekeepers in charge of both the upkeep of the home and the care of the children. Leaving babies in the care of untrained workers could have negative long-term consequences. study should test specific factors that affect the mother–child attachment in the context of the Saudi Arabian and GCC culture and lifestyle. It is common knowledge that, in some countries, employers may provide childcare facilities within their premises so that mothers can frequently interact with their children. This enhances mother–infant bonding and helps to ensure the healthy development of the infant. It is suggested that employers in the GCC countries and elsewhere should consider providing such childcare facilities to allow regular visits to the children by their mothers. This is supported by the finding that mothers who work part-time appear to raise their children better than mothers who work full-time.17 Government family-friendly work policies, providing longer maternity leave and education on responsible parenting, may be required and could be an important consideration for promoting healthy family lifestyles and early childhood well-being. The GCC employment system should consider allowing working mothers to work part-time or flexible hours while receiving full-time pay (as practised in Australia), allowing them to devote more time to child-rearing to ensure the mental and physical health of future generations. The healthy development of our children begins with the security that they feel in their relationships with their primary caregivers. Acknowledgements To date, no comparable studies have been published on the relationship between the presence of maids and compromised maternal–child attachment in Saudi Arabia, and perhaps throughout the GCC countries. This study has shown a need for more research examining mother–child attachment in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the GCC, and for a more in-depth look at the effect that the presence of maids has on family dynamics and on the psychological development and well-being of the affected child, as well as the future ability of that child to form lasting relationships. In addition, a follow-up 202 Conclusion This study highlights that the attachment between mother and child is affected by the employment of maids for the purpose of child-rearing. This could prove detrimental to the psychosocial development of affected children and the population of the GCC countries in the long term. Family-friendly work policies for mothers and education on responsible parenting are recommended. The authors express gratitude to Mr Ahmed Shorman, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), for designing the survey questionnaire, and to Mr Mohammad Riaz of the Research and Scientific Publications Centre and Ms Eman Al-Amodi, Department of Dietetics, for their assistance with the statistical analyses and the distribution of questionnaires respectively. Disclosure The authors have no conflicts of interest whatsoever with regard to funding, commercial interests, etc. Ethical approval This work was performed with the informed consent of the subjects and the approval of the King Fahad Medical City Institutional Review Board (No. 10-037, dated 19 May 2010). References 1 2 3 4 Bretherton I. The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Dev Psychol 1992; 28:759–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.28.5.759 Vicedo M. The social nature of the mother’s tie to her child: John Bowlby’s theory of attachment in post-war America. Br J Hist Sci 2011; 44:401–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007087411000318 Foster SF, Slade P, Wilson K. Body image, maternal fetal attachment, and breast feeding. J Psychosom Res 1996; 41:181–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(96)00035-9 Condon JT, Corkindale C. The correlates of antenatal attachment in pregnant women. Br J Med Psychol 1997; 70:359–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1997.tb01912.x В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:197–204 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.119) ORIGINAL RESEARCH article 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hawwas AW. Breast feeding as seen by Islam. Popul Sci 1987; 7:55–8. Al-Makoshi A. The prevalence of breastfeeding and its association with respiratory and allergic symptoms in 2 year old children in Saudi Arabia. MSc dissertation. Aberdeen: University of Aberdeen; 2009. Brumariu LE, Kerns KA. Mother-child attachment and social anxiety symptoms in middle childhood. J Appl Dev Psychol 2008; 29:393–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.06.002 O’Connor E, Bureau JF, McCartney K, Lyons-Ruth K. Risks and outcomes associated with disorganized/controlling patterns of attachment at age three in the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Infant Ment Health J 2011; 32:450–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/imhj.20305 Lucas-Thompson RG, Goldberg WA, Prause J. Maternal work early in the lives of children and its distal associations with achievement and behavior problems: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 2010; 136:915–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0020875 Bhakoo ON, Pershad D, Mahajan R, Gambhir SK. Development of mother-infant attachment scale. Indian Pediatr 1994; 31:1477–82. Figueiredo B, Costa R. Mother’s stress, mood and emotional involvement with the infant: 3 months before and 3 months after childbirth. Arch Womens Ment Health 2009; 12:143–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-009-0059-4 Mindlin M, Jenkins R, Law C. Maternal employment and indicators of child health: a systematic review in В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 13 14 15 16 17 pre-school children in OECD countries. J Epidemiol Community Health 2009; 63:340–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2008.077073 Brown JE, Broom DH, Nicholson JM, Bittman M. Do working mothers raise couch potato kids? Maternal employment and children’s lifestyle behaviours and weight in early childhood. Soc Sci Med 2010; 70:1816–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.01.040 Esim S, Smith M. Gender and migration in Arab states: The case of domestic workers. Beirut: International Labour Organization, Regional Office for Arab States; June 2004. URL: www.ilo.org/public/english/region/arpro/beirut/ downloads/publ/publ_26_eng.pdf (accessed 26 March 2012). Battistella G, Asis MMB. Protecting Filipino transnational domestic workers: Government regulations and its outcomes. Philippine Institute for Development Studies discussion paper series no. 2011–12. Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Institute for Development Studies; July 2011. URL: http://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/dps/ pidsdps1112.pdf (accessed 26 March 2012). Mardini A. UAE-PHILIPPINES: Filipinos outraged by maid’s death sentence. Abu Dhabi, UAE: Interpress Service Publishers; 18 September 1995. URL: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-6233870.html (accessed 25 April 2013). Buehler C, O’Brien M. Mothers’ part-time employment: associations with mother and family well-being. J Fam Psychol 2011; 25:895–906. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0025993 203 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:205–208 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.208)   Original Research article How many renal colic patients undergo the recommended computed tomography? The Pennine Acute Trust Audit William Evans, Helen Pollitt and Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo Urology Department, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK Abstract Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is recommended by the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) guidelines for suspected renal calculi as this form of imaging offers kidney stone identification in > 99% of cases. We used the picture archiving and communications system (PACS) and automated letter systems to determine how many of the 144 patients admitted to the surgical triage unit (STU) at North Manchester General Hospital over the course of 14 months did in fact have renal colic, which radiological investigations were performed, how many patients with suspected renal colic underwent NCCT within 24 hours or 48 hours and how many underwent intervention. We found that only 19.8% of patients underwent NCCT within 24 hours and 22.9% within 24–48 hours. However, only three patients (3.12%) required an intervention related to this presentation. These low rates of intervention support the conclusions of other authors who believe that a combination of ultrasound and abdominal radiography in cases of suspected renal colic may be preferable to NCCT, which is costly and potentially harmful. Introduction Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is the gold standard investigation for suspected renal calculi as it offers kidney stone identification in > 99% of cases. The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) guidelines1 recommend that NCCT should be performed within 24 hours of first presentation of suspected renal colic. However, critics maintain that NCCT is overused as the condition is not life-threatening and the majority of kidney stones less than 5 mm pass spontaneously.2 Correspondence: Anthony Kodzo-Grey Venyo, Urology Department, North Manchester General Hospital, Manchester, UK. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences The preferred imaging for this clinical presentation has changed over the past two decades, with intravenous urography (IVU) being the investigation of choice in the 1990s. However, as computed tomography (CT) imaging improved and became able to detect renal calculi at an increased rate, IVU was phased out. A study by Eikefjord et al.3 found that CT was not only more cost-effective than IVU, but also more effective at detecting renal calculi.3 Non-contrast computed tomography is also expensive compared with imaging modalities such as abdominal radiography and abdominal ultrasound and an additional drawback is the potentially harmful effects of the radiation dose involved. Even if a kidney stone has been found, it is by no means likely that urological intervention will be needed.4 It has been suggested that, in order to minimize the exposure to radiation, a viable alternative needs to be found. If a positive CT rarely changes management, or results in any form of intervention, is it strictly necessary? Indeed, studies have shown that ultrasound combined with radiography is able to identify clinically significant kidney stones and is an effective predictor of the need for intervention.5,6 Studies suggest that, even in patients with known nephrolithiasis, repeat CT changes the management of only a small number of cases.7 This audit aimed to discover how many of the patients admitted to the surgical triage unit (STU) at North Manchester General Hospital had scans in keeping with the current guidelines, but to also discover how a positive scan changed overall management. 205 205 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:205–208 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.208) Original Research article Methods Our audit group looked at 144 patients admitted to the STU at North Manchester General Hospital with suspected renal colic between November 2010 and January 2012 (Figure 1). The picture archiving and communications system (PACS) and automated letter systems were used to find out how many of these patients did in fact have renal colic, what radiological investigations were performed, how many patients with suspected renal colic underwent NCCT within 24 hours, 48 hours and 6 months and how many underwent further intervention. Results Of the 96 patients who presented for the first time with renal colic, only 19 patients (19.8%) underwent NCCT within 24 hours (Table 1 and Figure 2). Fifty-nine patients (61.5%) underwent NCCT within 6 months of presenting with renal colic and three patients required surgical/radiological intervention (two underwent NCCT within 24 hours of presenting with renal colic and one did so 1 month after presentation). The most popular investigations were abdominal radiography, carried out in 86.5% of patients, and abdominal ultrasound, performed in 31 patients (32.3%). Discussion From this audit, it appears that, despite the BAUS guidelines, very few patients presenting with suspected renal colic are receiving the advised TABLE 1  Summary of investigations and interventions performed on the patient group Abdominal radiography Abdominal ultrasound Other (magnetic resonance imaging, pelvic ultrasound, chest radiography) NCCT < 24 hours NCCT within 24–48 hours Outpatient NCCT 48 hours–6 months Number of patients requiring surgical/radiological intervention 206 Number of patients having study/ intervention at first presentation Percentage 83 31 12 86.5% 32.3% 12.5% 19 22 18 19.8% 22.9% 18.8% 3 imaging within 24 hours as recommended. In fact, only slightly over half had the scan within 6 months of initial presentation. However, through this audit we demonstrate that, for this group of patients, there is a relatively low rate of urological or radiological intervention following scanning. In this study, only two patients who had underwent the recommended CT imaging within 24 hours actually went on to receive any sort of intervention. Of those patients who did not undergo CT imaging within 24 hours, one required subsequent intervention. These results beg the question of whether this imaging is required. Studies have shown that a combination of radiography and ultrasound is effective in identifying patients at high risk of requiring intervention.5,6 It is important to consider the real need for CT scans if there is a viable alternative that can reduce exposure and be performed at a lower expense. In this audit, 86.5% of patients underwent abdominal radiography but ultrasound of the abdomen was performed in only 32.3% (Table 1 and Figure 2). It appears that most patients who present with abdominal pain with renal colic as one of the differential diagnoses undergo abdominal radiography. It can be argued that if patients automatically receive this imaging, bearing in mind the studies mentioned above, it would be more cost-effective to subsequently order an ultrasound of the abdomen. From these data, it appears that relatively few patients undergo ultrasound at any point and it can be argued that this is therefore an underused diagnostic tool as, when used in combination with radiography, ultrasound can effectively predict who is at low risk of requiring intervention. Henderson8 argues that the use of diagnostic radiation has become excessive and draws attention to the work of Katz et al.,9 who found that 4% of the patient population studied underwent unenhanced 3.13% FIGURE 1  Schematic of patients included in study. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:205–208 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.208) Original Research article FIGURE 2  Bar chart showing percentage of group who received each investigation/intervention. CT on three or more occasions and were exposed to between 20 and 154 mSv of radiation. However, it cannot be denied that CT is a highly effective method of diagnosing renal calculi. Studies comparing CT scanning with other imaging methods have found it to be superior. A study conducted by Mitterberger et al.10 found that CT identified the calculus in 100% of patients with confirmed renal calculi, with 100% specificity and sensitivity. These patients also underwent radiography and ultrasound, and this combination was 96% sensitive and 91% specific. This shows that, although there are alternatives that have high success rates, CT is still superior in its ability to detect smaller kidney stones.10 Computed tomography also has a use in identifying alternative diagnoses in patients who do not have renal calculi. Owing to the nature of the scan, it provides information about more than just the renal tract. One study found that, of 1035 patients who underwent CT for suspected renal colic, 14% had non-kidney stone-related pathology necessitating treatment and 68% had calculi coupled with a second pathology.11 A study conducted in 2007 comparing the diagnostic ability of standard-dose and low-dose CT in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of under 30 kg/m2 and kidney stones over 3 mm found that the sensitivity and specificity of low-dose CT were very similar to those of standard-dose CT.12 A second study В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences found similar results, reporting that there was no significant difference in the results from low-dose and standard-dose scanning for kidney stones over 2 mm in size.13 One possible compromise seems to be the use of radiography and ultrasound to risk stratify patients to determine which are at high risk of requiring intervention and then consider the need for CT. This will undoubtedly increase the length of time between presentation and the CT; however, it does seem pertinent to have a concrete risk stratification system before ordering potentially harmful scans. A useful addition to this audit would be to include a section reporting on the final diagnosis of these patients and also the findings from CT. This audit included data from all patients who presented to the STU and in whom renal colic was legitimately considered in the differential diagnoses at first presentation. The final diagnosis (or lack thereof ) was not included in the audit pro forma. Thus, CT of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (KUB) may not have been considered necessary once further investigation was undertaken. It may also be useful to include further details of the patient’s presenting complaint, and it would be valuable to know which presenting symptoms were more likely to result in CT. Some studies3,4,9 have found that women presenting with flank pain are a particularly difficult diagnostic group. One study which looked at the positive rate in patients who underwent CT for suspected renal 207 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:205–208 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.208) Original Research article colic found that the positive rate was much lower in women, who were therefore needlessly exposed to radiation.3 It would be valuable to differentiate between the sexes in this audit in order to see how sex affects prognosis and therefore the value of CT. 5 6 Conclusion This study showed that, within the Pennine Acute Trust, a mere 19.8% received the recommended imaging within the recommended time period. However, with studies5,6 showing the efficacy of a combination of abdominal radiography and ultrasound, the question remains whether CT imaging is necessary considering the efficacy of other investigations and the small numbers requiring intervention. Is it purely academic to subject the patient to CT when there are effective, cheaper and less harmful alternatives? 7 8 9 10 References 1 2 3 4 208 British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) guidelines for acute management of first presentation of renal/ureteric lithiasis. December 2008 (reviewed 2012). URL: http://www.baus.org.uk/AboutBAUS/ publications/stones-guidelines (accessed 5 May 2013). Parmar MS. Kidney stones. BMJ. 2004; 328:1420–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7453.1420 Eikefjord E, Askildsen JE, RГёrvik J. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of intravenous urography (IVU) and unenhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for initial investigation of suspected acute ureterolithiasis. Acta Radiol 2008; 49:222–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02841850701708304 Irving HC, Panditaratne N, Patatas K, Wah TM, Weston MJ. Emergency department imaging protocol for suspected acute renal colic: re‐evaluating our service. Br J Radiol 2012; 85:1118–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1259/bjr/62994625 11 12 13 Ekicis S, Sinanoglu O. Comparison of conventional radiography combined with ultrasonography versus non-enhanced helical computed tomography in evaluation of patients with renal colic. Urol Res 2012; 40:543–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00240-012-0460-8 Edmonds ML, Yan JW, Sedran RJ, McLeod SL, Theakston KD. The utility of renal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal colic in emergency department patients. CJEM 2010; 12:201–6. Goldstone A, Bushnell A. Does diagnosis change as a result of repeat renal colic computed tomography scan in patients with a history of kidney stones? Am J Emerg Med 2010; 28:291–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2008.11.024 Henderson S. Point: diagnostic radiation: why aren’t we stopping (or at least slowing down)? West J Emerg Med 2008; 9:118–19. Katz SI, Saluja S, Brink JA, Forman HP. Radiation dose associated with unenhanced CT for suspected renal colic: impact of repetitive studies. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006; 186:1120–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/AJR.04.1838 Mitterberger M, Pinggera GM, Pallwein L, et al. Plain abdominal radiography with transabdominal native tissue harmonic imaging ultrasonography vs unenhanced computed tomography in renal colic. BJU Int 2007; 100:887–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07048.x Hoppe H, Studer R, Kessler T, Vock P, Studer U, Thoeny H. Alternate or additional findings to stone disease on unenhanced computerized tomography for acute flank pain can impact management. J Urol 2006; 175:1725–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(05)00987-0 Poletti P, Platon A, Rutschmann O, Schmidlin F, Iselin C, Becker C. Low-dose versus standard-dose CT protocol in patients with clinically suspected renal colic. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2007; 188:927–33 http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/AJR.06.0793 Kim BS, Hwang IK, Choi YW, et al. Low-dose and standard-dose unenhanced helical computed tomography for the assessment of acute renal colic: prospective comparative study. Acta Radiol 2005; 76:756–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02841850500216004 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224)   ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE Prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidies during the first and second trimester of pregnancy Shiefa Sequeira and Shweta Uppal SRL Diagnostics Private Limited, Fortis Healthcare Enterprise, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Abstract Prenatal screening for chromosomal defects during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy has become an established part of obstetric practice in many countries. The goal of current maternal serum screening programmes is to identify women who are at an increased risk of having a baby affected with Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) or neural tube defects and who will benefit from such diagnostic tests. The most commonly used test for genetic diagnosis is amniocentesis; however, the rate of spontaneous fetal loss caused by this test averages at about 1 in every 200 procedures. Because of this risk, serum analyte testing has become an important and non-invasive first step in detecting patients at risk of carrying a child with congenital abnormalities. The non-invasive screening options which are currently available to patients include combining maternal age with one of the following: first-trimester serum screening [nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal serum biochemistry markers]; second-trimester serum screening (maternal serum biochemistry markers such as the triple test and the quadruple test); or the two-step integrated screening, which comprises first- and second-trimester serum screening with or without NT. Introduction Pregnancy screening for fetal aneuploidy began during the 1960s,1 using maternal age as the screening test. With the development of new serum biochemistry markers in the 1980s,2 the triple screening test (conducted during the second trimester of pregnancy) became the most prominent screening tool and demonstrated a substantial improvement in detection rates of Down syndrome compared with the previous method of screening using maternal age alone. The detection rate Correspondence: Shiefa Sequeira, SRL Diagnostics Private Limited, Fortis Healthcare Enterprise, Number 64, Al Razi, Unit 1007, Block A, Dubai Healthcare City, PO Box 505143, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences improved from 30% by screening using maternal age alone to 65% by combining maternal age and the triple test, with a false-positive rate (FPR) of 5%. In the 1990s, the emphasis shifted from second-trimester to first-trimester screening when it was realized that the majority of fetuses with aneuploidies could be identified by screening based on a combination of maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal serum biochemistry [i.e. levels of free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (free ОІ-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A)]. The risk of developing some of the fetal chromosomal abnormalities increases with maternal age (Table 1), and pregnant women who will be older than 35 years at time of parturition are routinely offered invasive prenatal diagnostic testing. The most commonly used tests for genetic diagnosis are chorionic villous sampling (CVS) in the first trimester and amniocentesis in the second trimester; however, the rate of spontaneous fetal loss related to amniocentesis or CVS averages at about 1 in every 200 procedures.3 Because of this risk, serum analyte testing has become an important and non-invasive first step in detecting women at risk of having a baby with congenital abnormalities. The goal of prenatal screening is to identify women who are at an increased risk of having a baby affected with aneuploidy and who will benefit from diagnostic testing. Maternal screening has the added benefit of reducing the number of normal pregnancies lost because of the complication of an invasive procedure. Currently available non-invasive screening options include maternal age combined with one of 209 209 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE TABLE 1  Estimated risk of a fetus developing Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome in relation to maternal age and number of weeks’ gestation (adapted from references 4–7) Maternal age (years) Syndrome 20 25 Down syndrome Number of weeks' gestation 1068 946 12a 1200 1062 16a 1295 1147 20a 1527 1352 40a Edwards syndrome Number of weeks' gestation 2484 2200 12a a 3590 3179 16 4897 4336 20a 18 013 15 951 40a Patau syndrome Number of weeks' gestation 7826 6930 12a a 11 042 9778 16 14 656 12 978 20a 42 423 37 567 40a 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 626 703 759 895 543 610 658 776 461 518 559 659 383 430 464 547 312 350 378 446 249 280 302 356 196 220 238 280 152 171 185 218 117 131 142 167 89 100 108 128 68 76 82 97 51 57 62 73 38 43 46 55 1456 2103 2869 10 554 1263 1825 2490 9160 1072 1549 2114 7775 891 1287 1755 6458 725 1047 1429 5256 580 837 1142 4202 456 659 899 3307 354 512 698 2569 272 393 537 1974 208 300 409 1505 157 227 310 1139 118 171 233 858 89 128 175 644 4585 6470 8587 24 856 3980 5615 7453 21 573 3378 4766 6326 18 311 2806 3959 5254 15 209 2284 3222 4277 12 380 1826 2576 3419 9876 1437 2027 2691 7788 1116 1575 2090 6050 858 1210 1606 4650 654 922 1224 3544 495 698 927 2683 373 526 698 2020 280 395 524 1516 Table numbers refer to 1 in every number presented e.g. at maternal age 20 and 12 weeks’ gestation, the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is 1 in every 1068 pregnancies. a the following: first-trimester serum screening (NT and maternal serum biochemistry markers); second-trimester serum screening (maternal serum biochemistry markers – triple test or the quadruple test); or two-step integrated screening, which comprises first- and second-trimester serum screening with or without NT (Figure 1). First-trimester screening test First-trimester screening is performed at a gestation of between 10 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days and was first suggested by Brizot et al.8 in 1994. The markers used to calculate the risk of the fetus developing abnormalities are two serum markers: PAPP-A and free ОІ-hCG. A third marker is fetal NT (a fluidcontaining area at the back of the fetal neck), which is identified by ultrasonography. NT measurement needs to be carried out by experienced sonographers at a gestation of between 10 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days. First-trimester screening allows early diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) and 210 Patau syndrome (trisomy 13). The detection rate for Down syndrome is 91% with an associated FPR of 5%. For an equivalent FPR, the detection rate of screening using maternal age alone is 30% and screening using maternal age plus the serum biochemistry test gives a detection rate of 65% for Down syndrome (Table 2).9,10 This method also identifies 94% of all major chromosomal defects, such as Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, triploidy and Turner syndrome, and 60% of other chromosomal defects such as deletions, partial trisomies, unbalanced translocations and sex chromosome aneuploidies other than Turner syndrome.11 To assess the patientspecific risks, the a priori maternal age-related risk is multiplied by a likelihood ratio, which is determined from the deviation of the measured NT, free ОІ-hCG and PAPP-A from their expected medians. Biochemical markers during the first trimester of pregnancy A number of changes have been observed in the level of hormones in the body during a normal human pregnancy, from very early gestation to parturition, and even beyond. Many hormonal proteins are В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE FIGURE 1  Maternal serum screening during first and second trimester of pregnancy. TABLE 2  Detection rate of Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome during the first trimester of pregnancy (adapted from reference 9) Screening policy Down syndrome (FPR 5%) Maternal age and fetal NT 80 65 Maternal age and serum free ОІ-hCG and PAPP-A Maternal age, NT and serum free ОІ-hCG and PAPP-A 91 created, or modified, by the placenta; however, the level of these hormonal proteins differs in cases of pathological pregnancies and may be monitored to provide a diagnosis or a risk prediction for developing gestational diseases, taking into account hormone levels as well as any pre-existing maternal risk factors. The excessive release of some placental hormones in association with gestational diseases may be part of an adaptive response from the placenta and fetal membranes to adverse environmental conditions, such as hypertension, hypoxia and infection, or to malformations of the fetus and placenta. A high concentration of these hormones in the maternal peripheral blood, in the fetal (cord) blood and in the amniotic fluid is a clinical sign of increased placental hormone synthesis. The discovery of these slight differences in protein levels in pathological and non-pathological pregnancies forms the basis for using these proteins as biochemical markers in screening protocols. During biochemical testing, each element being measured is first converted В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Edwards syndrome (FPR 0.5%) Patau syndrome (FPR 0.5%) 68 80 97 61 59 84 in to a multiple of the expected normal median (MoM), which is specific to fetal gestational age, maternal weight, ethnicity, smoking status, method of conception and parity as well as the machine and reagents used for the assay. In euploid pregnancies, the average adjusted value for both free ОІ-hCG and PAPP-A is 1.0 MoM at all gestational ages.12 Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A Plasma-associated protein A is a large zinc-containing glycoprotein that is produced by both the placental syncytiotrophoblast13 and the decidua and is located on human chromosome 9q33.1.14 It belongs to the alpha-macroglobulin plasma protein group, which was first identified in 1974 in the plasma of a pregnant woman. The protein is secreted as a disulphide-bound homodimer with a molecular weight of 400 kDa. In the plasma, PAPP-A circulates either in the free form or as a heterotetrameric complex of the proform of eosinophil major basic protein (proMBP) 211 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE forming PAPP-A/proMBP with a molecular weight of approximately 500 kDa.14,15 During pregnancy, both PAPP-A and proMBP are expressed in abundance in the placenta but they are each expressed in different cell types. Most of the PAPP-A is synthesized in the placental syncytiotrophoblast whereas all of the proMBP is synthesized in the extravillous cytotrophoblasts, from where it is secreted without propeptide cleavage. The processes of the PAPP–A/proMBP complex occur in the extracellular environment and, to the best of our knowledge, at the surface of syncytiotrophoblast. During a normal pregnancy, the concentration of PAPP-A in the maternal circulation increases with increasing fetal gestational age. PAPP-A becomes detectable soon after zygote implantation and increases throughout the pregnancy, doubling every 3–4 days during the first trimester. As a result of the rapid increase in PAPP-A during the first trimester, the level of this protein is closely related to gestational age and it is common practice to express PAPP-A concentration in terms of MoM. In addition to gestational age, a number of maternal and pregnancy-associated characteristics such as smoking, multiple parity, diabetes mellitus and maternal weight also affect the maternal serum concentration of PAPP-A. The most important clinical use of PAPP-A is the first-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities that are characterized by a low concentration of PAPP-A. Decreased levels of PAPP-A are found in association with abnormal placental function, which has formed the basis for the first-trimester screening for fetal Down syndrome. The purpose of these programmes is to identify pregnant woman who should be offered diagnostic CVS or amniocentesis. PAPP-A concentrations are 100-fold and 1000-fold lower in fetal blood and amniotic fluid, respectively, than in maternal blood and the amniotic fluid of a non-Down syndrome fetus. Low PAPP-A values during the first trimester have been observed and are typically 0.15 MoM for Down syndrome, 0.18 MoM for Edwards syndrome, 0.25 MoM for Patau syndrome and 0.49 for Turner syndrome.16 Low levels of PAPP-A have also been associated with preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, miscarriage, stillbirth, small for gestational age infants and ectopic gravidity.17,18 212 Free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin In 1990, Macri et al. reported that maternal serum ОІ-hCG is elevated in Down syndrome pregnancies.19 In 1995, Eldar-Geva et al. reported that, although the production of each subunit’s hCG messenger RNA (mRNA) is increased in Down syndrome pregnancies, ОІ-subunit production is more markedly increased.20 These findings suggests that the free ОІ-hCG subunit might be superior to hCG for detection of Down syndrome. Various authors have reported that screening for elevated levels of free ОІ-hCG is more effective than screening for increased hCG in the maternal serum;21,22 therefore, ОІ-hCG has been introduced in first-trimester screening. Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone is composed of two non-covalently linked subunits, alpha (О±) and ОІ, and is produced by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta. hCG has a single ОІ-subunit that contains 145 amino acids linked by six disulphide bridges and an О±-subunit that contains 92 amino acids linked by five disulphide bridges. Five hCG-related molecules are present in the maternal serum: non-nicked hCG (which represents the active form), nicked hCG, a free О±-subunit, a free ОІ-subunit and the nicked free ОІ-subunit.23 The free ОІ-subunit can be derived from three sources: direct trophoblast cell production, dissociation of hCG into a free О±-subunit and a free ОІ-subunit or by macrophage or neutrophil enzymes nicking the hCG molecule.12 The free ОІ-hCG circulating in the maternal serum accounts for only about 0.3–4% of the total hCG.12 Maternal serum hCG peaks at 8–10 weeks’ gestation and then declines to reach a plateau at 18–20 weeks’ gestation and remains relatively constant until term. Molecular biology studies12,20 have demonstrated that Down syndrome trophoblasts show a marked increase in the production of ОІ-hCG mRNA and a smaller increase in О±-hCG mRNA, suggesting that one of the causes of high hCG levels in the maternal serum is the increased hCG production and secretion by the placenta. hCG is also used to predict complications, especially in early pregnancy, such as miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. A failing pregnancy is usually associated with a slower than normal increase in the maternal serum hCG, which gradually turns into a decrease. In a successful pregnancy, the increase in the maternal serum hCG level is exponential, i.e. the concentration doubles in approximately 1.5–2 days. In ectopic pregnancies resulting from in vitro В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE fertilization, the increase in maternal serum hCG is delayed by an average of 1.5 days, but the rate of increase usually normalizes during the first 4 weeks after embryo transfer. Nuchal translucency In 1992, Schulte-Valentin and Schindler24 first reported on non-echogenic nuchal oedema, which is currently known as NT (Figure 2). It is the most important marker on an ultrasound scan during first-trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities and is measured between 10 and 14 weeks’ gestation. NT measures the subcutaneous fluid-filled space between the back of the spine and the skin on the back of the neck of the fetus. Increased NT is associated with Down syndrome, Turner syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities as well as many fetal malformations and genetic syndromes. The prevalence of these abnormalities is related to the thickness, rather than the appearance, of NT. Fetal NT increases with crown–rump length (CRL) and increases at about 17% a week; hence, it is important to take gestational age into account when analysing NT. The translucent area disappears after 14 weeks’ gestation, when the subcutaneous tissue becomes more echogenic, and NT is therefore a transient phenomenon.25 The NT measurement is converted into MoM for the relevant gestational age, based on CRL, for risk calculation. Using the NT measurement plus maternal age, 73% of affected pregnancies can be identified with a 5% FPR.26 The NT measurement needs to be performed by experienced sonographers and should be obtained at a gestation of between 10 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days, which is equivalent to a CRL of between 38 and 84 mm. NT can be detected in 99% of fetuses at the end of the first trimester. The 50th percentile NT increases from 1.2 mm in week 11 (CRL of 45 mm) to 1.5 mm in week 13, day 6 (CRL of 82 mm). The 95th percentile ranges from 2 mm in week 11 to 2.6 mm in week 13, day 6. In the majority of fetuses with Down syndrome, NT is increased compared with normal fetuses of the same gestational age. Increased NT measurement may also be associated with miscarriage and an abnormal karyotype. In addition to Down syndrome, the NT measurement can also indicate the risk of triploidies, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome and monosomy X. Special attention should be given to those cases in which the NT is increased and the karyotype is normal. When NT levels increase above the 95th percentile, the chance that a healthy baby will be born decreases; however, when the NT level is above the 95th percentile and the karyotype is normal, this may be indicative of different malformations and genetic syndromes, the most frequent of which are defects of the heart and great arteries and a wide range of structural defects and genetic conditions. Increased NT has also been associated with other anomalies, including diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, neural tube defects, body stalk anomalies, a number of rare genetic syndromes and skeletal dysplasias. These include rare genetic syndromes such as Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome, Noonan syndrome, arthrogryposis, Pena–Shokeir syndrome, multiple pterygium syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, Jarcho–Levin syndrome, thanatophoric dysplasia and thalassaemia. Patient-specific risk for chromosomal abnormalities FIGURE 2  An ultrasound scan at 11–14 weeks’ gestation for measurement of fetal NT thickness. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences All pregnancies are associated with some risk that the fetus has a chromosomal defect. To calculate the individual risk, it is necessary to take into account the a priori risk, which depends on maternal age and gestational age, and to multiply this by a likelihood ratio, which depends on the results of the ultrasonography and/or maternal serum biochemical tests that may have been performed during the course of the pregnancy to determine the patientspecific risk. Every time a test is carried out, the a priori risk is multiplied by the likelihood ratio derived 213 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE from that test to calculate a new risk, which then becomes the a priori risk for the next test. Fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum testing in the first trimester In Down syndrome pregnancies, the maternal serum concentration of free ОІ-hCG is about twice as high as in euploid pregnancies whereas PAPP-A is reduced to half compared with euploid pregnancies (approximately 1 MoM and 0.5 MoM, respectively)10 (Table 3). There is no significant association between fetal NT and maternal serum free ОІ-hCG or PAPP-A in either Down syndrome or chromosomally normal pregnancies; therefore, the ultrasonography results and the biochemical markers can be combined to provide more effective screening than either method individually. One option for first-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome is to perform biochemical and ultrasonography testing at 12 weeks’ gestation. The detection rate of Down syndrome at 12 weeks’ gestation is about 90% with an FPR of 5%.10 An alternative strategy for first-trimester combined screening is for biochemical testing and ultrasonography scanning to be carried out in two separate patient visits, with the biochemical testing conducted at 9 to 10 weeks’ gestation and the ultrasonography scanning at 12 weeks’ gestation. It has been estimated that this approach would improve the detection rate from 90% to 93–94%.10 The tests are better at 9–10 weeks’ gestation rather than at 13 weeks’ gestation because the difference in PAPP-A between trisomic and euploid pregnancies is greater during the earlier gestational period. Although the difference in free ОІ-hCG between trisomic and euploid pregnancies increases with gestation length, the magnitude of the difference is smaller than that of the difference in PAPP-A levels between trisomic and euploid pregnancies. A third option would be to perform the scan at 12 weeks’ gestation and optimize the performance of biochemical testing by measuring PAPP-A at 9 weeks’ gestation and free ОІ-hCG at the time of the first ultrasonography scanning session at 12 weeks’ gestation, or even later, which gives an estimated detection rate of 95% with an FPR of 5%.12 All three syndromes are associated with increased maternal age, increased fetal NT and decreased maternal serum PAPP-A, but whereas maternal serum free ОІ-hCG is increased in a Down syndrome pregnancy it is decreased in in pregnancies affected by Edwards and Patau syndromes. In cases of sex 214 TABLE 3  Ultrasonography and biochemical characteristics of fetuses with normal chromosomes and of those with Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome. Reproduced from Kagan KO, Wright D, Valencia C, Maiz N, Nicolaides KH. Screening for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency, fetal heart rate, free beta hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:1968–759 by permission of Oxford University Press Normal karyotype Down syndrome Edwards syndrome Patau syndrome Fetal NT (mm) PAPP-A MoM Free ОІ-hCG MoM 2.0 3.4 5.5 4.0 1.0 2.0 0.2 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.2 0.3 chromosomal anomalies, the level of maternal serum free ОІ-hCG is normal whereas the level of PAPP-A is low. In diandric triploidy, the level of maternal serum free ОІ-hCG is greatly increased, whereas the level of PAPP-A is mildly decreased. Digynic triploidy is associated with markedly decreased levels of maternal serum free ОІ-hCG and PAPP-A. Screening for chromosomal defects in the first, rather than the second, trimester provides earlier reassurance for those with normal results and a less traumatic termination for those choosing this option. A potential disadvantage of early detection of chromosomal anomalies is that an earlier assessment of risk and prenatal diagnosis identifies the pregnancies that are more likely to miscarry. Approximately 30% of Down syndrome fetuses miscarry between 12 weeks’ gestation and full term. This issue of intrauterine lethality for chromosomally defected fetuses is a potential criticism of all methods of antenatal screening, including second-trimester maternal serum biochemistry. Second-trimester screening Two screening tests are performed during the second trimester: the triple and the quadruple screening test. The triple screening test has been available since the late 1980s as a cost-effective serum pregnancy screening test for Down syndrome, neural tube defects and Edwards syndrome.27 A combination of maternal age with serum О±-fetoprotein (AFP), total hCG and unconjugated estriol (uE3) can identify approximately 60–65% of affected pregnancies with a 5% FPR28 (Table 4). Although the triple screening test can be performed between В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE TABLE 4  Screening strategies for Down syndrome Method of screening Detection rate (%) Maternal age 30 First-trimester screening (10–14 weeks) Maternal age plus NT measurement (by ultrasound) 75–80 Maternal age plus first-trimester double test (PAPP-A, 60–70 ОІ-hCG) Maternal age plus first-trimester combined test (NT, PAPP-A, 85–96 ОІ-hCG) Second-trimester screening (14–22 weeks) Maternal age plus second-trimester double test (AFP, hCG) Maternal age plus triple test (AFP, hCG, uE3) Maternal age plus quadruple test (AFP, hCG, uE3, inhibin A) Integrated test (first trimester: NT, PAPP-A and ОІ-hCG; second trimester: quadruple test) Prenatal diagnosis Amniocentesis (14–16 weeks’ gestation) CVS (10–12 weeks’ gestation) Fluorescence in situ hybridization 55–60 60–65 65–80 90–95 100 100 100 15 and 22 weeks’ gestation, it is most effective when conducted at 15–16 weeks’ gestation as this allows simultaneous assessment of AFP as an additional screen for neural tube defects. This method of risk calculation was devised by Wald et al.28 and involves multiplying the age-specific risk, as an odds ratio, by the likelihood ratio which was derived from the approximate trivariate Gaussian frequency distribution of the serum markers. Maternal weight, twin pregnancy and the presence of insulindependent diabetes mellitus also affect the serum markers for the triple test. Increasing maternal weight is associated with a lowering of maternal serum AFP (MSAFP), uE3 and hCG levels. Wald et al.28 have reported that routine maternal weight adjustments for the serum marker levels can increase the detection rate by approximately 0.5% for a given FPR, or can reduce the FPR by 0.1% for a given detection rate. In comparison with singleton pregnancies, in twin pregnancies a median MSAFP is 2.1 times higher, median uE3 level is 1.7 times higher and median hCG level is 1.8 times higher. In women with insulindependent diabetes mellitus, the MSAFP, uE3 and hCG levels are 0.7, 0.92 and 0.95 times higher, respectively, than in women who do not suffer from insulindependent diabetes mellitus. Several studies27,28 have В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences shown a significant correlation between the results of the triple screening test showing abnormal markers and preterm labour, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and premature rupture of the membranes. Recently, the maternal serum quadruple screen has been replacing the triple screen as it provides greater sensitivity (80% detection rate with an FPR of 5% for Down syndrome).29 The quadruple test can be performed on antenatal patients between 15 and 22 weeks’ gestation and includes the triplescreen serum markers with an additional marker, inhibin A, which is initially produced by the corpus luteum and later by the placenta. Alpha-fetoprotein Alpha-fetoprotein is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 68 kDa produced by the fetal yolk sac, liver and gastrointestinal tract. This protein was first discovered by Bergstrand and Czar in 195630 and subsequently named by Gitlan31 as О±-fetoprotein. AFP has approximately 4% carbohydrate moiety represented by one oligosaccharide residue.32 The protein moiety has been completely determined and consists of one polypeptide chain of 590 amino acids arranged in three well-defined domains.33 Alpha-fetoprotein is produced by the fetal yolk sac in small quantities and by the fetal liver in large quantities as the yolk sac degenerates. The fetal liver produces AFP until 30 weeks’ gestation and then stops abruptly. Fetal serum levels peak at about 9 weeks’ gestation (at approximately 3 million Вµg/l) and decline progressively until term, when the final level of fetal serum is approximately 20 000 Вµg/l. AFP is initially detectable at a level of approximately 5 Вµg/l in the maternal serum at about 10 weeks’ gestation.34 The concentration increases at an approximate rate of 15% per week to peak at approximately 180 Вµg/l at about 25 weeks’ gestation.34 The concentration of AFP in the maternal serum subsequently declines slowly until term. After birth, the MSAFP rapidly decreases to < 2 Вµg/l and the levels of serum AFP in the baby decline exponentially to reach adult concentration by the 10th month of life.34 Laboratory measurements of AFP levels are reported as MoM. Maternal AFP is said to be elevated when the value is ≥ 2.5 MoM for a single fetus and ≥ 4.5MoM for a pregnancy with two or more fetuses. The MSAFP is elevated in 85–95%35 of cases in which the fetus has open neural tube defects whereas the MSAFP 215 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE is lowered in approximately 30%36,37 of cases where the fetus has Down syndrome. In addition to neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly (failure of brain and skull development), the causes of elevated MSAFP to a level of > 2.5 MoM include fetal death, misdated pregnancies, other anatomical abnormalities (such as abdominal wall defects), placental abnormalities (such as chorioangiomas, placental lakes and placental oedemas), fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, preterm delivery, stillbirth, infection and hypoxia.38,39 In fetuses with open neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) the normal integumentary covering at the site of the lesion is absent, which allows abnormally large quantities of AFP to leak into the amniotic fluid and subsequently into the maternal serum. As this phenomenon also occurs in other non-neural tube lesions, other morphological abnormalities, such as abdominal wall defects and cystic hygromas, also demonstrate an elevated level of AFP in the amniotic fluid and the maternal serum that can be detected during screening. In 1984, Merkatz et al. reported that the MSAFP in the second trimester of pregnancies affected by fetal Down syndrome was lower (< 0.7 MoM) than that of normal pregnancies.37 Lower levels of AFP (< 0.25 MoM) may be seen not only in patients who are not pregnant, but also in those affected by fetal death, spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, stillbirth or macrosomia or have a misdated pregnancy, a hydatidiform mole or trisomic fetus or who are going through a normal pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin Bogart et al.40 reported an elevation of maternal serum hCG levels in Down syndrome pregnancies, and since then the levels of hCG have been measured in most screening programmes. hCG is a complex glycoprotein produced exclusively by the syncytiotrophoblast shortly after zygote implantation into the uterine wall. The level of hCG increases rapidly in the first 8 weeks of gestation and then decreases steadily until 20 weeks’ gestation, when it plateaus. Maternal weight and parity have an effect on hCG levels and high maternal serum levels of hCG accompanied by low levels of MSAFP have been associated with an increased risk of carrying a fetus with Down syndrome. The geometric mean MoM for Down syndrome pregnancies determined from the results of 18 studies, comprising a total of 216 559 Down syndrome cases, was 2.03 MoM.41 Although the precise explanation for this finding is unknown, it may be due to fetuses with Down syndrome showing delayed development. Since maternal serum levels of hCG decline between 12 and 20 weeks’ gestation, an immature fetus with Down syndrome will be associated with a higher concentration of hCG than an unaffected pregnancy. A low hCG level is associated with Edwards syndrome and normal hCG levels are associated with neural tube defects. Increased hCG levels are found in placental anomalies (such as molar pregnancies), multiple pregnancy or fetal demise. Unexplained elevation of second-trimester hCG has been seen in hypoxic cytotrophoblasts; however, the exact cause is not known.21 Unconjugated estriol Estriol is produced in very large quantities during the final trimester of pregnancy. The biosynthesis pathway requires three organs to be fully functioning: the fetal adrenal glands, the fetal liver and the placenta. uE3 is produced by the placenta from precursors that are created in the fetal adrenal glands and the fetal liver. Estriol diffuses from the placenta into the maternal blood, where it can be measured as uE3. The levels of maternal serum uE3 rise above non-pregnancy levels by 7–9 weeks’ gestation and continue to increase throughout pregnancy. The level of maternal serum uE3 is approximately 4 nmol/l at 15 weeks’ gestation and increases to approximately 40 nmol/l by parturition.38,42 Any disruption in the biosynthesis pathway will lead to very low level of maternal serum uE3. Conditions that cause such disruption include fetal anencephaly, molar pregnancy, placental steroid sulphatase deficiency, fetal death, and chromosomal or congenital anomalies such as Down syndrome, Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome and Edwards syndrome.43,44 Low levels of maternal uE3 in the third trimester have also been reported in newborns with low birthweight and have been found to indicate fetal distress. Decreased uE3 levels (< 0.5 MoM) have been found to be significantly associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine fetal death.45 Maternal serum uE3 levels are significantly lower in Down syndrome pregnancies than non-Down syndrome pregnancies, ranging from 0.6546 to 0.79 MoM.47,48 Amniotic fluid and placental tissue uE3 levels are В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE also significantly lower in a Down syndrome-related pregnancy. uE3 is a variable that is independent of maternal age and therefore can be used alone or in combination with maternal age for the determination of the relative risk of Down syndrome. Dimeric inhibin A Inhibins are circulating dimeric glycoprotein hormones synthesized by the gonads and the placenta. These glycoproteins were first isolated from the ovarian follicular fluid and named after their ability to inhibit the pituitary secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone. The О±-subunit can combine with one of the two ОІ-subunits (ОІA or ОІB) to form inhibin A or inhibin B. Dimeric inhibin A (DIA) concentrations exhibit a complex pattern during the course of pregnancy, rising to a peak at 8–10 weeks’ gestation and then declining to a minimum at 17 weeks’ gestation, before beginning to slowly increase towards term. The average inhibin levels do not change greatly from 15 to 20 weeks’ gestation and a typical value of DIA at 17 weeks’ gestation is 175 ng/l.34 The maternal serum levels of inhibin A in the second trimester of pregnancy are twice as high in pregnancies affected by Down syndrome as in those that are not affected. Studies49,50 have reported DIA values ranging from 1.53 to 2.60 MoM in Down syndrome pregnancies. Inhibin A is as effective a marker for Down syndrome as hCG, and yet it also provides information that hCG and the other markers do not.51–54 The level of inhibin is significantly decreased in the presence of primary antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (median MoM 0.6) and it has also been described as extremely elevated in pregnancies complicated by triploidy, HELLP syndrome (where the patient suffers from haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low platelet count) and following the loss of one twin in the first trimester.17 Clinical application of the triple and quadruple analyte-screening test Many biochemical markers have been studied during the second trimester of pregnancy, but the triple test, which analyses serum AFP, hCG, uE3 and maternal age, is the most popular combination. The triple test has a sensitivity of approximately 65% for Down В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences TABLE 5  The second-trimester biochemical markers Neural tube defects Down syndrome Edwards syndrome AFP uE3 Total hCG Inhibin A ↑ ↓ ↓ NA ↓ ↓ NA ↑ ↓ NA ↑ NA NA, not applicable. syndrome and 70% for Edwards syndrome.28 In Down syndrome pregnancies, the levels of hCG increase whereas levels of AFP and uE3 decrease (Table 5). In the case of Edwards syndrome, the levels of all three analytes are low. In twin pregnancies, secondtrimester serum screening detects approximately 50% of affected fetuses and can be difficult to interpret because a normal twin may mask the results of an affected twin.55 Recently, a quadruple-screening test has been developed, so named because it uses four biochemical markers (AFP, hCG, uE3 and DIA).56 The combination of maternal age and the quadruple screening test detects approximately 75% of Down syndrome fetuses in women who are younger than 35 years with an FPR of 5%, and it detects > 80% of the Down syndrome fetuses in women who are over the age of 35 years with an FPR of 5%.29 In most cases of Down syndrome, the AFP and uE3 levels are low, whereas hCG and DIA levels are high compared with a non-Down syndrome pregnancy. Screening in the second trimester using multiple markers does not reliably detect the other forms of aneuploidy that can occur as result of increasing maternal age, such as Patau syndrome (1 in 20 000 live births) and Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY; 1 in 1000 live births). These forms of aneuploidy would be detected by amniocentesis and CVS. The laboratory conducting the tests must be informed of the gestational age of the fetus at the time the sample was taken to ensure an accurate interpretation. Gestational age is usually calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period; however, ultrasonographic measurement of the CRL in the first trimester, or measuring the biparietal diameter of the fetus in the second trimester, provides a more reliable estimate of gestational age, accurate to within 7 and 10 days, respectively. If ultrasonography results in a change in gestational age of more than10 days, then the test results must be reinterpreted. If the sample was taken at 217 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE < 15 weeks’ gestation then a new sample should be obtained and analysed in accordance with the correct gestational age. First- and second-trimester screening for aneuploidy There have been several different approaches proposed to improve screening detection rates, many of which take advantage of both first- and second-trimester screening tests: first, the integrated screening test, which combines maternal age with NT measurement, PAPP-A and free ОІ-hCG in the first trimester; and, secondly, triple and quadruple screening in the second trimester. These tests are reported to be more effective and accurate than all other tests, yielding very good results, with detection rates of 94% for the first-trimester tests and 85% for the second-trimester tests, with an FPR of 5% and 1%, respectively.57 The disadvantage of these screening methods is that a portion of woman may fail to attend the second-trimester test. Additionally, the results of these tests are not obtained until after 16 weeks’ gestation and a termination of the pregnancy at this stage can be traumatic since it usually requires a medical abortion rather than surgical and the mother may have already felt the fetal movements. Another screening method is stepwise sequential screening, in which all patients have a first-trimester NT test, serum PAPP-A and free ОІ-hCG tests and the resulting high-risk patients are offered CVS whereas low- or intermediate-risk patients have a second-trimester AFP test, a uE3 test, free ОІ-hCG and inhibin tests. If the combined risk from first- and second-trimester testing is high, patients are offered second-trimester amniocentesis. An alternative option is the contingent screening method, which is similar to stepwise sequential screening except that second-trimester biochemical testing is performed only in women in whom firsttrimester screening suggests an intermediate risk of fetal anomalies.10 The estimated performance of the three approaches is similar, with an overall detection rate of 90–94% and an FPR of 5%. The advantages of the contingent screening method are twofold: first, second-trimester testing can be avoided in 75–80% of patients; and, secondly, approximately 60% of fetuses with aneuploidies can be identified during the first trimester.10 218 References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Chitayat D, Langlois S, Wilson RD. Prenatal screening for fetal aneuploidy in singleton pregnancies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2011; 33:736–50. Cuckle HS, Wald NJ, Thompson SG. Estimating a woman's risk of having a pregnancy associated with Down's syndrome using her age and serum alphafetoprotein level. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1987; 94:387–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1987.tb03115.x Loncar J, Barnabei VM, Larsen JW. Advent of maternal serum markers for Down syndrome screening. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1995; 50:316–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006254-199504000-00027 Nicolaides KH. Nuchal translucency and other firsttrimester sonographic markers of chromosomal abnormalities. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 191:45–67. Snijders RJM, Sundberg K, Holzgreve W, Henry G, Nicolaides KH. Maternal age and gestation-specific risk for trisomy 21. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1999; 13:167–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.14690705.1999.13030167.x Snijders RJM, Holzgreve W, Cuckle H, Nicolaides KH. Maternal age-specific risks for trisomies at 9–14 weeks’ gestation. Prenat Diagn 1994; 14:543–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.1970140706 Snijders RJM, Sebire NJ, Nicolaides KH. Maternal age and gestational age-specific risk for chromosomal defects. Fetal Diagn Ther 1995; 10:356–67. http://dx.doi. org/10.1159/000264259 Brizot ML, Snijders RJM, Bersinger NA, Kuhn P, Nicolaides KH. Maternal serum pregnancy associated placental protein A and fetal nuchal translucency thickness for the prediction of fetal trisomies in early pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1994; 84:918–22. Kagan KO, Wright D, Valencia C, Maiz N, Nicolaides KH. Screening for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal nuchal translucency, fetal heart rate, free beta hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. Hum Repro 2008; 23:1968–75. Nicolaides KH. Screening for fetal aneuploides at 11 to 13 weeks. Prenat Diagn 2011; 1:7–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.2637 Bindra R, Liao VHA, Spencer K, Nicolaides KH. One stop clinic for assessment of risk for trisomy 21 at 11–14 weeks: a prospective study of 15030 pregnancies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2002; 20:219–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-0705.2002.00808.x Reis FM, D'Antona D, Petraglia F. Predictive value of hormone measurements in maternal and fetal complications of pregnancy. Endocrine 2002; 23:230–57. Handschuh K, Guibourdenche J, Guesnon M, Laurendeau I, Evain-Brion D, Fournier T. Modulation of PAPP-A expression by PPARgamma in human first trimester trophoblast. Placenta 2006; 27(Suppl A):S127–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2005.10.012 Overgaard MT, Sorensen ES, Stachowiak D, et al. Complex of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and the proform of eosinophil major basic protein disulfide structure and carbohydrate attachment sites. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:2106–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M208777200 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Qin QP, Kokkala S, Lund J, Tamm N, Voipio-Pulkki LM, Pettersson K. Molecular distinction of circulating pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in myocardial infarction and pregnancy. Clin Chem 2005; 51:75–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2004.036467 Bernd E, Glaubitz R. First-trimester screening: an overview. J Histochem Cytochem 2005; 53:281–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1369/jhc.4B6420.2005 Gagnon A, Douglas RW. Obstetrical complications associated with abnormal maternal serum markers analytes. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2008; 30:918–32. Harmonie L, Chaminda A, Talat U. Low PAPP-A: what are the clinical implications? AJUM 2012; 15:26–8. Macri JN, Kasturi RV, Krantz DA, et al. Maternal serum Down syndrome screening: free beta-protein is a more effective marker than human chorionic gonadotropin. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1990; 16:1248–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(90)90700-H Eldar-Geva T, Hochberg A. High maternal serum chorionic gonadotropin level in DS pregnancies is caused by elevation of both subunits messenger RNA level in trophoblasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 1995; 80:3528–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.80.12.3528 Baluja-Conde IB, Rodriguez-Lopez MR, ZuluetaRodriguez O, Ruiz-Escandon B, Bermudez-Velasquez S. Biochemical serum markers for Down syndrome screening. Rev Biomed 2005; 16:259–71. Hallahan T, Krantz D, Orlandi F, et al. First trimester biochemical screening for Down syndrome: free ОІ-hCG versus intact hCG. Prenat Diagn 2000; 20:785–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1097-0223(200010)20: 10<785::AID-PD892>3.0.CO;2-6 Trenti T, Aloe R, Cervellin G, Lippi G. Human chorionic gonadotropin in pregnancy diagnostics. Clin Chim Acta 2011; 412:1515–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2011.05.025 Schulte-Valentin M, Schindler H. Non-echogenic nuchal oedema as a marker for trisomy 21 screening. Lancet 1992; 339: 1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(92)90574-M Roberts LJ, Bewley S, Mackinson AM, Rodeck CH. First trimester fetal nuchal translucency: problems with screening the general population. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1995; 102:381–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb11289.x Karl OK, Dave W, Caalina V, Nerea M, Nicolaides KH. Screening for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 by maternal age, fetal NT, fetal heart rate, free beta hCG and PAPP-A. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:1968–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/den224 Lao MR, Calhoun BC, Bracero LA, et al. The ability of the quadruple test to predict adverse perinatal outcomes in a high-risk obstetric population. J Med Screen 2009; 16:55–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/jms.2009.009017 Wald NJ, Cuckle HS, Densem JW, et al. Maternal serum screening for Down’s syndrome in early pregnancy. BMJ 1988; 297:883–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.297.6653.883 Canick JA, MacRae AR. Second trimester serum markers. Perinatology 2005; 29:203–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.semperi.2005.05.011 Bergstrand CG, Czar B. Paper electrophoretic study of human fetal serum proteins with В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 demonstration of a new protein fraction. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1957; 9:277–86. http://dx.doi. org/10.3109/00365515709079971 Gitlin D, Boesman M. Serum AFP, albumin, and Оі-G-globulin in the human conceptus. J Clin Invest 1966; 45:1826–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI105486 Taketa, K. Characterization of sugar chain structures of human alpha-fetoprotein by lectin affinity electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 1998; 19:2595–602. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elps.1150191506 Permyakov SE. Human alpha-fetoprotein as a Zn(2+)- binding protein. Tight cation binding is not accompanied by global changes in protein structure and stability. Biochim Biophys Acta 2002; 1586:1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4439(01)00079-5 Burtis C, Ashwood E, Burns D. Clinical Chemistry of Pregnancy. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 4th edn. Delhi: Elsevier; 2006. Cuckle H, Brock JH, Peto R, Polani PE, Woodford FP. Maternal serum-alpha-fetoprotein measurement in antenatal screening for anencephaly and spina bifida in early pregnancy. Report of UK collaborative study on alpha-fetoprotein in relation to neural-tube defects. Lancet 1977; 1:1323–3. Cuckle HS, Wald NJ, Lindenbaum RH. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein measurement: a screening test for Down syndrome. Lancet 1984; 1:926–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(84)92389-4 Merkatz IR, Nitowsky HM, Macri JN, Johnson WE. An association between low maternal serum alphafetoprotein and fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984; 148:886–94. Duric K, Skrablin S, Lesin J, Kalafatic D, Kuvacic I, Suchanek E. Second trimester total human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein and unconjugated estriol in predicting pregnancy complications other than fetal aneuploidy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2003; 110:12–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0301-2115(03)00081-2 Kabili G, Stricker R, Stricker R, Extermann P, Bischof P. First trimester screening for trisomy 21: do the parameters used detect more pathologies than just Down syndrome? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2004; 114:35–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. ejogrb.2003.09.044 Bogart MH, Pandian MR, Jones OW. Abnormal maternal serum chorionic gonadotropin levels in pregnancies with fetal chromosome abnormalities. Prenat Diagn 1987; 7:623–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.1970070904 Wald NJ. Antenatal screening for Down syndrome. J Med Screen 1997; 4:181–7. Benn PA, Kaminsky LM, Ying J, Borgida AF, Egan JF. Combined second-trimester biochemical and ultrasound screening for Down syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 2002; 100:1168–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02276-7 Bradley LA, Canick JA, Palomaki GE, Haddow JE. Undetectable maternal serum unconjugated estriol levels in the second trimester: risk of perinatal complications associated with placental sulfatase deficiency. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 176:531–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70542-8 219 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:209–220 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.224) ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 220 Tint GS, Irons M, Elias ER, et al. Defective cholesterol biosynthesis associated with the Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome. N Engl J Med 1994; 330:107–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199401133300205 Minsart AF, Van Onderbergen A, Jacques F, Kurt C, Gillerot Y. Indication of prenatal diagnosis in pregnancies complicated by undetectable secondtrimester maternal serum estriol levels. J Prenat Med 2008; 2:27–30. Newby D, Aitken DA, Howatson AG, Connor JM. Placental synthesis of oestriol in Down’s syndrome pregnancies. Placenta 2000 21:263–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/plac.1999.0469 Canick JA, Knight GJ, Palomaki GE, Haddow JE, Cuckle HS, Wald NJ. Low second trimester maternal serum unconjugated oestriol in pregnancies with Down’s syndrome. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1988; 95:330–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06601.x Crossley JA, Aitken DA, Connor JM. Second-trimester unconjugated oestriol levels in maternal serum from chromosomally abnormal pregnancies using an optimized assay. Prenat Diagn 1993; 13:271–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pd.1970130406 Wald NJ, Densem JW, George L, Muttukrishna S, Knight PG. Prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome using inhibin-A as a serum marker. Prenat Diagn 1996; 16:143–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)10970223(199602)16:2<143::AID-PD825>3.0.CO;2-F Aitken DA, Wallace EM, Crossley JA, et al. Dimeric inhibin A as a marker for Down’s syndrome in early pregnancy. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 N Engl J Med 1996; 334:1231–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199605093341904 Benn PA, Kaminsky LM, Ying J, Borgida AF, Egan JF. Combined second-trimester biochemical and ultrasound screening for Down syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 2002; 100:1168–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02276-7 Muller F. Maternal serum screening for Down’s syndrome. Ann Biol Clin 2002; 60:689–92. Spencer K. Maternal serum marker screening for down syndrome. Prenat Diagn 2001; 19:271–80. Lambert-Messerlian GM, Pinar H, Laprade E, Tantravahi U, Schneyer A, Canick JA. Inhibins and activins in human fetal abnormalities. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004; 225:101–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2004.02.019 Neveux LM, Palomaki GE, Knight GJ, Haddow JE. Multiple marker screening for Down syndrome in twin pregnancies. Prenat Diagn 1996; 16:29–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)10970223(199601)16:1<29::AID-PD801>3.0.CO;2-K Haddow JE, Palomaki GE, Knight GJ, Foster DL, Neveux LM. Second trimester screening for Down’s syndrome using maternal serum dimeric inhibin A. J Med Screen 1998; 5:115–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jms.5.3.115 Wald NJ, Rodeck C, Hackshaw AK, Walters J, Chitty L, Mackinson AM. First and second trimester antenatal screening for Down’s syndrome: the results of the Serum, Urine and Ultrasound Screening Study (SURUSS). J Med Screen 2003; 10:56–104. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:221–226 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.233)   Original Research Article Respiratory distress syndrome in preterm neonates of Lahore Iftikhar Ejaz,1 Mumtaz Ali Bharo1 and Mehwish Anwer2,3 Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, 2Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan, and 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates 1 Abstract Compromised health facilities in developing countries often result in inadequate care for both mothers and their newborns. Consequently, a large number of neonates who are born prematurely with serious prepartum difficulties develop additional postpartum complications. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in infants is a complex pulmonary state in which the lungs are not properly developed and therefore produce very little surfactant, resulting in morbidity of many preterm newborns. The present study investigated the frequency of RDS in neonates born at various gestational ages and of various birthweights. Out of 180 subjects, 50 (27.8%) developed RDS, the diagnosis of which was based on radiological findings and symptoms such as tachypnoea, nasal flaring and central cyanosis. The frequency of RDS is inversely, and significantly, associated with both gestational age and birthweight, which were found to be good predictors of the likelihood of a newborn developing RDS. Preterm newborns of low birthweight have a higher risk of developing RDS than full-term newborns of heavier birthweight. In light of these observations, proper management strategies should be devised for the assessment and treatment of preterm neonates with, or without, RDS. Introduction Approximately 1.5% of total child deaths are caused by neonatal infections and complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 the prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a US study population is 3.9 in every 1000 infants, which poses a great threat to the survival rate of preterm neonates.1 RDS is caused by insufficient production of surfactant in the lungs, which results in Correspondence: M Anwer, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, 17666, United Arab Emirates. E-mail: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences the respiratory organs being unable to develop and operate fully.2 Clinical symptomatic presentations include central cyanosis, tachypnoea and nasal flaring, and a pulmonary radiograph showing the lungs to have a ground-glass appearance is generally regarded as a confirmatory diagnostic test for RDS.3 Acute RDS may cause the lungs to collapse, resulting in death,4 but antenatal administration of corticosteroids, postnatal surfactant replacement therapy5 and ventilation support with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be used as therapeutic options for RDS.6–8 Most of the public medical centres in developing countries cannot cope with the requirements of all patients and, as a result, maternal health and neonatal care is often compromised. Consequently, a large number of neonates who are born with, or develop, serious difficulties and complications may not survive and the mortality rate for infants is increasing. Additionally, preterm neonates are at a greater risk of developing postpartum disorders, including RDS. Only a small number of studies in Pakistan have addressed the frequency of various prenatal and postnatal diseases. Bhutta et al.9 and Ghafoor et al.10 comprehensively discuss the prevalence of RDS in a Karachi and Rawalpindi population, respectively. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study in a Lahore population has been reported. In view of this, the present study offers an assessment of RDS prevalence in preterm neonates residing in Lahore. The relationship between the presence of 221 221 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:221–226 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.233) Original Research Article RDS and either gestational age or weight at the time of birth is also examined. Both of these parameters, along with other considerations, may serve as useful predictive markers of RDS in preterm neonates. using Pearson’s correlation coefficients with a 95% confidence interval. Results Materials and methods General characteristics of observed neonates Patients from the neonatal ward of the Children’s Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, were included in the study after approval from the hospital’s ethical committee. This descriptive study was conducted over a period of 6 months (September 2011–February 2012). There were 180 non-probability based and purposive preterm neonates who were included in the study, with a confidence interval of 95%. A total of 180 neonates with a mean gestational age of 30 ± 0.91 weeks (range 26–34 weeks) were studied. The relative proportions of male and female neonates were 62.8% (n = 113) and 37.2% (n = 67) respectively, giving a male to female ratio of 1.68:1. Preterm neonates who were born between 26 and 34 weeks’ gestation were selected for the study and gestational age was calculated using the Ballard scoring system. The subjects with clinical presentation of respiratory distress, tachypnoea, cyanosis and radiological findings of a ground-glass appearance in the lungs were categorized as having RDS. Preterm neonates suffering from congenital defects such as cleft palate, Pierre Robin syndrome, Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, hydrocephalus and cyanotic heart disease were not included in the study. Infants whose mothers suffered from chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, renal failure and congenital pneumonia were also excluded from the study. Informed consent was requested from the parents of the participants and participant age, sex and weight were recorded and all the information was collected on a specifically designed questionnaire. A physical examination provided information regarding nasal flaring, tachypnoea (with subcostal and intercostal recession) and cyanosis, whereas chest radiography was carried out to assess the appearance of the lungs. A combination of nasal flaring, tachypnoea, cyanosis and a ground-glass appearance of the lungs on chest radiography confirmed the diagnosis of RDS. The collected data were entered into SPSS (SPSS v.17, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for analysis. Qualitative data such as sex (male or female) and RDS (present or absent) were presented as frequency distributions and percentages. The association of RDS with gestational age and birthweight was evaluated 222 Gestational age varied: 14 neonates (7.8%) were born during week 26 of gestation, 26 (14.4%) in week 27, 15 (8.3%) in week 28, 19 (10.6%) in week 29, 27 (15%) in week 30, 16 (8.9%) in week 31, 20 (11.1%) in week 33, 26 (14.4%) in week 33 and 17 (9.4%) in week 34. Thus, the greatest number of neonates were born in week 30 (n = 27). The variable presentation provided the opportunity to compare respiratory outcome at different gestational ages. Among the 180 neonates observed in this study, 42 (23.3%) had a birthweight of < 1000 g, 39 (21.7%) of 1001–1500 g, 44 (24.4%) of 1501–2000 g, 32 (17.8%) of 2001–2500 g and 23 (12.8%) of > 2500 g. Symptoms associated with pulmonary infections were considered but exclusion criteria were strictly applied. Nasal flaring was seen in 89 neonates (49.4%), tachypnoea in 78 (43.3%) and central cyanosis in 63 (35%) (Figure 1). In view of these clinical presentations, radiography was performed in all participants and a ground-glass appearance in the lungs clearly indicated the presence of RDS in a subset of the neonates. Frequency of respiratory distress syndrome Respiratory distress syndrome was present in 50 participants (27.8%) and not present in 130 (72.2%), as confirmed by radiological examination (Figure 1). These values indicated a high frequency of RDS in this population. Gestational age at birth versus frequency of respiratory distress syndrome Among the 50 neonates diagnosed with RDS, 14 (28%) were born at 26 weeks’ gestation, seven (14%) at 27 weeks, five (10%) at 28 weeks, seven В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:221–226 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.233) Original Research Article (a) (b) (c) Figure 1  (a) Distribution of the neonates in the study according to birthweight. (b) Frequency of RDS among the neonates. (c) The symptomatic presentation of the neonates in the study. (14%) at 29 weeks, five (10%) at 30 weeks, six (12%) at 31 weeks, three (6%) at 32 weeks, two (4%) at 33 weeks and one (2%) at 34 weeks. The number of patients with RDS showed a negative correlation with gestational age. The association of RDS with gestational age was statistically significant (P < 0.005) with a correlation co-efficient (r) of –0.86 (Figure 2). Birthweight and respiratory distress syndrome Among the infants with RDS, birthweight was < 1000 g in 11 (22%), 1001–1500 g in 15 (30%), 1501–2000 g in 12 (24%), 2001–2500 g in nine (18%) and > 2500 3g in three (6%). Increasing birthweight was found to be inversely correlated with RDS frequency, indicating a higher risk for RDS in early preterm infants. The correlation was statistically significant (P < 0.05; r = – 0.98) (Figure 2). Discussion Neonatal morbidity is an issue of prime importance in the underdeveloped and developing countries. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Many infant deaths may be attributed to pulmonary diseases such as pneumonia and asphyxia, or other congenital anomalies.11 A few studies in Pakistani populations9,10 have reported the high incidence of RDS, but it is necessary to look to studies conducted in other populations for a guide to the management of this disorder.12 The present study attempted to quantify the recent RDS frequency in preterm neonates presenting at a local hospital with access to basic paediatric intensive care facilities. A total of 180 preterm neonates were assessed with a mean birth age of 30 ± 0.91 weeks’ gestation, birthweight ranging from 500 to 3000 g and clinical presentation of nasal flaring, tachypnoea, cyanosis and a ground-glass appearance of the lungs after radiological examination. Sex-based differences in the frequency of preterm neonates were observed. Almost twice as many boys (n = 113) as girls were affected (n = 67) and the male to female ratio was 1.68:1. Previous studies have observed a tendency for more males to be born 223 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:221–226 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.233) Original Research Article (a) (b) (c) (d) Figure 2  (a and b) Association of RDS with gestational age. (c and d) Association of RDS with birthweight. prematurely, which may be due to various sex-specific biochemical processes during the later trimesters.13,14 The gestational age of our neonates ranged from 26 to 34 weeks; most were born in week 27, 30 or 33 (14.4%, 15% and 14.4%, respectively). The lowest number were born at 26 weeks’ gestation. The study group included neonates with a range of birthweights and with those weighing 1501–2000 g forming the largest group (24.4%). Infants in the study group presented symptoms of pulmonary discomfort. Some of the notable presentations included nasal flaring (49.4%), tachypnoea (43.3%) and central cyanosis (35%). In 50 infants (27.8%), RDS was confirmed by a groundglass appearance of the lungs on radiography and a bell-shaped chest due to decreased lung volume. The remaining 130 patients (72.2%) also had signs of respiratory distress but chest radiographs were notably different and indicated absence of RDS. The incidence of RDS was therefore found to be 27.8% over a period of 6 months. It is very important to address this alarming number of affected infants 224 as this high incidence of RDS in preterm neonates may contribute dramatically to decreased neonatal survival rate. RDS serves as an additional threat to neonates born at an early gestational age as they have a compromised state of health. However, this number of neonates with RDS could be an overestimate because of the small sample size in this study, which could be evaluated by further studies over a longer time period. The prevalence of RDS among preterm newborns in our study decreased with increasing gestational age, a correlation that that was found to be statistically significant (r = –0.86, P < 0.005). The risk of preterm neonates developing RDS can be predicted from the gestational age, as reported in previous studies.15 This may be useful for risk assessment of RDS in preterm neonates, which may enable physicians to prepare for treatment. In addition, the frequency of RDS was found to increase with decreasing birthweight, highlighting the importance of birthweight for risk assessment of RDS in both preterm and full-term neonates. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:221–226 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.233) Original Research Article The observations of the study were limited because of its limited scope and small sample size. A larger number of neonates with a larger variety of gestational ages and a more precise diagnosis of RDS is required to derive more accurate conclusions. A larger-scale study may be useful in devising a numeric score for the health of a fetus to estimate the chance of preterm parturition and, ultimately, the probability of developing RDS. Additionally, as indicated by some studies,16,17 the health status of the mother should also be utilized as an indicator for the subsequent risk of neonatal RDS. An account of the survival and mortality rates of the affected neonates may also be helpful for postnatal management of the infants. 6 Our observations highlight the significance of gestational age and birthweight in prediction of the incidence of RDS. Infants born prematurely should receive particular attention and an appropriate intensive care and therapeutic protocol should be instituted. The appearance of any of the symptoms of pulmonary discomfort should assist the physician in making the correct diagnosis. If the symptoms are not noted, or the wrong diagnosis is given, the life of the neonate may not be secured. 10 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 References 1 2 3 4 5 Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF. Infant mortality statistics from the 2003 period linked birth/infant death data set. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2006; 54:1–29. Jobe A. Questions about surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Mead Johnson Symp Perinat Dev Med. 1987:43–51. Aly H. Respiratory disorders in the newborn: identification and diagnosis. Pediatr Rev 2004; 25:201–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/pir.25-6-201 Rimensberger PC. Neonatal respiratory failure. Curr Opin Pediatr 2002; 14:315–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00008480-200206000-00006 Engle WA. Surfactant-replacement therapy for respiratory distress in the preterm and term neonate. Pediatrics. 2008; 121:419–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3283 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 15 16 17 Ho JJ, Subramaniam P, Henderson-Smart DJ, Davis PG. Continuous distending pressure for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002; 2:CD002271. Bosma K, Fanelli V, Ranieri VM. Acute respiratory distress syndrome: update on the latest developments in basic and clinical research. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2005; 18:137–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01. aco.0000162831.41097.6b Roberts D, Dalziel S. Antenatal corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006; 3:CD004454. Bhutta ZA, Yusuf K. Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in Karachi: some epidemiological considerations. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 1997; 11:37–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3016.1997.d01-9.x Ghafoor T, Mahmud S, Ali S, Dogar SA. Incidence of respiratory distress syndrome. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2003; 13:271–3. Torpy JM, Lynm C, Glass RM. Premature infants. JAMA 2009; 301:2290. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/ jama.301.21.2290 Rodriguez RJ. Management of respiratory distress syndrome: an update. Respir Care 2003; 48:279–86; discussion 286–7. Jimmy S, Kemiki AD, Vince JD. Neonatal outcome at Modilon Hospital, Madang: a 5-year review. P N G Med J 2003; 46:8–15. Zeitlin J, Saurel-Cubizolles MJ, De Mouzon J, et al. Fetal sex and preterm birth: are males at greater risk? Hum Reprod 2002; 17:2762–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hemrep/17.10.2762 McElrath TF, Colon I, Hecht J, Tanasijevic MJ, Norwitz ER. Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome as a function of gestational age and an assay for surfactant to albumin ratio. Obstet Gynecol 2004; 103:463–8. http://dx.doi.org/101097/01.AOG.0000113622.82144.73 Brownfoot FC, Crowther CA, Middleton P. Different corticosteroids and regimens for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; 4:CD006764. Nayeri F, Movaghar-Nezhad K, Assar-Zadegan F. Effects of antenatal steroids on the incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome in an Iranian hospital. East Mediterr Health J 2005; 11:716–22. 225 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251)   Original Research Article Respiratory diseases burden in the United Arab Emirates Bassam H Mahboub,1,2 Seemin Afshan Shiraz,3 Amna Hassan,4 Arif Noor Mohammad,3 Muzaffar Iqbal,5 Mayank Vats,6 Jamal Abdul Razak,6 Bassel Safareni,6 Ashraf al Zaabi7 and Mohamad Al Sairi7 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 2Department of Respiratory, Sleep and Allergy, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 3Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 4Medicine, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 5Lahore, Pakistan, 6Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rashid Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and 7Respiratory Division, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 1 Abstract Respiratory diseases affect individuals worldwide and United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception. The burden of respiratory diseases is varied, and over the past two decades several studies have been carried out across UAE to estimate the load of respiratory diseases in the area and compare this with the international respiratory disease burden. The purpose of the present study was to compile the results of studies conducted in UAE in order to obtain an overview of the situation in this area. Comparison of the respiratory disease status in UAE and internationally will improve our knowledge about the situation, which will help us to implement strategies for improved respiratory care and respiratory disease outcome at a reasonable cost. Introduction Respiratory diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no exception to this global phenomenon. The spectrum and the burden of respiratory diseases vary throughout the UAE. Asthma, respiratory infections, sleep disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in decreasing order of prevalence, are all underdiagnosed but remain the most important respiratory problems. In a recent study1 that investigated the prevalence of asthma and its determinants in the UAE [based on the European Community Respiratory Health Survey1 Correspondence: Dr Seemin Afshan Shiraz, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences (ECRHS)], it was found that 15.4% of participants [95% confidence interval (CI) 13.5–17.5%] fulfilled the UAE screening criteria for asthma, while 12.1% of participants (95% CI 10.4–14.1%) fulfilled the ECRHS asthma definition criteria. Of these patients, 9.8% (95% CI 7.8–12.2%) overall (8.6% of male and 11.8% of female patients) were aged 20–44 years. Certain specific persistent environmental factors, along with non-adherence to the controller medicines, lead to uncontrolled asthma with consequential exacerbations, morbidity and increased healthcare costs in the UAE.2 In a large, randomized, age-stratified cohort study of adolescent school children and their caretakers, allergic rhinitis and asthma comorbidity was monitored and multinomial regression was used to determine independent risk factors.3 A total of 6543 subjects were included in the study [median age 30 years (range 8–93 years) 52% males]. The standardized prevalence of concomitant asthma and allergic rhinitis was 7.3%. Subjects with allergic rhinitis had a 3-fold increased risk of also suffering from asthma compared with subjects without allergic rhinitis (23.8% and 7.5%, respectively). Subjects who had immigrated to the UAE had a significantly lower prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis comorbidity [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.53; 95% CI 0.33–0.85] than UAE nationals whereas higher age was associated with a lower risk (adjusted OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.44–0.78). 227 227 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251) Original Research Article A family history of both allergic rhinitis (adjusted OR 3.03; 95% CI 2.31–3.98) and asthma (adjusted OR 4.65; 95% CI 3.53–6.12) was strongly associated with the co-occurrence of these two conditions, whereas gender and education were not. Patients with both asthma and allergic rhinitis displayed more severe symptoms than patients with asthma alone: 65% of patients with both conditions complained of a dry cough at night as opposed to only 36% with asthma alone; beta-mimetics were used by 42% of patients with both conditions compared with 30% of asthma suffers; and steroids were used by 25% of patients with both conditions compared with 13% of patients with asthma only. In another community-based face-to-face survey4 of asthma control carried out in 2009, 64% of 200 asthmatic subjects experienced sudden and severe asthma attacks in the course of a year. Day-time symptoms and night-time symptoms were reported by 57.5% and 35.5%, respectively, over a 1-week period. Overall, 52.8% of children missed school and 17.1% of adults missed work during 2009, 27.5% had visited the emergency room and 4% were hospitalized. Only 5.5% used inhaled corticosteroids during the year, and 47.5% had been prescribed short-acting b2-agonists. Only 17.8% had ever owned a peak flowmeter and only 30% had ever undergone a lung function test. Only 17% were given scheduled follow-up sessions and 66% of these patients were followed up by general practitioners.4 This survey shows that the level of asthma control in the UAE is far from optimal and it is therefore necessary to increase the awareness among patients and update doctors about asthma control guidelines, thus reducing the burden of the disease. To estimate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Al-Ain city, a validated and self-administered questionnaire, modified from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood study, was used to collect data from a two-stage randomly selected sample of 10 000 school children.5 Overall, 7550 subjects (all aged 13 years and above and the participants included siblings and parents) responded. The crude and standardized prevalence of allergic rhinitis over the previous 12 months was assessed, as was the independent relationship of allergic rhinitis with age, gender, education, nationality and family history, by means of logistic regression. The response rate was 76% and a total of 6543 subjects (with a median age of 30 years) were included in the final analysis. Allergic rhinitis (defined as having suffered symptoms in the 228 past 12 months) was self-reported by 36% of subjects, while adjustments for gender and age yielded a prevalence of 32%. Regression analysis revealed that allergic rhinitis was independently associated with family history, Arab origin, younger age, being female and higher education. The relatively high prevalence of allergic rhinitis found in this study was attributed to modernization (e.g. adoption of a sterile, urban lifestyle and less exposure to infectious agents) and genetic factors. The Asthma Insights and Reality in the Gulf and Near-East survey was carried out in five countries – Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and the UAE – involving a total of 1000 patients with asthma.6 The authors reported several striking findings; for example, 68% of respondents had experienced daytime asthma symptoms and 51% had been woken by asthma in the preceding 4 weeks. Use of health services in the previous 12 months was high, with 52% having attended the emergency department and 23% having been hospitalized. Overall, 52% of children and 30% of adults missed school or work because of asthma; the highest rate of school absence was observed in Jordan and Lebanon (both 69%), and the highest rate of absence from work among adults was also in Jordan (46%). The use of peak flowmeters was very low, with only 17% of participants owning a device. Overall, 66% of participants had never undergone a lung function test. Another study determined a prevalence of self-reported asthma of 13% in the UAE.7 Direct standardization of this result with the UAE population as a reference yielded an asthma prevalence of 12% in the UAE. Logistic regression revealed the main risk factors for asthma to be a family history of the condition and UAE nationality (about 50% of UAE nationals were of Bedouin origin). In addition, a significant (P = 0.001) interaction was observed between gender and age: in the group aged 13–19 years, asthma prevalence was significantly higher in males than in females (17% and 14%, respectively; adjusted OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.10–1.90) whereas, among those > 19 years, prevalence was significantly lower in males than in females (11% and 13%, respectively; adjusted OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.60–0.95). A recent study8 revealed COPD prevalence to be approximately 3.7% among 40- to 80-year-old Emirati nationals, which makes the UAE as a low-prevalence country for COPD; however, one of the limitations В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251) Original Research Article of the study was that it was carried out in an Emirati population only, who make up just 20% of the total UAE population of 6 million people. The prevalence of smoking in the UAE is approximately 24%,9 which will increase the prevalence of COPD in the future. If patients of all nationalities were to be included in the evaluation of COPD prevalence, then the values for smoking and COPD prevalence would be relatively high. Smoking A 2009 federal law on tobacco control in the UAE forbids smoking (including using a Midwakh and shisha) in public places; however, despite this, smoking continues to represent a significant health hazard to the UAE society in general, as there are a large number of active or passive smokers, which reflects the failure to properly implement the law. It is important to note that prevalence of tobacco smoking in the UAE is lower than in many other countries in the Middle East;10 however, it is common among young Emiratis, which will inevitably lead to an increase in smoking-related comorbidities in the decades to come. Smoking is still uncommon among Arab women,11 with only 1.72% of adult females smoking, compared with 18.7% of adult males in 2009 (according to the World Bank report published in 2010).12 According to the Dubai Household Health Survey (DHHS),13 which reported on a sample size of 5000 households, making this the largest and most comprehensive survey ever carried out on health and healthcare issues in the Emirate of Dubai, the prevalence of smoking among Dubai residents is 17.2%, and men are five times more likely to smoke than women. The survey also showed that one-third of the Dubai population is exposed to the risk of smoking, either directly or as passive smokers. The DHHS showed that people in the lowest income quintile and the lowest educational level are approximately twice as likely to smoke as people in the highest income quintile and the highest educational level. Some men start to smoke as young as 10 years and women at the age of 13, with 13% of smokers in Dubai having started before they complete secondary school. Amongst Emirati men in Dubai who smoke, one in every five had started smoking by the time they completed secondary school. The prevalence of smoking in the 18–24 years age group is 16.2% although overall smoking prevalence among UAE В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences nationals is only 8.6%, which is significantly lower than any other nationality.13 Most male smokers in Dubai smoke on a daily basis (18.1%), and only 3% smoke occasionally. Only 3% of female smokers in Dubai smoke on a daily basis and 1% smoke occasionally. Approximately 17% of non-smoking Dubai residents are exposed to passive smoking in their own homes and men are as twice as likely to be exposed (19.8%) as women (9.1%). Approximately 62% of non-smoking Dubai residents are exposed to passive smoking at work and men are reported to be three times more likely to be exposed to passive smoking than women.13 The Weqaya population-based screening programme in Abu Dhabi9 screened 170 430 UAE nationals between 2008 and 2010 and found that the prevalence of smoking was over 24% among males and only 1% among females. The prevalence varied considerably by age and was highest in males aged 20–29 years (27.4%) and 30–39 years (28.2%). This screening programme showed that cigarettes remain the preferred method of smoking: 78% of smokers use cigarettes while 15% use a Midwakh and 6.8% prefer to use a shisha, although shisha smoking has increased over the past 30 years.14 Furthermore, smoking a Midwakh is cheaper than cigarettes as a week’s supply of Dokha for an average smoker costs US$3 compared with US$21 for the average cigarette tobacco. Although shops are required to check the buyer’s age before selling cigarettes, this is not always practised for the sale of Dokha.15 Despite this, the prevalence of smoking in the UAE is still lower than in many other countries.10 A study conducted by the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) in government and private schools suggested that 25% of students had tried smoking before the age of 10 years.16 The study concluded that the home environment, i.e. exposure to smoke and the smoking habits of their parental role models, contributes to youngsters taking up smoking early in life.16 Another study carried out by HAAD in 194 schools in 2005 and in 52 schools in 2010 revealed that 48.3% of smoking students were Emiratis and 51.7% were expatriates; 15.7% of the students started smoking before the age of 12 years and 67% between 13 and 15 years of age. Approximately 21% of the students had parents who smoked at home.16 229 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251) Original Research Article Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is another challenging public health concern and is the most prevalent infectious disease, with over one-third of the world’s population infected with latent TB. According to WHO, the incidence of TB in the UAE was 3.1% per 100 000 people in 2010.17,18 Fortunately, the rates of TB in the UAE are low compared with other countries; however, the main challenge is to monitor the majority of workers coming from countries with a high prevalence of TB, such as in Asia and Africa. Health Authority Abu Dhabi statistics show that newcomers to the country have a 20-fold higher TB rate than UAE nationals, which is a huge risk to the resident and national population. There has been a sharp increase in the number of would-be migrants who are suffering from TB. Studies conducted by HAAD16 suggested the increase was consistent with findings from WHO in which an increase in the number of drug-resistant TB cases in Asia was reported. According to the Dubai Health Authority, and supported by findings form HAAD, a sharp increase in the prevalence of TB has been reported over the past 4 years among those applying for work and residency visas within the UAE. There were 122 cases of TB detected in 2008, which increased during 2009 and increased further during 2010 to 722 cases. During the initial 3 months of 2011, there were 606 reported TB cases.19 According to HAAD statistics,16,20 there were 450 cases of pulmonary TB and 175 cases of extrapulmonary TB registered in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi during 2010. A study carried out in Al-Qasimi Hospital between 2004 and 2008 found a high level of resistance to anti-TB drugs, with 21% of patients being resistant to isoniazid and 14% to streptomycin.21 Another study on all pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB patients with positive culture results was conducted between January 2001 and December 2008 in Abu Dhabi and reported that resistance to anti-TB drugs, such as isoniazid and pyrazinamide, was as high as 27.7%.22 A 2010 study conducted by HAAD23 summarized the risk of TB among 948 504 Abu Dhabi residents: 14% of the 1558 people who had TB were found to have a positive interferon-gamma release assay result, indicating that they carry a latent form of TB that may 230 reactivate at any time. In addition, 9% had a positive response to the tuberculin skin test. These results showed that there is a potential risk of activation of TB in some individuals, with consequent spread of TB to the community. Pneumonia Pneumonia is a health problem that mainly affects children under the age of 5 years and adults over 65 years. Figures from WHO show that 5% of deaths among children under the age of 5 years in the UAE are caused by pneumonia. A study carried out at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City found that the prevalence of pneumococcal disease among children was far higher in the UAE than in the West before the introduction of a vaccine against seven strains of the pneumococcal bacteria in the UAE that can lead to pneumonia.24 The incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease and non-invasive pneumococcal disease is 13.6/100 000 per year (95% CI 6.5–24.9) and 172.5/100 000 per year (95% CI 143.8–205.2), respectively. The total incidence of pneumonia in the UAE is 186.0/100 000 per year (95% CI 156.2–219.9). For comparison, in North America, the reported annual incidence of pneumonia is 72 per 100 000 in southern California and 11.8–16.1 in Canada.25,26 In Europe, the annual incidence per 100 000 is 42.1 in Great Britain, 24.2 in Finland and 10.1 in Germany,27–29 while the incidence in Australia is 12.7/100 000.30 In Saudi Arabia, the reported incidence of pneumonia is 3.4–53.5 per 100 000 per year.31 Obesity Obesity is becoming a major medical concern in several parts of the world, with huge economic impacts on healthcare system, mainly as a result of the associate in increased cardiovascular risks. In addition, obesity leads to a number of sleep disorders and interrupted breathing patterns such as obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome, which leads to increased morbidity and, as a result, reduced quality of life. A study carried out at Rashid Hospital, UAE, using the Berlin Questionnaire, found that 15% of the residents in Dubai experience sleep disorders, which is lower than the average number of residents in the USA and the UK where a quarter of the population typically В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251) Original Research Article experience such problems.32 In a country such as the UAE, where nearly two in five women, and more than a quarter of men, are obese, this is a major problem. 11 12 Conclusion Respiratory diseases are a major health concern in the UAE. Demographic data suggest that social and cultural norms will play an important role in formulating strategies for patient education, creating appropriate country-wide health facilities and gaining governmental support in order to improve the health of UAE residents and decrease the future financial burden on healthcare organizations. 13 14 15 References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mahboub BH, Al-Hammadi S, Rafique M, et al. Population prevalence of asthma and its determinants based on European Community Respiratory Health Survey in the United Arab Emirates. BMC Pulm Med 2012; 2:4. Mahboub B, Vats M, Afzal S, Sharif W, Iqbal MN. Environmental Exposure and Nonadherence with Medicines Directly Correlate with Exacerbations and Hospitalization for Asthma: A Population-Based Survey from UAE. International Scholarly Research Network (ISRN) Pulmonology 2012; 2012 http://dx.doi. org/10.5402/2012/831687 Alsowaidi S, Abdulle A, Bernsen R, Zuberbier T. Allergic rhinitis and asthma: a large cross-sectional study in the United Arab Emirates. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2010; 153:274–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000314368 Mahboub BH, Santhakumar S, Soriano JB, Pawankar R. Asthma insights and reality in the United Arab Emirates. Int Arch Allergy Immunology 2010; 153:274–9. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1159/000314368 Alsowaidi S, Abdulle A, Shehab A, Zuberbier T, Bernsen R. Allergic rhinitis: prevalence and possible risk factors in a Gulf Arab population. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2009; 13:1015–22. Khadadah M, Mahboub B, Al-Busaidi NH, Sliman N, Soriano JB, Bahous J. Asthma insights and reality in the Gulf and the near East. Respiration 2010; 79:105–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000219248 Alsowaidi S, Abdulle A, Bernsen R. Prevalence and risk factors of asthma among adolescents and their parents in Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates). J Asthma 2009; 46:175–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02770900802604095 Ashraf Al Zaabi, Faisal Asad, Jassem Abdou, et al. Prevalence of COPD in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Respir Med 2011; 105:566–70. Al-Houqani M, Ali R, Hajat C. Tobacco smoking using Midwakh is an emerging health problem–evidence from a large cross-sectional survey in the United Arab Emirates. PLoS ONE 2012; 7:e39189. Shafey O, Eriksen M, Ross H, Mackay J. The Tobacco Atlas. 3rd edn. American Cancer Society; 2009. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Mandil A, BinSaeed A, Ahmad S, Al-Dabbagh R, Alsaadi M, Khan M. Smoking among university students: a gender analysis. J Infect Public Health 2010; 3:179–87. Trading Economics. Smoking prevalence; males (% of adults) in the United Arab Emirates. URL: http://www. tradingeconomics.com/united-arab-emirates/smokingprevalence-males-percent-of-adults-wb-data.html (accessed July 2013). Dubai Health Authority. Dubai Household Health Survey 2009. 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Gulfnews: Strict TB Check Needed to Keep Disease Away. 2011. URL: http://gulfnews.com/ news/gulf/uae/health/strict-tb-check-needed-to-keepdisease-away-1.837677 (asccessed July 2013). Howidi M, Muhsin H, Rajah J. The burden of pneumococcal disease in children less than 5 years of age in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Ann Saudi Med 2011; 31:356–9. Zangwill KM, Vadheim CM, Vannier AM, Hemenway LS, Greenberg DP, Ward JI. Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in southern California: Implications for design and conduct of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine efficacy trial. J Infect Dis 1996; 174:752–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/174.4.752 231 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:227–232 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.251) Original Research Article 26 27 28 29 232 Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Halperin SA, Kellner JD, Tyrrell G. Invasive pneumococcal infections in Canadian children, 1998–2003: Implications for new vaccine. Can J Public Health 2007; 98:111–15. Ispahani P, Slack RC, Donald FE, Weston VC, Rutter N. Twenty years surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in Nottingham: serogroups responsible and implicated for immunization. Arch Dis Child 2004; 89:757–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.2003.036921 Eskola J, Takala AK, Kela E, Pekkanen E. Epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal infections in children in Finland. JAMA 1992; 268:3323–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/ jama.1992.03490230053027 RГјckinger S, von Kries R, Reinert RR, van der Linden M, Siedler A. Childhood invasive pneumococcal disease in Germany between 1997 and 2003: Variability 30 31 32 in incidence and serotype distribution in absence of general pneumococcal conjugate vaccination. Vaccine 2008; 26:3984–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j. vaccine.2008.04.031 Liddle JL, McIntyre PB, Davis CW. Incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in Sydney children 1991–96. 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Int J Gen Med 2013; 6:109–14. http://dx.doi. org/10.2147.IJGM.S4.0001 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248)   Original Research Article A study in pleiotropy – Jalili syndrome Pratibha Nair,1 Tasneem Obeid,1 Ghazi Omar Tadmouri,1,2 Najib Al-Khaja1 and Ismail K Jalili3 Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2Faculty of Public Health, Jinan University of Lebanon, Tripoli, Lebanon, and 3Stamford, UK 1 Abstract Jalili syndrome, first described 25 years ago in a Palestinian family, is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that is characterized by the comorbid appearance of cone–rod dystrophy (CRD) and amelogenesis imperfecta. To date, 71 patients with this condition belonging to 17 different families have been reported worldwide. Studies into the molecular aetiology of Jalili syndrome have identified mutations in the CNNM4 gene, located on chromosome 2q11. Other members of this protein family have been shown to be involved in mineral transport. We postulate a role for the CNNM4 protein in metal ion transport and homeostasis and especially in the transport of magnesium ions. Mutations in the gene could interfere with the depolarization process of retinal cells, as well as in the dental biomineralization process. We also show that mutations localized to the transmembrane domain of this protein result in more severe phenotypes of the syndrome, indicating an important function for this domain, probably as a transmembrane channel for metal transport. Jalili syndrome offers an example of how a single mutation in a gene is capable of affecting two independent traits by causing a defect in a single protein that carries out essentially the same function in two different tissue types. Given that 274 inherited disorders, almost exclusively reported in Arab families, have no defined genetic aetiologies as yet, and with the increasing trend of genome-wide association studies in the region, it is highly plausible that more conditions will be assumed to be manifestations of pleiotropy. Introduction Cone–rod dystrophy (CRD) refers to a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of retinal disorders in which the cone photoreceptors are initially, and primarily, affected by a progressive and degenerative process. This is followed by the degeneration of the rod photoreceptors; however, simultaneous Correspondence: Ghazi Omar Tadmouri, Centre for Arab Genomic Studies, 22252 Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Faculty of Public Health, Jinan University of Lebanon, Tripoli, Lebanon. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences degeneration of both types of photoreceptors can occur. Clinically, CRD is characterized by a progressive loss of vision, photoaversion (photophobia) and achromatopsia, but it can also present as nystagmus and visual impairment. Cone dysfunction is followed by the loss of photopic function during electrodiagnostic tests and various degrees of abnormalities in the scotopic responses, which is commonly known as night blindness. The loss of central vision in those suffering from CRD is progressive, with an eventual loss of peripheral visual fields and total blindness. The severity and rapidity of the loss of vision with CRD is worse than in rod–cone dystrophy (RCD) and is commonly referred to as retinitis pigmentosa (RP).1 CRD occurs in both non-syndromic and syndromic forms. At least 15 subtypes of non-syndromic CRD are currently recognized, each with a distinct genetic locus. X-linked forms of CRD include CORDX1 [Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 304020], CORDX2 (OMIM: 300085) and CORDX3 (OMIM: 300476). Autosomal forms of CRD are more common and include dominant forms such as CORD2 (OMIM: 120970), CORD6 (OMIM: 601777), CORD7 (OMIM: 603649) and CORD14 (OMIM: 602093), and recessive forms such as CORD3 (OMIM: 604116), CORD5 (OMIM: 600977), CORD8 (OMIM: 605549) and CORD9 (OMIM: 612775). These loci contain genes that code for a diverse range of proteins that play an important role either in the visual cycle, including forming structural components of photoreceptors and acting as photoreceptor-specific transcription factors, or in ocular neuronal development. Many of these genes are also involved in RCD, macular 233 233 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article dystrophies and cone dystrophies.1 Syndromic CRD has been increasingly reported.2 Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is another group of heterogeneous disorders; however, this relates to dental development. All AI cases are characterized by abnormal structure and/or clinical appearance of the tooth enamel, which is seen in both primary and secondary dentitions. Neglect results in various degrees of decay with the eventual loss of teeth. Based on the histological and morphological changes in enamel, two forms of AI exist, a hypoplastic form and a hypomineralized form; however, these types may overlap.3 Genetically, all except one form of non-syndromic AI are transmitted autosomally; the one exception, AI1E (OMIM: 301200), is an X-linked form. Autosomal dominant forms of AI are predominantly hypoplastic and include AI1B (OMIM: 104500), AI3 (OMIM: 130900) and AI4 (OMIM: 104510). The autosomal recessive forms of AI are seen predominantly in countries with high rates of consanguinity or with a high frequency of the mutated gene within the population.4,5 These include AI1C (OMIM: 204650), AI2A1 (OMIM: 204700) and AI2A2 (OMIM: 612529). The genes at the abovementioned loci are all involved in the process of highly mineralized dental enamel formation.6 AI can also present alongside other syndromes, such as enamel renal syndrome, Kohlschutter–Tonz syndrome and trichodento-osseous syndrome. This article reviews the rare Jalili syndrome (OMIM: 217080), which is characterized by the co-occurrence of CRD with AI, and highlights the contribution of Arab scientists in the identification of rare and novel genetic disorders. Historical background The appearance of CRD and AI as comorbidities in the same individual was named Jalili syndrome in honour of Ismail Jalili, an ophthalmologist of Iraqi origin who first reported the condition in 29 members of an extended Arab family from the Gaza Strip (the Jalili A subjects).7 These patients, identified during blind school surveys, presented with photophobia, nystagmus and achromatopsia, and all dentate members showed abnormal teeth, with either a complete absence of enamel or gross hypoplasticity. The affected family had a very high rate of consanguinity, with 91% of marriages being between cousins.8 This high level of consanguinity pointed towards an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. In the 20 years since the identification of Jalili syndrome, families affected with this rare syndrome have been found in several ethnically diverse populations. Jalili reported on another affected family from Gaza City (the Jalili B subjects) as well as a singleton from another family in the Gaza Strip (the Jalili C subject).9 Interestingly, several other cases from the Jalili A family are known to reside in some oil-producing countries. In addition to the published cases, a further six patients with Jalili syndrome have been identified from four families. One is a Caucasian child, while all of the others are of Middle Eastern or North African origin (Professor Chris Inglehearn, St. James's University Hospital, 2012, personal communication). Over 71 patients, including the unreported cases, have been recognized to be suffering from Jalili syndrome to date and these patients belong to approximately 38 sibships (Figure 1 and Table 1). In most cases of Jalili syndrome, it is the ocular phenotype that is most prominent and is the first anomaly observed. In a recent study of a family with achromatopsia, the presence of Jalili syndrome was initially suggested by the results of molecular analysis testing, prompting the researchers to look for a corresponding dental phenotype, which they then found.10 Figure 1  Graphical representation of the cyclin M4 (CNNM4) protein domains (coloured boxes), polymorphisms (labelled in blue) and disease-causing mutations (labelled in red) that were discovered in those members of a family suffering from Jalili syndrome. The mutation data are adapted from Table 1. Polymorphism and protein domain data are from Swiss-Prot (www.uniprot.org), PhosphoSitePlus (www.phosphosite.org), and InterPro (www.ebi.ac.uk/interpro/) databases. CBS, cystathionine beta-synthase domain; cNMP, cyclic nucleotide monophosphate domain; DUF21, domain of unknown function; TM, transmembrane helix. 234 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article Clinical heterogeneity Wide intrafamilial and interfamilial phenotypic variability is noted in the families affected by Jalili syndrome. On the basis of retinal morphology, Jalili distinguished two phenotypes: one with early-onset macular dystrophy (type A) and a second with no morphological evidence of macular involvement (type B).9 Macular lesions ranged from an early bull’s eye and/or chorioretinal excavation to large-scale excavation of the macula and posterior staphyloma (coloboma). As the disease advances, the peripheral retina becomes more involved with eventual contraction of the peripheral fields and ultimately total blindness. This creates a very similar presentation to classical RP, including the development of cataracts in some patients. The tendency for wide heterogeneity in the retinal phenotype has been explained by the embryological origin of the retina, which develops from the part of the brain that exhibits variable expression, as well as variable levels of disease susceptibility, second site modifiers and epigenetics. This may also explain the absence of such phenotypical variability of dental forms of the disease.9 Molecular genetics Cone–rod dystrophy and AI seem to be distinct entities that affect two entirely different tissues, and their co-occurrence could be due either to chance alone or to a tight linkage between the individual genes concerned. However, the fact that this comorbidity has been observed in a large number of individuals in the present study, and within several different families, shifts the balance from a random association, or strong linkage, to a single underlying factor. The first clue in identifying the molecular pathology of Jalili syndrome was reported by Downey et al.,11 who studied the two main families previously mentioned (Jalili A subjects and Jalili B subjects).7,9 This study utilized linkage analysis to pinpoint the locus to a 5-Mb region on chromosome 2q11. However, the strongest contender for a putative gene at this location, the CNGA3 gene, which codes for a part of the ion channels in photoreceptor cells, was found to not contain any pathogenic mutations in these families;11 similar results were obtained from an affected Kosovan family.12 The gene responsible for Jalili syndrome was discovered simultaneously by two groups working independently on families with В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences both CRD and AI. In one of these studies, six patients belonging to three different families were screened for putative genes in the identified locus at 2q11. Sequencing of these genes led to the identification of mutations in the cyclin M4 (CNNM4) gene, which appeared to be the cause of the disorder.13 The other study utilized a much larger patient population, including the previously described families from Palestine (Jalili A subjects and Jalili B subjects) and Kosovo as well as other newly identified families from Guatemala, Turkey, Iran and Scotland, and arrived at the same conclusion.14 The CNNM4 gene codes for a protein that belongs to the ancient conserved domain protein (ACDP) family. This family of proteins is characterized by the presence of a highly conserved region found in evolutionarily divergent species from bacteria to mammals. Additionally, all four proteins in this family contain a 31-residue cyclin box motif, a cyclic nucleotide monophosphate (cNMP)-binding domain and two cystathionine beta-synthase domains.15 In addition, the CNNM4 protein contains four transmembrane helices, which suggests plasma membrane localization, and a domain of unknown function 21.14 At least two other members of this family have been shown to be involved in mineral transport: cyclin M1, which functions as a cytosolic copper chaperone,16 and cyclin M2, which has a role in the transport of magnesium.17 It is, therefore, possible to visualize a role for CNNM4 in metal ion transport and homeostasis, especially in the transport of magnesium ions. Further support for this hypothesis comes from the known interaction of CNNM4 with COX11, an intracellular metal ion chaperone.18 So far, 12 different mutations have been identified in the CNNM4 gene in 13 families worldwide (Table 1). As expected, in all affected individuals with a history of parental consanguinity, the mutations were homozygous, whereas patients belonging to the non-consanguineous families (the Guatemalan and Scottish cases) carried heterozygous mutations (Table 1).13,14 More recently, Zobor et al.19 identified the same mutation in all patients with Jalili syndrome from Kosovo, indicating the possibility of a founder mutation in this population. The families from the Gaza Strip carried two different mutations, each in homozygous form. Interestingly, these two mutations were found to exhibit considerably variant phenotypic effects. The c.599C > A (p.Ser200Tyr) mutation, in the homozygous 235 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article Table 1  Clinical and genetic features of patients reported with Jalili syndrome a Origin (family code) Number of patients Sibships Age/age range Male– female ratio Consanguinity Mutation 1/mutation 2 Protein change Gaza (Jalili A)c 36 20 3 months– 50 years 20:16 Gaza (Jalili B) 3 1 Gaza (Jalili C) 1 Lebanon (Polok B) Yes c.599C > A/c.599C > A p.Ser200Tyr 5, 6 and 10 years 1:2 Yes c.1813C > T/c.1813C > T p.Arg605X 1 17 years 1:0 Yes Was not tested – 3 2 2 years 1:0 Yes c.707G > A/c.707G > A p.R236Q Kosovo (Michaleides UK) 2 1 7 and 14 years 2:0 No c.1312dupC/c.1312dupC p.Leu438ProfsX9 Kosovo (Polok A) 2 1 7 and 14 years 0:2 No c.1312dupC/c.1312dupC p.Leu438ProfsX9 Kosovof 1 1 9 years 1:0 No c.1312dupC/c.1312dupC p.Leu438ProfsX9 Unknown (Polok C) 1 1 38 years 0:1 No c.971T > C/c.971T > C p.Leu324Pro Turkey 2 1 5 and 6 years 0:2 Yes c.586T > C/c.586T > C p.Ser196Pro Iran 4 2 NA 2:2 Yes Guatemala 5 1 NA 5:0 No Scotland 1 1 NA 1: 0 No Newfoundland 4 1 47–54 years 1:3 Yes c.1?_1403+?del/ NA c.1?_1403+?del c.2149C > T/c.62_145 del p.Gln717X/p. Leu21HisfsX185 c.971T > C/c.1690C > T p.Leu324Pro/p. Gln564X c.1555C > T p.R519X Unpublished 6 4 – – – One compound heterozygous for a new mutations, the remainder are homozygous for new/known mutations Clinical presentation at onset as described by either the family or medical personnel. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO) categorization.21 b c Probable Saudi Arabian origin. Includes 30 examined patients, one screened but declined full examination and five cases lived abroad: two in Saudi Arabia, two in Algeria and one in Libya (correct in September 1987). Visual impairment was present but visual acuity was unreported. d Based on comment by the author of close resemblance to family Kosova A. e f These patients were associated with neurofibromatosis of two separate alleles and Lisch nodules were present on both irises. CBS, cystathionine beta-synthase domain; cNMP, cyclic nucleotide monophosphate; DUF21, domain of unknown function; NA, not available; TM1, transmembrane domain 1; TM2, transmembrane domain 2. 236 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article Visual acuityb Night Macular Refraction blindness Photophobia phenotype Macular degeneration Photophobia, nystagmus and visual impairment cNMP-binding Teeth anomalies and domain visual impairment NA NA 1–5 Low myopia No to high hyperopia +5.00 No Yes Maculopathy Bull’s eye to excavation Yes +3.00 average No Yes DUF21 Visual High impairmentd hyperopiae Yes Yes 3 Yes Yes Yes Yes Low myopia No Yes Low myopia Yes Yes Maculopathy TM2 Photophobia, 4 nystagmus and visual impairment Photophobia and night 4 blindness at 2 years and nystagmus at 2 months NA NA Normal macular Normal morphology morphology Maculopathy Posterior staphyloma (coloboma) Maculopathy e Atrophic macular degeneration with pigment mottling Maculopathy Yes, macular pigment mottling and atrophy Maculopathy Atrophic macular degeneration with pigment mottling Maculopathy Bull’s eye NA NA NA 14 – NA NA NA NA NA Normal macular Normal morphology morphology NA NA –/TM1 NA NA NA NA NA NA 14 DUF21/- NA NA NA NA NA 14 Myopia NA NA Normal macular Normal morphology morphology Maculopathy NA – – – Professor Chris Inglehearn, St. James's University Hospital, 2012, personal communication Affected domain Presentationa TM2 CBS domain CBS domain CBS domain DUF21 Photophobia, night blindness and nystagmus at 2 years. Photophobia, nystagmus and teeth anomalies Photophobia and nystagmus 2–3 4 3–4 Between CBS Nystagmus and severe 2–3 and cyclin box enamel dysplasia domains Moderate to high hyperopia High hyperopia В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Bull’s eye NA – References 7, 9, 14 9, 14 9, 20 13 12, 14 13 19 13 14 10 237 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article form, was found to be associated with a severe infancy-onset form of the syndrome with progressive macular lesions, while the c.1813C > T (p.Arg605X) mutation was associated with a relatively less severe form of childhood onset with normal fundi.9 The former mutation has been found to affect one of the transmembrane domains in the ACDP family, while the latter inserted a stop mutation in the cNMP-binding domain.14 These observations prompt us to suggest that the transmembrane helix domains within the protein have an important functional role to play, which may be associated with the formation of transmembrane ion channels facilitating transport of metal ions. This hypothesis is strengthened by the observation that other patients with mutations in the transmembrane domains also show a more severe form of the syndrome (Table 1). Jalili9 suggested the possibility that high fluoride levels in the groundwater of the Gaza Strip, as well as in the regions where the reported cases of Jalili syndrome originated, may have a role to play in establishing the original mutation. There is some evidence to suggest genotoxic effects from long-term exposure to fluoride in drinking water.22 It is possible that this high fluoride level in the groundwater, together with increased water intake in hot climates and low calcium intake due to malnutrition, could have triggered the mutagenesis in the index cases. Spread of this mutation resulted in a proportionally higher number of patients in an extended family suffering from Jalili syndrome and can be attributed to the high level of consanguinity and the high fertility rate in the population. The rate of consanguinity in the extended Jalili A family was 91% and is very similar to the consanguinity rate of 92% among parents of Palestinian Arabs suffering from autosomal recessive genetic disorders.23 The remainder of families reported with Jalili syndrome can also be traced back to regions recognized for their high fluoride levels in groundwater or from neighbouring regions.24,25 This hypothesis calls for further investigations including analysing the effects of other water contaminants. One protein, many functions Pleiotropy, a term coined by the German geneticist Ludwig Plate,26 is the phenomenon whereby a single gene affects two or more apparently unrelated phenotypic traits. A stricter definition involves a mutation in the gene affecting two or more wild-type traits. The phenomenon has been discussed in genetic 238 circles since Mendelian times; however, support for the importance of this phenomenon was dealt a blow by the popularity of the one gene–one enzyme hypothesis during the previous century. It was only with the advent of the вЂ�molecular age’ that pleiotropic effects were understood more clearly, resulting in the current recognition of pleiotropy in higher organisms as the rule, rather than the exception.27 Jalili syndrome offers an example of how a single mutation in a gene is capable of affecting two independent traits by causing a defect in a single protein that carries out essentially the same function in two different tissue types. The importance of metal ions in the depolarization of the retinal cells is well understood. The CNNM4 protein may be playing a key role in the maintenance of this state through transport of magnesium ions, which act as cofactors for several enzymes involved in the retinal transduction process; however, during development of the dentition, the enamel begins with a relatively high concentration of magnesium deposit, which is progressively removed, in order to aid the dental biomineralization process. A failure of removal of these ions could lead to hypomineralized teeth.28 The possible role of CNNM4 in magnesium transport could also explain how mutations in the gene may lead to dental abnormalities. The functional significance of the CNNM4 protein is further supported by histological studies that show the localization of the protein within the retina in the ganglion cell layers, inner and outer plexiform layers, the outer segments of the photoreceptors and in the ameloblasts as well as the odontoblasts of the teeth.13 Interestingly, Zobor et al.19 recently described a Kosovan girl who presented with Jalili syndrome in association with type 1 neurofibromatosis. This can be considered a random association, with mutations in two different genes causing two unrelated conditions; however, although Jalili syndrome is a rare condition, the relatively high frequency of the mutant allele in the Kosovan population could explain this comorbidity. Cases such as this are more likely in populations with high rates of consanguinity, e.g. in Arab countries. Reproductive choices in such populations are biased towards the amplification of rare genetic disorders and there is a heightened tendency for more than one autosomal recessive gene disorder to simultaneously manifest itself. Comorbid conditions are therefore common in this region.29 In fact, the third Palestinian family with the affected singleton (the Jalili C subject), В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:233–240 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.248) Original Research Article described by Jalili9, is also a highly inbred family and has multiple members affected with other genetic conditions, including subnormal intelligence, ptosis and buphthalmos. Jalili syndrome is just one of nearly 1000 genetic conditions that are known to cause various forms of inherited disorders in Arab populations.30 This is in addition to several other new syndromes described among the Palestinian population.31,32 Of these conditions, a large majority of the 735 known genetic disorders are associated with well-documented gene pathologies, and include 71 disorders that have been clinically and genetically characterized in the last 12 years for the first time in Arab families.33 Several clinical conditions, other than Jalili syndrome, have been described in Arab populations in the last two decades under the influence of genetic pleiotropic events, including achalasia–addisonianism–alacrimia syndrome (triple-A or Allgrove syndrome); Bartter syndrome with sensorineural deafness; branchiogenic–deafness syndrome; chorioretinal dystrophy, spinocerebellar ataxia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; dysmyelinating leucodystrophy with oligodontia, El-Shanti syndrome; Rambam–Hasharon syndrome, which causes psychomotor retardation with short stature, defective neutrophil motility and Bombay phenotype; and Waardenburg–Hirschsprung disease.34–38 Given that 27439 inherited disorders, almost exclusively reported in Arab families, have no defined genetic aetiologies as yet, and with genome-wide association studies being increasingly carried out in the region, it is highly plausible that more conditions will be assumed to be manifestations of pleiotropy. The benefits that will be gained from such studies are twofold: the confirmation of the role of pleiotropy in the molecular aetiology of clinically complex disorders; therefore, facilitating correct diagnosis, and the perception that pleiotropy has possibly been an important evolutionary component that shaped the extreme variety of genetic conditions observed in the region. References 1 2 3 Hamel CP. Cone rod dystrophies. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2007; 2:7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1750-1172-2-7 Jalili IK. Retinal Ciliopathies: List of Cone–Rod Ciliopathies and Mutations in Jalili Syndrome. 2011. URL: http://jalili. co/crc/crc_t2011.htm (accessed 25 February 2013). Aldred MJ, Savarirayan R, Crawford PJ. Amelogenesis imperfecta: a classification and catalogue for the В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21st century. 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Am J Med Genet 1995; 59:454–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320590411 Bonnet JP, Till M, Edery P, Attie T, Lyonnet S. Waardenburg-Hirschsprung disease in two sisters: a possible clue to the genetics of this association? Eur J Pediatr Surg 1996; 6:245–8. http://dx.doi. org/10.1055/s-2008-1066521 Megarbane A, Rassi S, Chouery E, et al. A new dominant branchiogenic-deafness syndrome with internal auditory canal hypoplasia and abnormal extremities. Am J Med Genet A 2003; 120:276–82. http://dx.doi. org/10.1002/ajmg.a.20077 Teebi AS, Dupuis L, Wherrett D, Khoury A, Zucker KJ. Alopecia congenitauniversalis, microcephaly, cutis marmorata, short stature and XY gonadal dysgenesis: variable expression of El-Shanti syndrome. Eur J Pediatr 2004; 163:170–2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-0031380-y Centre for Arab Genomic Studies. The Catalogue of Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA) Database. 2013. URL: http://www.cags.org.ae/ctga_search.html (accessed 28 June 2013). В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:241–246 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.193)   Case report Birth of a healthy boy after fertilization of a cryopreserved oocyte and testicular spermatozoon followed by preimplantation genetic screening Hena Zaheer, Mohammed Elkalyoubi, Wael Ismail Madkour, Maise Al Adham and Awatif Albahar Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Introduction We report the birth of a healthy male infant from a pregnancy resulting from a thawed from frozen oocyte on which intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed using a thawed from frozen spermatozoon obtained from testicular aspiration. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) was performed on the embryo at the cleavage stage (day 3) to determine the sex. Expressing a preference for a child of a particular sex has existed for years. Greek philosophers and medical workers offered detailed advice on the means to ensure the production of a child of a chosen sex. Aristotle gave advice on positions for sexual intercourse and a desirable diet for the mother whereas Anaxagoras believed that each testicle determined one sex and advocated tying off one testicle before coitus, and Hippocrates deduced that male and female children developed in different parts of the uterus.1 Preimplantation genetic screening for sex selection is an extremely sensitive issue. The application of techniques for sex selection, including the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), creates moral and ethical concerns in the opinion of some, Correspondence: Hena Zaheer, Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, PO Box 8729, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences while the advantages of sensible use of selected technologies is favoured by others. Since PGS is rarely performed in many in vitro fertilization (IVF) centres, no standard treatment protocol has been established, although a number of births have been recorded. Cryopreservation of oocytes combined with ICSI could offer young women undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy a reasonable option to preserve and balance their family.2 Although the cryopreservation of oocytes is ethically more acceptable than the freezing of embryos, variable oocyte survival and pregnancy rates have precluded the application of oocyte cryopreservation in assisted reproductive technology. Cytotoxicity of the cryoprotectants, poor survival, low fertilization rates and high rates of polyploidy3–7 have prevented the widespread use of oocyte cryopreservation, despite reports of healthy and normal babies.3,4,5,8 Resurgence of interest in human oocyte cryopreservation shows that it may be safe in appropriate circumstances and its clinical application has resulted in a number of live births. Development of oocyte cryopreservation is being pursued because embryo cryopreservation is prohibited in some countries, such as Italy and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). More than 1000 babies have been born as a result of preimplantation genetic testing, attesting to the 241 241 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:241–246 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.193) Case report accuracy and safety of the procedure, which as a result has gained a place as a good alterative among the choices offered to couples at risk of transmitting serious and incurable genetic diseases. We report the first case of sex selection of an embryo resulting from a frozen oocyte and a frozen spermatozoon obtained from a testicular sperm aspiration (TESA). PGS was then performed for non-genetic social reasons (sex selection). Case Report A couple visited Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre for their second complaint of infertility over a 5-year period. Mrs X is a 31-year-old woman in whom four natural pregnancies had resulted in three normal deliveries at full term and one, the last, in a spontaneous miscarriage at 6 weeks’ gestation (i.e. P3+1). Over time, Mrs X’s husband developed non-obstructive azoospermia and he has suffered from diabetes for the past 9 years. His hormonal profile was normal and a TESA was performed and the sperm cryopreserved. Testicular sperm freezing was carried out with the use of a HEPES-buffered freezing medium (SpermFreeze Solutionв„ў; Origio MediCult, Jyllinge, Denmark) containing 0.4% (v/v) human serum albumin. After centrifugation of partly disintegrated testicular tissue (2500 g for 10 minutes), the pellet was rinsed with 0.4 ml of universal IVF culture medium, CE marked (Origio MediCult, Jyllinge, Denmark), mixed with SpermFreeze Solutionв„ў in a 1:1 ratio, equilibrated at room temperature for 10 minutes and loaded into vials. The vials were first placed vertically in liquid nitrogen vapour for 15 minutes and then plunged into liquid nitrogen. Mrs X has regular menstrual periods but also a strong family history of diabetes mellitus. Her hormonal profile was within normal limits; however, a scan showed that she had polycystic ovaries. She had a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on a long down-regulation protocol with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) when 35 eggs, 20 metaphase II (MII) mature oocytes, were collected and frozen to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation. Oocyte cryopreservation was conducted by vitrification. The oocytes were vitrified according to the Cryotop method.9,10 Basic solution (BS) was used as a buffer and equilibration solution (ES) was made up of 7.5% (v/v) ethylene glycolВ© (EGВ©) (Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan) and 242 7.5% (v/v) dimethylsulphoxideВ© (DMSOВ©) (Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan). Vitrification solution (VS) was prepared with 15% (v/v) EGВ©, 15% (v/v) DMSOВ© and 0.5 mol/l sucrose. One drop of BS was aligned with three drops of ES and two drops of VS in a small Petri dish and these solutions were then allowed to equilibrate to room temperature (25В°C) for 15 minutes. Oocytes were then placed briefly in the BS drops and a channel was opened with first drop of ES to allow a gradual increase in the cryoprotective concentration and keep the oocytes on the edge of the BS drop for 3 minutes at room temperature. A new channel was then made with next ES drop to transfer the oocytes to the edge of the first ES drop and keep them there for another 3 minutes at room temperature. These oocytes were then transferred to the third ES drop for 9 minutes at room temperature. Oocytes were then transferred to the first drop of VS for 1 minute and then the second VS drop for 30 seconds and subsequently loaded on the flattened tip of the Cryotop with approximately 2 μl of VS. The Cryotop was then immersed directly in liquid nitrogen and stored in the freezing tanks. Two months later, Mrs X had a trial of ICSI of frozen oocytes by spermatozoa obtained from a frozen TESA conducted earlier. At the time of thawing, the vials were removed from liquid nitrogen and rapidly placed in warm water (30В°C). After expulsion from the vials, the thawed samples were washed with universal IVF culture medium, centrifuged at 2500 g twice for 10 minutes each time and the pellet was then resuspended in a small volume of the same universal IVF culture medium, and incubated at 37В°C for 30 minutes before being used for ICSI. Nine oocytes were thawed and the vitrified oocytes were warmed by swiftly immersing the Cryotop in the thawing solutionВ© (Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan) containing 1 mol/l sucrose for 1 minute at 37В°C. The oocytes were then equilibrated in a diluent solutionВ© (Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan) containing 0.5 mol/l sucrose for 3 minutes followed by two 5-minute consecutive flushes in washing solutionВ© (Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd, Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan). These oocytes were then placed in the fertilization medium (William A. Cook Australia Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) and incubated at 37В°C in 6% CO2 air for 2 hours prior to ICSI. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:241–246 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.193) Case report Eight oocytes survived thawing and were injected. All were fertilized and cleaved and PGS was performed for all embryos on day 3. Biopsy medium (William A. Cook Australia Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) was warmed to 37В°C and supplemented with human albumin solution. Numbered drops of biopsy medium were layered in a Petri dish under oil (William A. Cook Australia Pty. Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) and embryos were loaded in to the numbered drops. A hole was made in the zona pellucida of 20 Ојm using laser-assisted hatching. The location of the embryo was such that a nucleated blastomere occurred at the 3 o’clock position. The blastomere was slowly aspirated using aspiration pipettes of 42 Ојm (William A. Cook Australia Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) and then released in to the medium. The biopsied embryos were then washed thoroughly from the biopsy medium and incubated in culture media (William A. Cook Australia Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia) until transfer to the uterus. The blastomere was then spread on frosted slides until it burst and the nucleus became exposed. Fixation of the blastomere was conducted using acetic acid and methanol in a 1:3 ratio. The slides then underwent genetic analysis for sex selection and a single embryo of XY karyotype was transferred in to the uterus. Endometrial preparation was conducted on a down-regulated cycle and Triptorelinв„ў (IPSEN, Boulogne-Billancourt, France) 3.75 mg was given by deep intramuscular injection on the second day of a spontaneous menstrual period. A scan was conducted and a serum estradiol (14 pg/ml) was obtained to confirm downregulation. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was carried out using oral estradiol valerate (2 mg) three times a day for 9 days, after which a scan was performed to assess endometrial thickness, which was found to be 9.5 mm. Progesterone suppositories of 400 mg twice daily were prescribed as a luteal support that was started on the first day of oocyte thawing. Luteal support and HRT was continued until the 12th week of gestation. Mrs X became pregnant, which was confirmed by ascertaining a single intrauterine gestational sac containing a live fetus, and the pregnancy progressed uneventfully until 35 weeks, when preterm rupture of membranes induced the vaginal delivery of a live healthy baby boy weighing 1.9 kg and with no congenital abnormalities. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Discussion Reproductive specialists who provide non-medical sex selection services argue that this technology was initiated and pursued by women and is an expression of reproductive rights as well as a sign of female empowerment. In addition providing for family balancing and fulfilment of culture and religious practice,11 non-medical sex selection allows couples to make informed family planning decisions, prevents unintended pregnancy and abortion, and minimizes intimate partner violence and/or child abuse.12 Opponents question whether women can truly express free choice under family and community pressures,13 and contend that sex selection is incompatible with unconditional parental acceptance of offspring and results in potential distortion of sex ratios11 and sex discrimination.14 In addition, PGD used only for sex selection involves preferential use of embryos and termination of those embryos not chosen, which raises ethical questions regarding abortion. In the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, we consider social sex selection only for family balancing and we have not noticed a persistent preference for a particular sex, or social disagreement or religious conflict. The present study indicates that freezing of either oocytes or spermatozoa can be efficient and can avoid repetitive surgical procedures for future attempts. PGS for sex selection of embryos can be an option for couples, if the law permits. Although Chen8 achieved the first frozen egg pregnancy in 1986, this application was not adopted widely for clinical assistance because survival of oocytes and pregnancy rates were comparatively low. This freezing method was based on a slow cooling and rapid thawing procedure using propanediol and sucrose as cryoprotectants, in line with the conditions originally developed for embryo freezing. Alteration of the ooplasm organelles, owing to the formation of intracellular ice crystals, is one of the main changes inflicted on the oocytes by the freezing process.15 Vitrification was first introduced in order to avoid crystallization damage. Another advantage of this freezing method is that it is very simple and based on direct contact between the vitrification solution containing cryoprotectants and liquid nitrogen.16 Vitrification is an ultra rapid freezing method using high concentration of cryoprotectants (ethylene, glycol and DMSOВ©) and rapid cooling at –1500В°C/ minute, which helps to solidify without crystal formation, which reduces the thermal stress of 243 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:241–246 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.193) Case report oocytes and decreases injury. Borini et al.17 reported pregnancies and births after oocyte cryopreservation in 68 patients. Since then, several other pregnancies have been reported worldwide.18 Cryopreservation of human oocytes is still considered an experimental technique despite improvements achieved over the past few years;19 however, the cryopreservation of spermatozoa is a widely used and efficient technique that can avoid repetition of surgical procedures for future ICSI attempts.20 The safety of cryopreservation has now been established in the human reproductive field. Reports on the survival rates of cryopreserved human oocytes using the PROH–sucrose freezing method are highly variable, ranging from 25% to 95%,21 depending on the individual study. The establishment of successful pregnancies from frozen oocytes is highly dependent on the efficacy in preserving the meiotic spindle or microtubule structures within the oocytes after cryopreservation. There has been a consensus that the microtubules within the mammalian oocyte will depolymerize during freezing and therefore early insemination of thawed from frozen oocytes, before full restoration of meiotic spindle, may compromise fertilization outcome and subsequent embryonic development. An incubation of 4 hours before insemination by ICSI may seem to be an appropriate time to allow for the full recovery of normal spindles in cryopreserved human oocytes.22,23 Furthermore, hardening of zona pellucida due to vitrification can be overcome by ICSI24 and applying ICSI to the thawed human oocytes results in reasonable fertilization and blastocyst rates of 50% and 43% respectively.18 More studies should be carried out to explore the optimal conditions for enhancing the developmental potential of thawed from frozen human oocytes. Also, cryopreservation of human oocytes has a role to play in preserving the fertility of young women undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy and in cases of IVF when a sperm sample cannot be produced. In such cases, the oocytes can be frozen and then thawed at a later date when a sperm sample has been produced. Additionally, cryopreservation of human oocytes may play a role in circumventing ethical and legal issues associated with the established practice of cryopreservation of embryos.8 A number of babies born in the past few years can be attributed to the changes in the IVF laws, such as occurred in Italy and the UAE in 2010. 244 The first birth from human oocyte cryopreservation was reported in 1986.22,23 By 2004, approximately 100 children had been born from human oocyte cryopreservation. Pregnancy rate was low at 1–5% due to low oocyte survival at 25–40%, poor fertilization rate after IVF, the high incidence of polyploidy and poor developmental capacity. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was not different from that associated with fresh oocytes.24 The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) PGD consortium was set up in 1997 and has been collecting data on PGD and PGS. Since 1997, the consortium has analysed 32 838 PGD and PGS cycles for various indications, of which 786 cycles were conducted for social reasons. Kuleshova et al.25 reported the birth of the first child conceived using oocytes stored by vitrification, and this was successfully followed by other studies and reports of a further 10 pregnancies.26,27 Studies on pregnancies from frozen oocytes inseminated with epididymal and testicular28 spermatozoa have been published, and the birth of a child conceived from frozen oocytes and spermatozoa has been reported.29 Larger studies are needed to quote a realistic figure of live birth rates from frozen oocytes. In addition, it is crucial to follow up children conceived from frozen oocytes. In conclusion, this case is the first one of its kind in the Gulf region, even, to our knowledge, in the world where PGS was performed on an embryo obtained from a cryopreserved oocyte and a cryopreserved spermatozoon obtained from testicular aspiration on which PGS was conducted for sex selection. This was conducted for social reasons, balancing the family, which was allowed under UAE law at that time. This case also supports the concept that the developmental competence of the oocyte is not affected by vitrification of the oocyte and its biopsy. Acknowledgement I am extremely grateful to the staff of Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre for their co-operation. Disclosure No author has any potential conflict of interest. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:241–246 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.193) Case report References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Rinehart W. Sex Preselection – Not Yet Practical. Population Reports, series 1(2): Periodic Abstinence 1–12, 1975. Chia CM, Chan WB, Quah E, Cheng LC. Triplod pregnancy after ICSI of frozen testicular spermatozoa into cryopreserved human oocytes. Hum Reprod 2000; 15:1962–4. Al-Hasani S, Diedrich K, van der Ven H, Reinecke A, Hartje M, Krebs D. Cryoperservation of human oocytes. Hum Reprod 1987; 2:695–700. van Uem JF, SiebzehnrГјbl ER, Schuh B, Koch R, Trotnow S, Lang N. Birth after cryopreservation of unfertilized oocytes. Lancet 1987; 1:752–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(87)90398-9 Mandelbaum J, Junca AM, Plachot M, et al. Cryopreservation of human oocytes and embryos. Hum Reprod 1988; 3:117–19. Siebzehnruebl ER, Todorow S, van Uem J, Koch R, Wildt L, Lang N. Cryopreservation of human and rabbit oocytes and one-cell embryos: a comparison of DMSO and propranediol. Hum Reprod 1989; 4:312–17. Todorow SJ, SiebzehnrГјbl ER, Spitzer M, Koch R, Wildt L, Lang N. Comparative results on survival of human and animal eggs using different cryoprotectants and freeze–thawing regimens. Hum Reprod 1989; 4:812–16. Chen C. Pregnancy after human oocyte cryopreservation. Lancet 1986; 1:884–6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(86)90989-X Kuwayama M. Highly efficient vitrification for cryopreservation of human oocytes and embryos: the Cryotop method. Teriogenology 2007; 67:73–80. Kuwayama M, Vajta G, Kato O, Leibo SP. Highly efficient vitrification method for cryopreservation of human oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online 2005; 11:300–8. Kippen R, Evans A, Gray E. Australian attitudes toward sex-selection technology. Fertil Steril 2011; 95:1824–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.11.050 Puri SMS, Nachtigall RD. The ethics of sex selection: a comparison of the attitudes and experiences of primary care physicians and physician providers of clinical sex selection services. Fertil Steril 2010; 93:2107–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.02.053 Ehrich K, Williams C, Farsides B, Sandall J, Scott R. Choosing embryos: ethical complexity and relational autonomy in staff accounts of PGD. Sociol Health Illn 2007; 7:1091–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01021.x Shenfield F. Ethical dilemmas in ART: Current Issues. In Botros R, Gracia-Velasco J, Sallam H, Makrigiannakis A. Infertility and Assisted Reproduction. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press 2008, pp. 717–22. Mazur P, Rall WF, Leibo SP. Kinetics of water loss and the likelihood of intracellular freezing in mouse ova: influence of the method of calculating the temperature dependence of water permeability. Cell Biophys 1984; 6:197–213. Fahy GM, McFarlane DR, Angell CA, Meryman HT. Vitrification as an approach to cryopreservation. Cryobiology 1984; 21:407–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0011-2240(84)90079-8 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Borini A, Bonu MA, Coticchio G, Bianchi V, Catolli M, Flemigni C. Pregnancies and births after oocyte cryopreservation. Fertil Steril 2004; 82:601–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.04.025 Kyono K, Nakajo Y, Doshida M, Toya M, Araki Y. Birth of a healthy male infant after transfer of vitrified warmed blastocyst derived from ICSI with vitrified warmed oocytes and frozen thawed sperm. J Assist Reprod Genet 2009; 26:451–3. Van Der Elst J. Oocyte freezing, here to stay? Hum Reprod Update 2003; 9:463–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmg032 Podsiandly BT, Wolcot RJ, Stanger JD, Stevenson K. Pregnancy resulting from intracytoplasmic injection of cryopreserved spermatozoa recoverd from testicular biopsy. Hum Reprod 1996; 11:1306–8. http://dx.doi. org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a019376 The Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Mature oocyte cryopreservation: a guideline [published online ahead of print 2012]. Fertil Steril 2012. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.028 Tjer CG, Chui TT, Cheung LP, Lok IH, Haines CJ. Birth of a healthy baby after transfer of blastocsyts derived from cryopreserved human oocyte fertilized with frozen spermatozoa. Fertil Steril 2005; 83:1547–9. Ehrich K, Williams C, Farsides B, Sandall J, Scott R. Choosing embryos: ethical complexity and relational autonomy in staff accounts of PGD. Sociol Health Illn 2007; 29:1091–1106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2007.01021.x Tucker M, Wright G, Morton P, Shanguo L, Massey J, Kort H. Fertilization and early embryology: preliminary experience with human oocyte cryopreservation using 1, 2-propanediol and sucrose. Hum Reprod 1996; 11:1513–15. Kuleshova L, Gianaroli L, Magli C, Ferraretti A, Trounson. Birth following vitrification of a small number of human oocytes: case report. Hum Reprod 1999; 14:3077–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/14.12.3077 Yoon TK, Kim TJ, Park SE, et al. Live births after vitrification of oocytes in a stimulated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer program. Fertil Steril 2003; 79:1323–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00258-9 Katayama KP, Stehlik J, Kuwayama M, Kato O, Stehlik E. High survival rate of vitrified human oocytes results in clinical pregnancy. Fertil Steril 2003; 80:223–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00551-X Porcu E, Fabbri R, Ciotti PM, Petracchi S, Seracchioli R, Flamigni C. Ongoing pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of epididymal spermatozoa into cryopreserved human oocytes. J Assist Reprod Genet 1999; 16:283–5. http://dx.doi. org/10.1023/A:1020375714978 Porcu E, Fabbri R, Damiano G, et al. Clinical experience and applications of oocyte cryopreservation. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2000 27; 169:33–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0303-7207(00)00348-8 245 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:247–250 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.228)   Case Report Obesity surgery can be life saving Sangram Jadhav1 and Sanjay Borude2 Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, India, and 2Obesity Surgery Clinic, Mumbai, India 1 Abstract An 11-month-old female, who was born to consanguineous parents, weighed 19 kg at the time of referral from the Endocrine Department of Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital to the Obesity Surgery Clinic for consideration for bariatric surgery. The patient had been admitted to the Endocrine Department of Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital by her parents at the age of 2 months. The parents had lost their elder child at the age of 18 months and weighing 22 kg. The only chance of survival for the patient was to perform laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Introduction The prevalence of morbid obesity has risen sharply in recent years, even among paediatric patients.1 Bariatric surgery is becoming an increasingly common method of weight loss, with resulting improvement in quality of life and increased survival.1 The weight gain pattern, as recorded, is shown in Table 1. The patient’s parents were able to provide a history of breastfeeding, the frequency of which had been about 12 or 13 times per day since the child had been 6 weeks old. Family history indicated that there had been an elder child who suffered from morbid obesity and respiratory complications and died at the age of 18 months, weighing 22 kg. There was no history of obesity in either parent nor any history of seizures or hearing or visual imparments. The patient was referred from the Endocrine Department of Topiwala National Medical College and Nair Hospital for surgical management at the Obesity Surgery Clinic. Following investigations, the patient showed normal Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a recognized surgical treatment for morbidly obese adults, and such surgery is also performed in children between 10 and 12 years of age.2 However, this is the first time, to our knowledge, that such surgery has been carried out in a morbidly obese infant. Case study An 11-month-old girl was referred to the Obesity Surgery Clinic on 19 November 2011 with a history of excessive weight gain due to hyperphagia and a lower respiratory tract infection which had been recurring for over 2 months (Figure 1). Correspondence: Dr Sangram Jadhav, Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune 400703 India. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 247 FIGURE 1  The patient before the operation. 247 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:247–250 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.228) Case Report TABLE 1  Weight gain pattern Date 3 December 2010 8 February 2011 29 March 2011 3 May 2011 8 November 2011 19 November 2011 Weight (kg) Height (cm) 3 50 7.2 57 10.3 63 12.5 67.5 18 81 19 81 TABLE 2  Haemotology results Blood component Level Free thyroxine Thyroid-stimulating hormone Serum insulin Fasting blood sugar Glycosylated haemoglobin type A1c 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serum vitamin B12 Serum calcium Serum phosphorus Serum magnesium Serum iron Leptin 1.2 nmol/l (0.82–1.8) 2.5 µU/l (0.35–5.5) 18.2 µU/ml 82 mg/dl 6.6% 14.0 nmol/l (30–74) 306 pg/ml (200–800) 9.82 mg/dl (8.4–10.2) 5.1 mg/dl (2.5–4.5) 2.27 mg/dl (1.6–2.3) 14.0 µg/dl (37–170) 95.0 ng/ml (n = 0.1–13.0 ng/ml) U, unit. FIGURE 2  The patient before the operation. cognitive milestones and genitals and there was no evidence of hypotonia. At the time of admittance to the Obesity Surgery Clinic, the patient weighed 19 kg and was 81 cm in height (Figure 2). Haemography of the patient returned normal results, which can be seen in Table 2. In addition, ultrasonography revealed grade I fatty liver whereas two-dimensional echocardiography was normal. An overnight dexamethasone suppression test generated a result of 0.71 ng, which is less than the value of 0.8 ng expected in a patient with Cushing’s syndrome. A cortisol test conducted at 0800 hours revealed cortisol levels of 22.8 mg/dl, which was within the normal cortisol level range of 3–23 mg/dl. The coding regions for leptin, leptin receptor, melanocortin receptor 4 and the ShB1 gene were sequenced by Cambridge University, UK (Dr P Pawal, Topiwala National Medical College, 2011, personal communication), and all were found to be normal, with the exception of the gene mutation which 248 results in leptin deficiency, which is to date the only treatable genetic form of obesity. The parents of the patient were able to give a history which detailed their consanguineous marriage and their elder child, who weighed 2.75 kg at birth and excessesively gained weight from 6 weeks of age until reaching 22 kg in weight at 18 months of age, when he died from a lower respiratory tract infection. As a result, the parents were aware of these issues with their second child and that the patient’s only option for survival was to undergo a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. During the course of the surgery, it was clear that the patient had a large stomach for her age and she displayed retrogastric and splenic adhesions which contributed to the inflammation of fat cells that is normally found in those with morbid obesity. The surgery was uneventful and the patient responded positively to the procedure. At a 1-month follow-up, the patient had lost 2 kg in weight (Figure 3), and after 3 months the patient weighed 14 kg, which represented 5 kg weight loss (Figure 4). В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:247–250 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.228) Case Report The results of the biochemistry tests 1 month after the surgery showed that the patient’s blood urea nitrogen level was 10 mg/dl, creatinine 0.4 mg/dl, sodium 138 mEq/l, potassium 5.0 mEq/l, total protein 6.8 g%, albumin 4.0 g%, total bilirubin 0.3 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 264 units (U)/l and fasting insulin 18.4 µU/ml. The histopathology report indicated that the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy had been successful with no evidence of neoplasia. FIGURE 3  The patient post operation. The patient’s appetite and food intake have reduced substantially since the surgery, and the level of physical activity has improved. At 15 months of age, the patient could not stand on her own but walked with the aid of a walker and crawled on the floor. At 2 years of age, the patient walks independently, weighs 16 kg and is about 88 cm in height. In addition, the developmental milestones of the patient appear normal. Discussion Although bariatric surgery for infants is still a new and developing technique, it may be in the best interests of a patient who has been referred from the endocrine department. One such case is described here, of a child whose elder sibling died from the complications associated with morbid obesity and in whom laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed with the aim of increasing the patient’s survival. Bariatric surgery has been advocated as an intervention for those with extreme obesity and is most effective for those with early childhood-onset obesity to reduce weight and serious obesity related medical conditions, and also to improve psychosocial status.3 FIGURE 4  The patient post operation. The results of the haematology tests 1 month after the surgery showed that the patient’s haemoglobin concentration was 11 g%, total cholesterol was 16 000 cells/mm3, the mean corpuscular volume was 67.93 fl, mean corpuscular haemoglobin level was 20.60 pg, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration was 30.32 g/dl and the platelet count was 2.11 × 105/mm3. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Non-operative approaches to weight loss have shown less than optimal results; therefore, paediatric patients are increasingly seeking bariatric surgical interventions if respiratory complications are involved.4 A genetic syndrome works pathologically on the patient’s hormones, specifically ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is a circulating hormone that is mainly produced by the body and fundus of the stomach and acts as an appetite stimulant, encouraging food intake, and is responsible for weight gain in children.5,6 Endogenous ghrelin is a potentially 249 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:247–250 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.228) Case Report important regulator of the complex systems which control food intake and body weight.6 Leptin acts on the receptors in the hypothalamus of the brain to inhibit the activity of peptides, therefore producing a feeling of satiety and signalling that the body has had enough to eat, especially of high-calorie foods.7 surgery has been a pioneering attempt with mixed reactions from fraternity colleagues, we conducted this procedure in a charitable, sincere and honest manner with the patient’s best interests in mind, owing to the family income of Rs.100 per day. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy removes the excess part of the body and fundus of the stomach, along with the ghrelin-secreting portion, thereby reducing appetite and subsequent food intake. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy also enhances formation of peptides such as glucagon-like peptide 1 and peptide YY from the small intestine, both of which play a role in weight loss.5 This surgery reduces the stomach size to a more normal size for the patient’s age and weight. The remainder of the stomach continues to grow, but not at the same rate as before the surgery. Laparoscopic gastric band and gastric bypass surgeries play a role in weight loss but demand lifelong tolerance of, respectively, an artificial device or significant malabsorption.2 Disclosure No author has any potential conflict of interest and no external source of funding. References 1 2 3 Conclusion Although no appropriate weight loss technique for infants has been identified thus far,8,9 judicious use of surgical procedures after the failure of conservative treatments in a life-threatening medical condition can sometimes benefit the patient. Both laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy reduce excess body weight and fat mass in children. Plasma ghrelin levels are down-regulated by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy whereas hypothalamic growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a protein expression level is elevated following sleeve gastrectomy. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy results in complicated feedback between the hypothalamus and the digestive tract.10 With the instigation of a well-developed department of bariatric and metabolic surgery hosting trained surgeons, anaesthetists and equipped postoperative intensive care units for children, patients such as those described here could be offered the best chance of survival through surgery. Although this 250 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Treadwell JR, Sun F, Schoelles K. Systematic review and meta-analysis of bariatric surgery for paediatric obesity. Ann Surgery 2008; 248:763–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e31818702f4 Till HK, Muensterer O, Keller A, et al. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy achieves substantial weight loss in an adolescent girl with morbid obesity. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2008; 18:47–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2008-1038356 Inge TH, Xanthakos SA, Zeller MH. Bariatric surgery of paediatric extreme obesity: now or later? Int J Obesity (Lond) 2007; 31:1–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803525 Kalra M, Inge T. Effect of bariatric surgery on obstructive sleep apnoea in adolescents. Paediatr Respir Rev 2006; 7:260–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prrv.2006.08.004 Steinert RE, Meyer-Gerspach AC, Beglinger C. Role of stomach in control of appetite and secretion of satiation peptides. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. In press 2013. Wren AM, Seal LJ, Cohen MA, et al. Ghrelin enhances appetite and Increases food intake in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001; 86;5992–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.86.12.5992 Klok MD, Jakobsdottir S, Drent ML. The role of leptin and grelin in the regulation of food intake and body weight in humans. Obes Rev 2007; 8:21–34. http://dx.doi. org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2006.00270.x Pratt Janey SA, Lenders CM, Dionne EA, et al. Best practice updates for paediatric/adolescent weight loss surgery. Obesity 2009; 175:901–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/oby.2008.577 Alqahtani AR, Antoniswamy B, Alamri H, et al. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in 108 obese children and adolescents aged 5–21 years. Ann Surg 2012; 256:266–73. Yong Wang, Jingang Liu. Plasma ghrelin modulation in gastric band operation and sleeve gastrectomy. Obes Surg 2009; 19:357–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11695-008-9688-3 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:251–254 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.142)   CASE REPORT Partial molar pregnancy resulting in a healthy newborn Nawal M Hubaishi,1 Fatima Cherifi,1 Wafa F Mohsen,1 Amina Karami Binashoor,1 Saba Yehya Al Sayari1 and Nargis Mehdipour2 1 Department of Obstetric Gynecology, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and 2Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Abstract This article reviews a rare case of partial placental molar pregnancy resulting in a healthy newborn. A woman was admitted to the Department of Obstetric Gynecology at Dubai Hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where she subsequently gave birth to a healthy baby. In this multiparous patient, recurrent partial molar pregnancy was identified at 13 weeks by ultrasonography, which showed focal placental changes. However, the patient refused medical intervention and was kept under observation until 36 weeks, when a baby girl with a normal karyotype was born by normal vaginal delivery. There were no maternal complications. Partial molar pregnancy resulting in a live and healthy baby is rare and usually associated with numerous maternal complications, which were not present in this case. Complete evaluation of the placental tissue is important in cases where a live and healthy baby is delivered because molar changes may be focal and, therefore, cause unpredicted antenatal problems for the mother. Introduction Partial molar pregnancy is a trophoblastic disease caused by a genetic disorder, such as an additional haploid set of chromosomes, which results in a total of 69 chromosomes. Excluding molar pregnancy cases resulting from multiple conceptions and therefore co-existing fetuses, partial molar pregnancy in which a living fetus is carried to term is very rare. When molar changes exist alongside the living fetus, the patient can be offered close observation.1 Correspondence: Nawal M Hubaishi, Department of Obstetric Gynecology, Dubai Hospital, Al Baraha area, PO Box 7272, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences We describe a case of partial molar pregnancy that was managed throughout at Dubai Hospital in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and resulted in a live and healthy baby delivered at 36 weeks. Case report A 32-year-old Emirati woman, gravida 3, para 1, with no family history of genetic abnormalities, was initially assessed at 9 weeks’ gestation in the gynaecology clinic at Dubai Hospital for management of early threatened miscarriage. Clinical examination was normal and ultrasonography revealed a live embryo consistent with 9 weeks’ gestation. The patient’s obstetric history detailed that her first pregnancy, during 2007, was complicated by partial molar pregnancy and resulted in miscarriage; her second pregnancy, during 2009, resulted in the delivery of a live newborn by emergency caesarean section at full term. Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ОІ-HCG) was given to the patient at 9 weeks’ gestation in view of her previous history of molar pregnancy. It was suggested to the patient that she should attend an antenatal clinic follow-up at 13 weeks’ gestation and at regular intervals thereafter. At these follow-up sessions, the patient complained of vaginal spotting. The patient’s clinical and gynaecological examination was normal and ultrasonography showed a single live fetus corresponding to the 13 weeks’ gestation stage. However, multiple cystic changes, of differing sizes, 251 251 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:251–254 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.142) CASE REPORT of the umbilical artery Doppler assessment can be seen in Figure 3 where the colour shows the hypervascularized nature of the placenta. FIGURE 1  Ultrasound image of the fetus at 13 weeks’ gestation. suggestive of partial molar degeneration, were noted in the placenta (Figure 1). The result of the ОІ-HCG test was > 200 000 iu/l and the results of renal, liver and thyroid function tests were all normal. The bleeding caused by the antepartum haemorrhage lessened 2 days after admission and as a result the patient was discharged and and asked to return for weekly follow-up appointments at the antenatal clinic. As the pregnancy continued, the rate of growth of the fetus decreased and a symmetrical intrauterine gestational retardation was identified. However, the results of the umbilical artery Doppler assessment remained normal; thus, the observation continued and cardiotocography and biophysical profiling were carried out twice a week. The patient was readmitted with spontaneous labour pain at 36 weeks’ gestation, which resulted in a The patient was advised to undergo karyotyping to analyse the chromosomes in a sample of the fetal cells at 13 weeks’ gestation and again at 20 weeks’ gestation; however, she refused any medical intervention. The patient was kept under observation at regular antenatal clinic sessions and growth of the fetus, placental size and the placental mass were monitored every 2 weeks. The patient did not develop preeclampsia, thyrotoxicosis or anaemia; however, vaginal spotting persisted throughout the pregnancy. FIGURE 2  Changes in the resulting ultrasound image at 32 weeks’ gestation. At 32 weeks’ gestation, the patient presented with antepartum haemorrhage and was admitted to the Department of Obstetric Gynecology at Dubai Hospital for assessment. Following an examination, the patient’s vital signs were normal. Fundal height of the uterus corresponded to the gestational age of the fetus and the cervix was closed; however, bleeding was detected at the cervical os. Ultrasonography revealed a single and viable fetus in cephalic presentation whose measurements were consistent with gestational age and there were no obvious gross anomalies. An umbilical artery Doppler assessment was conducted and the results were normal. The placenta was positioned posterior to the fundus of the uterus and was 50 mm in thickness, with hyperechoic and cystic changes visible but no signs of placental separation (Figure 2). The result 252 FIGURE 3  The result of the placenta hypervascularization assessment. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:251–254 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.142) CASE REPORT normal vaginal delivery of a live and healthy baby girl who weighed 1710 g. Despite this low birthweight, the baby had a good Apgar score of 9 and 10 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively, and was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for close observation. The subsequent pathological analysis of the placental tissue was consistent with the diagnosis of partial molar placenta. The patient was discharged in fit and healthy condition and was followed up in the gynaecology clinic. The patient’s ОІ-HCG concentration levels were repeatedly checked until three negative results were obtained (Figure 4). Oral contraceptive pills were offered for family planning. Discussion Partial hydatidiform mole is a histopathological entity characterized by a focal trophoblastic hyperplasia that is associated with hydropic villi along with identifiable fetal tissue.2 This usually results in a fetus displaying a triploid karyotype, resulting from the fertilization of a normal ovum with two sperm. Partial molar pregnancy resulting in a live and healthy child is rare and estimated to occur in 1 in 20 000 to 1 in 100 000 pregnancies.2 It is even rarer for the resulting child to be born with a normal karyotype. There are few cases reported in the literature; however, some studies do report on this rare condition.1,3–6 Several studies5,7 have reported cases of a single normal fetus associated with partial molar placenta and stated that the fetus must have a normal karyotype to survive in utero, although the placenta can show some variation, from diploidy of the amnion to triploidy of the chorionic villi,7 which is similar to the patient in the case discussed above. From this clinical perspective, there are two different types of gross pathology that can affect the placenta: focal degeneration and diffuse partial degeneration.5,8–10 Previously, most partial molar pregnancies identified early were terminated8,11,12 with or without medical complications, but especially when pre-eclampsia was also present.13 However, termination of the pregnancy is not always the only option as the pregnancy can be managed conservatively if the fetus appears normal and healthy on ultrasound, and if there are no maternal complications. Patients who develop partial molar placenta may find the pregnancy complicated by intrauterine growth restriction and oligohydramnios, which were both observed in the case discussed above.14 Some studies11,15,16 have questioned whether patients with partial hydatidiform mole require follow-up observation and assessment of serum ОІ-HCG concentration. However, patients can develop choriocarcinoma if not followed up correctly, and 250000 В 200000 В 150000 В 100000 В 50000 В 0 В during В pregnancy В a1er В delivery В a1er В 2weeks В PP В a1er В 4weeks В PP В a1er В 6 В weeks В PP В В FIGURE 4  ОІ-HCG level during pregnancy and after delivery. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences 253 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:251–254 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.142) CASE REPORT one study by Seckl et al.16 reported the death of one such patient. Szulman and Surti17 reviewed 86 cases of partial hydatidiform mole and reported that the overall prevalence of the disease was 4%; however, Berkowitz et al.15 reported a higher prevalence (9.9%) among patients who had developed persistent gestational trophoblastic disease.6 The patient in the case discussed above did not show any persistent trophoblastic disease after the birth and her serum ОІ-HCG concentration returned to normal within 4 weeks. A single assessment of a patient’s serum ОІ-HCG concentration after the termination of pregnancy is sufficient to confirm remission in these patients.18 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Conclusion Partial molar pregnancy resulting in a live and healthy baby is rare and is usually associated with numerous maternal complications, including persistent gestational trophoblastic disease, which is diagnosed by histopathological examination. It is important that a diagnosis of partial molar placenta, which may be only suspected during pregnancy, is confirmed after delivery as the result may affect the future of both the mother and her baby. References 1 2 3 254 Walker S, Andrews J, Gregson NM, Gault W. Three further cases of triploidy in man surviving to birth. J Med Genet 1973; 10:135–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jmg.10.2.135 Korego M, Bellad M, Malapati C. Case report: partial hydatiform Mole with a live fetus- a rare entity. South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2009; 1:77–9. Zhang P, McGinniss MJ, Sawai S. Bernirschke K. Diploid/triplod mosaic placenta with fetus. Towards a better understanding of partial moles early. Hum Dev 2000; 60:1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S03783782(00)00092-X 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Parveen Z, Bashir R, Jadoon T, Qayum I. Case report: partial hydatiform mole along with term gestation and alive baby. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2004; 16:84–5. Jones WB, Lauerson NH. Hydatiform mole with coexistant fetus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975; 72:485–8. Hsieh CC, Hsieh TT, Hsueh C, Kuo DM, Lo LM, Hung TM. Delivery of a severely anaemic fetus after partial molar pregnancy: clinical and ultrasonographic findings. Hum Reprod 1999; 14:1122–6. Sarno Jr AP, Moorman AJ, Kalousek DK. Partial molar pregnancy with fetal survival: an unusual example of confined placental mosaic. Obstet Gynecol 1993; 82:716–19. Deaton JL, Hoffman JS, Saal, H, Allred C, Koulos JP. Molar pregnancy coexisting with a normal fetus: a case report. Gynecol Oncol 1989; 32:394–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0090-8258(89)90649-5 Vejerslev LO. Clinical management and diagnostic possibilities in hydatiform mole with coexistant fetus. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1991; 46:577–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00006254-199109000-00001 Nwosu EC, Ferriman E, McKormack MJ, Williams JH, Gosden CM. Partial hydatiform mole and hyperetension associated with alive fetus – variable presentation in 2 cases. Hum Reprod 1995; 10:2459–62. Szulman AE, Surtu U. The syndrome of hydatiform mole. (ii). morphologic evolution of the complete and partial mole. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1978; 132:20–7. Teng NNH, Ballon SC. Partial hydatiform mole with diploidy karyotype. report of three cases. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984; 150:961–4. Berkovitz RS, Goldstein DP. Gestational Trophoblastic Disease. In Berek JS. Berek & Novack’s Gynecology, 14th edn. Philadelphia: Lippicott Williams & Wilkins; 2007. pp. 1581–602. Chen FP. Molar pregnancy and living normal fetus coexisting until term. Prenatal biochemical and sonographic diagnosis. Hum Reprod 1997; 12:442–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/12.4.853 Berkowitz RS, Goldstein DP, Bernstein MR. Natural history of partial molar pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 1985; 66:677–81. Seckl MJ, Fisher RA, Saermo G, et al. Choriocarcinoma and partial hydatiform moles. Lancet 2000; 356:36–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02432-6 Szulman AE, Surti U. The clinicopathologic profile of the partial hydatiform mole. Obstet Gynecol 1982; 159:597–602. Felmate CM, Bartorfi J, Fulop V, Goldstein DP, Doszpod J, Berkovitz RS. Human chorionic gonadotropin follow up in patients with molar pregnancy: a time for reevaluation. Obstet Gynecol 2003; 101:732–6. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:255–258 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.240)   Case Report Familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis Ammar MH Shehadeh Department of Pediatrics, Hatta Hospital, Hatta, United Arab Emirates Abstract Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, but potentially fatal, disease that occurs when normal histiocytes and lymphocytes become overactive and commonly occurs in infancy. Two forms of the disease have been described: primary and secondary. This article reports twins who were less than 2 years old at the time of presentation and who had clinical symptoms of primary (familial) HLH, which was diagnosed by a contributory pathological bone marrow test. which can occur because of systemic infection, immunodeficiency or underlying malignancy. Both forms of HLH are characterized by the overwhelming activation of normal T lymphocytes and macrophages, invariably leading to clinical and haematological alterations and, if untreated, death of the patient.4 Introduction Case report Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, but potentially fatal, disease that occurs when normal histiocytes and lymphocytes become overactive and commonly occurs in infancy, although it has been reported in all age groups.1,2 The initial presentation of HLH is often comprises fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, lymphadenopathy and a rash. We report on Kuwaiti twins who were less than 2 years old at the time of the presentation. The first twin, a female, presented at 20 months of age with fever, neck swelling, abdominal distension and a skin rash that had been present for 1 week. In addition, she also showed a poor intake of food, resulting in weight loss, lethargy and pallor. Cutaneous involvement of HLH occurs in as many as 65% of patients, with various skin manifestations having been reported, including erythroderma, generalized purpuric macules and papules, and morbilliform eruptions.3 Detection of cutaneous involvement can assist in the initial diagnosis of HLH and potentially signify recurrences. The patient’s history showed that she was a born to consanguineous parents and her mother was diabetic and also suffered from hypothyroidism, but was being treated for both. The patient was born prematurely at 36 weeks’ gestation but the delivery was normal. The patient’s birthweight was 2.3 kg and she had a history of seborrhoeic dermatitis since birth. The patient’s twin and younger sister displayed almost the same clinical presentation. Primary HLH [i.e. familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FEL)] is defined as an inherited form of HLH and is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder that has been found to be more prevalent in cases of parental consanguinity. Secondary HLH (i.e. acquired HLH) occurs as a result of strong immunological activation, such as that Correspondence: Dr Ammar Shehadeh, Department of Pediatrics, Hatta Hospital, Hatta, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences On examination, the patient was febrile, irritable, pallid and emaciated with poor activity. Bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy was present as defined by large, tender and palpable cervical lymph nodes. The small inguinal lymph nodes were also bilaterally palpable. Hepatosplenomegaly, ascites and a purpuric rash were present all over the patient’s body and a follicular erythematous rash was present all over the scalp. 255 255 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:255–258 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.240) Case Report Investigations revealed leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia, anaemia and high serum triglyceride and ferritin levels. The C-reactive protein test was positive, which, in combination with the clinical presentation and the leucocytosis, indicated an acute infection. This was expected as HLH can compromise the immune system. The patient was also found to have elevated liver enzymes. The second twin presented 1 month after the first with an intermittent fever which had been present for 6 days, a maculopapular skin rash, a small purpuric skin rash on the trunk and thighs as well as congestion of the throat and swelling of the lips. The patient had a history of bilateral otitis media with bleeding from the right ear. On examination, the patient was febrile, irritable, thin and her height and weight were both below the fifth centile for age. The right eardrum was perforated with purulent bloody discharge and the abdomen was distended with hepatosplenomegaly. The skin rash present on the trunk and thighs did not fade when pressure was applied, which is characteristic of a purpuric rash. Like her twin, the results of various tests revealed thrombocytopenia, anaemia and high serum triglyceride and ferritin levels. The C-reactive protein test was positive, which, in combination with the clinical presentation and the leucocytosis, indicated an acute infection. This was expected as HLH can compromise the immune system. The patient was also found to have elevated liver enzymes. An ear-swab culture showed a heavy growth of Morganella morganii. Bone marrow aspiration was performed in both twins and in both cases showed infiltration of the bone marrow with histiocyte-like cells that were S-100 and CD68 positive. In view of the clinical presentation and the bone marrow pathological results in both twins, the patients were diagnosed as having HLH and treated accordingly. In addition to prescribing antibiotics for the bacterial infection present in both patients, they were kept under close observation and requested to attend follow-up sessions in the outpatient department of Hatta Hospital until clinical improvement could be detected. 256 Discussion Primary HLH (i.e. FEL) is defined as an inherited form of HLH and is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder that has been found to be more prevalent in the children of consanguineous parents. Secondary HLH (i.e. acquired HLH) is the result of strong immunological activation, such as that which can occur alongside systemic infection, immunodeficiency or underlying malignancy. Both forms of HLH are characterized by the overwhelming activation of normal T lymphocytes and macrophages, invariably leading to clinical and haematological alterations and, if not treated, death of the patient.4 The pathological hallmark of this disease is the aggressive proliferation of activated macrophages and histiocytes, which phagocytose other cells (namely red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), leading to the clinical symptoms of HLH. The uncontrolled proliferation of activated macrophages and histiocytes is not malignant and does not appear clonal, in contrast to the lineage of cells in Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis. The spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, skin and membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord are preferential sites for HLH involvement.5 A currently accepted in theory is that an inappropriate immune reaction caused by the proliferating and activated T cells results in macrophage activation and inadequate apoptosis of immunogenic cells, leading to HLH.6 Although the precise mechanism behind the occurrence of HLH remains unclear, many researchers have offered convincing reports for the role of perforin and natural killer cells in the manifestation of both primary and secondary HLH.7 The incidence of HLH in a Swedish population was reported to be 1.2 cases per million people each year.8–10 The age at onset of primary HLH is usually before 1 year; however, the onset of secondary HLH can be later and usually occurs after 6 years of age. Although the primary form of the disease frequently affects infants from birth to 18 months of age,6 it has been reported in individuals as old as 8 years, and adult onset has been also reported.1,2 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:255–258 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.240) Case Report The diagnostic criteria enforced by the International Registry for HLH11 are given below; all five criteria must be met to establish a diagnosis of HLH: 1 2 3 4 5 fever – ≥ 7 days of a temperature as high as 38.5В°C (101.3В°F); splenomegaly – a palpable spleen greater than 3 cm below the costal margin; cytopenia – counts below the specified range for at least two of the following: a absolute neutrophils < 1000/Вµl; b platelets < 100 000/Вµl; c haemoglobin < 9.0 g/dl; hypofibrinogenaemia or hypertriglyceridaemia – fibrinogen at a level of < 1.5 g/l or more than 3 SD below the age-adjusted reference range value, or fasting triglycerides at a level of > 2 mmol/l or more than 3 SD above the age-adjusted reference range value; haemophagocytosis – tissue from the lymph nodes, spleen or bone marrow that does not show evidence of malignancy. Other symptoms found in patients suffering from HLH are swollen or haemorrhagic gums, which can result in tooth loss, feeding problems (especially prominent in infants), abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and a skin rash. A rash is found in more than half of patients and can present in a several ways, such as scaly and waxy lesions or rashes on the scalp and behind the ear. The skin can be involved in HLH in various ways and this is best characterized clinically as erythroderma, generalized purpuric macules and papules, or morbilliform eruptions. One Swedish study reported that nearly 75% of patients suffering from HLH had some form of CNS involvement, with half showing neurological symptoms including seizures, ataxia, hemiplegia, mental status changes or simply irritability.10 Because of the predilection of the disease for certain tissues, such as the lymph nodes, lymphadenopathy is commonly found during physical examination. Other common findings, such as malaise, anorexia (with or without weight loss) and failure to thrive, have been reported.11 Findings in up to two-thirds of initial bone marrow aspirates may be non-diagnostic; therefore, a negative examination may not rule out HLH. Additional tests, including a lymph node biopsy, should be performed and treatment should not be delayed if all other criteria have been met.12 Although В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences problematic in a patient with a coagulopathy, a liver biopsy providing results that would be expected in a case of chronic persistent hepatitis can support the diagnosis of HLH, as can the presence of mononuclear cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The initial therapy for patients with HLH consists of etoposide plus dexamethasone for 8 weeks. In the HLH-2004 protocol,13 it was recommended that cyclosporine be added at the start of treatment. Intrathecal methotrexate is used only as a treatment for cases with persistently abnormal CSF or progressive neurological symptoms. Resolved non-familial HLH does not require continuation of the therapy regime unless disease reactivation occurs after completion of the initial therapy, or unless patients are undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The remaining patients with either persistent non-familial HLH or the familial form of the disease should continue with therapy of intravenous etoposide infusions and dexamethasone pulses, and oral cyclosporine should be initiated at week 9 of treatment.14 HLH associated with malignancies demands prompt therapy directed at the neoplasm. Bone marrow transplantation is performed if a suitable donor can be found and the patient is stable. A recent study reported on a group of patients given reduced-intensity conditioned treatment before stem cell transplantation from a matched family, unrelated or haploidentical donor.15 A total of 84% of patients with HLH were in remission at a median of 36 months following stem cell transplantation.15 In another study, reduced-intensity conditioned treatment was successful for 96% of patients.16 Reduced-intensity conditioned treatment compares favourably with conventional stem cell transplantation and provides long-term disease control in surviving patients with HLH.15 If the patient is experiencing life-threatening respiratory difficulties or uncontrolled hypersplenism, then splenectomy is an option. Although the prognosis varies between studies and with different approaches to the treatment, HLH is invariably fatal if not treated. Patients suffering from HLH are at a high risk of early death and the median survival rate has been reported to be 2–6 months without treatment. However, steroids or intravenous immunoglobulin, or both, can be prescribed as a first-line therapy and may be sufficient to preserve life.17 257 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:255–258 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.240) Case Report Conclusion Familial HLH is a rare disease that can affect several members of the same family, as seen with the twins in the case report discussed above. The diagnosis of HLH can be very difficult if it is not suspected from the beginning. Familial HLH can present in various non-specific forms and all paediatricians should consider rare diseases such as HLH if the clinical presentation does not fit a familiar and common disease. References 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 258 Reiner AP, Spivak JL. Hematophagic histiocytosis. A report of 23 new patients and a review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore) 1988; 67:369–88. Clementi R, Emmi L, Maccario R, et al. Adult onset and atypical presentation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in siblings carrying PRF1 mutations. Blood 2002; 100:2266–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/ blood-2002-04-1030 Morrell DS, Pepping MA, Scott JP, et al. Cutaneous manifestations of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Arch Dermatol 2002; 138:1208–12. http://dx.doi. org/10.1001/archderm.138.9.1208 Feldmann J, Le Deist F, Ouachee-Chardin M, et al. Functional consequences of perforin gene mutations in 22 patients with familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Br J Haematol 2002; 117:965–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03534.x Arico M, Allen M, Brusa S, et al. Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: proposal of a diagnostic algorithm based on perforin expression. Br J Haematol 2002; 119:180–8. Imashuku S, Ueda I, Teramura T, et al. Occurrence of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis at less than 1 year of age: analysis of 96 patients. Eur J Pediatr 2005;164:315–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431005-1636-9 Katano H, Cohen JI. Perforin and lymphohistiocytic proliferative disorders. Br J Haematol 2005; 128:739–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05305.x 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Malloy CA, Polinski C, Alkan S, Manera R, Challapalli M. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis presenting with nonimmune hydrops fetalis. J Perinatol 2004; 24:458–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211121 Sung L, King SM, Carcao M, Trebo M, Weitzman SS. Adverse outcomes in primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2002; 24:550–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00043426200210000-00011 Henter JI, Elinder G, Soder O, Ost A. Incidence in Sweden and clinical features of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Acta Paediatr Scand 1991; 80:428–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.1991. tb11878.x Henter JI, Elinder G, Ost A. Diagnostic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The FHL Study Group of the Histiocyte Society. Semin Oncol 1991; 18:29–33. Macheta M, Will AM, Houghton JB, Wynn RF. Prominent dyserythropoiesis in four cases of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. J Clin Pathol 2001; 54:961–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jcp.54.12.961 Henter JI, Horne A, AricГі M, et al. HLH-2004: Diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007; 48: 124–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pbc.21039 Henter JI, Samuelsson-Horne A, Arico M, et al. Treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with HLH-94 immunochemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Blood 2002; 100:2367–73. http://dx.doi. org/10.1182/blood-2002-01-0172 Cooper N, Rao K, Gilmour K, et al. Stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Blood 2006; 107:1233–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/ blood-2005-05-1819 Marsh RA, Jordan MB, Filipovich AH. Reduced-intensity conditioning haematopoietic cell transplantation for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: an important step forward. Br J Haematol 2011; 154:556–63. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08785.x Gupta AA, Tyrrell P, Valani R, Benseler S, Abdelhaleem M, Weitzman S. Experience with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome at a single institution. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2009; 31:81–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ MPH.0b013e3181923cb4 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:259–262 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.260)   Case report Pleomorphic lipoleiomyoma of uterus Farhana Zakaria Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, India Abstract Scattered adipocytes in an otherwise typical leiomyoma are a relatively common finding. A leiomyoma that contain a large number of adipocytes is called a lipoleiomyoma. We report a unique case of leiomyoma that presented with the following morphological features: mature spindled smooth muscle cells with and without nuclear atypia, epithelioid smooth muscle cells, mature adipose tissue, benign clear cells, coagulation necrosis. Only a few mitotic figures were noted. The rare occurrence of lipoleiomyomatous features in an otherwise pleomorphic leiomyoma prompted the report of the case below. Introduction Lipoleiomyoma is a very rare lesion of the uterus occurring primarily in obese perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. The tumour consists of long intersecting bundles of bland, smooth muscle cells admixed with nests of mature adipocytes and fibrous tissue. We report a patient who presented with suspected leiomyoma who was subsequently found to have lipoleiomyoma showing pleomorphic changes without any increased mitotic activity. Case report A 63-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with uterine bleeding that had been ongoing for 3 months, with each episode lasting for approximately 3 days. She had begun menopause 13 years ago and had undergone modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma 1 year previously, followed by six cycles of chemotherapy and a prescription of tamoxifen for 6 months. Clinically, there was no evidence of recurrence in the breast or axilla. On abdominal examination, a mass corresponding in size to a uterus of 22 weeks’ gestation was palpable, Correspondence: Farhana Zakaria, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, India. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences occupying the suprapubic area and the right and left iliac fossae. Several tests were conducted and a gynaecological examination revealed a polyp arising from the cervix; a chest radiograph returned normal results and ultrasonography of the abdomen showed a bulky uterus with multiple fibroids and a bilateral ovarian mass. All the standard serological and haematological parameters were within the normal range and the patient underwent an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Gross examination of the uterus showed that it measured 13 × 8 × 4 cm and the outer surface of the cervix showed a polypoid growth with a stalk measuring 1.3 × 0.4 cm. On the cut surface of the uterus, the endometrial cavity could not be seen owing to three large intramural fibroids, the largest of which measured 6 × 5 cm; the second measured 4 × 4 cm and the smallest measured 2 × 1 cm (Figure 1). The cut surface of the fibroids showed a whorled pattern and the lower part of largest mass was brown in colour. The left ovary measured 3 × 1.5 × 0.5 cm, the right ovary was much larger and measured 16 × 10 × 5 cm; however, the fallopian tubes were of normal size. Histological examination of the uterus showed non-secretory endometrium and adenomyosis, and the endometrial stroma displayed foamy cytoplasmic changes. Histological sections from the largest fibroid showed a mixture of bland, spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells with nuclear atypia in a whorled pattern admixed 259 259 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:259–262 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.260) Case report Figure 1  The uterus and visible leiomyomata. with mature adipocytes (Figure 2). The adipose tissue component was entirely mature and did not display any lipoblasts. Sections from the brownish area of the fibroid showed smooth muscle cells of varying sizes with pale pink vacuolated cytoplasm containing hyperchromatic bizarre nuclei and some areas of clear cytoplasm (Figures 3 and 4). Areas of coagulation necrosis (red degeneration) and congested blood vessels with haemorrhagic zones could be seen, as could epithelioid smooth muscle cells with clear cytoplasm; however, mitosis was not significantly advanced. Following examination of the ovaries, it was concluded that both ovaries showed features of mucinous cystadenoma. Discussion Adipose tissue is the most common heterologous component in leiomyomata, and uterine leiomyomata containing a large number of adipocytes are classified as lipoleiomyomas. Lipoleiomyomas also occur in the cervix and ovaries1 and generally occur in asymptomatic and obese perimenopausal or postmenopausal women.2–4 Lin et al.2 analysed 2878 cases of leiomyomata and 2071 hysterectomy specimens and reported that approximately 0.28% of all leiomyomata and 0.39% of all hysterectomies were harbouring a lipoleiomyoma. 260 Figure 2  Histological section of the largest fibroid displaying leiomyoma, characterized by pleomorphic smooth muscle cells and mature adipocytes. The pathogenesis of lipoleiomyomas remains obscure; however, immunohistochemical studies confirm the complex histogenesis of these tumours, which may arise from immature mesenchymal cells or from direct transformation of smooth muscle cells into adipocytes.2,4 A number of lipid metabolism disorders and related conditions which are associated with oestrogen deficiency, such as that which occurs in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, possibly promote abnormal intracellular storage of lipids.2 Leiomyomata that are not associated with a mitotic index of over 10 mitotic figures (mfs) per 10 highpower fields (hpfs), even if they are associated with severe cytologic atypia, are unreliable for identifying clinically malignant uterine smooth muscle tumours. The defining features of atypical leiomyomata include symplastic growth, bizarre cells and the presence of cells with atypical pleomorphic nuclei, which can В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:259–262 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.260) Case report Figure 3  Marked nuclear pleomorphism and intranuclear inclusions. In addition, bizarre cells with multilobulated nuclei could be seen. be multinucleated or mononucleated large cells associated with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. There are spindled cells with variable degrees of nuclear atypia interspersed between the cells with bizarre nuclei; however, in areas of the tumour that are not involved with bizarre cells, the spindled cells have uniform and bland cytological features. It has been shown that an excess of global DNA methylation associated with DNA inactivation may be one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the benign nature of this leiomyoma variant. This striking atypia most likely represents the presence of abundant heterochromatin, which is known to be associated with inactivated DNA. Bizarre leiomyoma has been diagnosed in sites other then uterus, such as the vagina, nasal cavity and the scrotum.5 The characteristics of lipoleiomyomas, such as average age of patient at presentation and maximum tumour size, are identical to those of common leiomyomata but the clinical behaviour and prognosis of these rare tumours depends on the number of mf/hpf.6 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Figure 4  A section from the brownish area of the fibroid showing the pleomorphic smooth cells. References 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rollasson TP, Wilkinson N. Non neoplastic conditions of myometrium and pure mesenchymal tumours of the uterus. In Fox H, Wells M (eds.) Haines and Taylor Obstetrical and Gynaecological Pathology, 5th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2003. pp. 531–5. Lin KC, Sheu BC, Huang SC. Lipoleiomyoma of the uterus. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1999; 67:47–9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0020-7292(99)00094-6 Willen R, Gad A, Willen H. Lipomatous lesions of the uterus. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histol 1978; 377:351–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00507135 Resta L, Maiorano E, Piscitelli D, Botticella MA. Lipomatous tumors of the uterus. Clinico-pathological features of 10 cases with immunocytochemical study of histogenesis. Pathol Res Pract 1994; 190:378–83. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0344-0338(11)80410-3 Kim NR, Saug CO, Han J. Bizarre leiomyoma of the scrotum. J Korean Med Sci 2003; 18:452–4. Rammeh-Rommani S, Mokni M, Stita W, et al. Uterine smooth muscle tumors: retrospective epidemiological and pathological study of 2760 cases. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris) 2005; 34:568–71. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0368-2315(05)82881-9 261 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:263–266 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.253)   Case Report Uterine rupture in a nulliparous woman at 26 weeks’ gestation after laparoscopic myomectomy Tasneem Rangwala, Abeer Ammar and Nadia Sawalhi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Latifa Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Abstract Uterine scar dehiscence following laparoscopic myomectomy is very rare. We present a case of a nulliparous woman who was pregnant with twins and who had undergone laparoscopic excision of a small subserous myoma 2 years previously. The patient had subsequently developed a uterine rupture at 26 weeks’ gestation; however, this was not initially suspected as the cause of the patient’s abdominal pain owing to the rarity of this event. All pregnant patients who have a history of laparoscopic myomectomy, superficial or deep, should be closely monitored throughout pregnancy and uterine dehiscence or rupture should be suspected if they present with abdominal pain. Introduction Myomectomy is increasingly used as an elective procedure in selected patients to preserve or enhance fertility. The laparoscopic route reduces length of hospital stay and avoids adhesion formation. Complication rates in the short term are low, provided the surgeon is suitably trained. Cases of uterine rupture following laparoscopic myomectomy to remove subserous and even pedunculated myomas have been reported long before term, which raises concern regarding the integrity of a uterine scar following laparoscopic myomectomy.В№ The case below highlights the importance of suspecting this rare complication in patients presenting with abdominal pain. Case report Mrs DA, 31 years old, gravida 3, para 0+2, was admitted to delivery suite of Latifa Hospital, via the emergency room, complaining of sudden-onset Correspondence: Tasneem Rangwala, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Latifa Hospital, PO Box 9115, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Email: [email protected] В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences generalized abdominal pain. She was at 24 weeks’ gestation, with a dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy conceived using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and there was no history of vaginal loss. Her first pregnancy, a tubal ectopic pregnancy, was terminated at 6 weeks’ gestation in another hospital by laparoscopic right salpingectomy, during which an incidental subserous myoma of 1.2 cm was found and excised. No details of myoma site, or method of removal, were mentioned in the operative report. The patient’s second pregnancy resulted in miscarriage at 8 weeks’ gestation and an evacuation of uterus was carried out. Seven months later, the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy to investigate the reason for her inability to conceive and it was found that her left fallopian tube was patent and there were no other abnormal findings. The patient had regular menstrual cycles, no prior medical illness or drug allergy and therefore underwent IVF. On admission, the patient’s vital signs were normal, but abdominal examination revealed her uterus to be enlarged, corresponding to a fetus of 28 weeks’ gestation, and she was experiencing palpable contractions. A vaginal examination revealed a short soft cervix with os closed. Ultrasonography showed viable twin fetuses, of which the first was cephalic but the second was in the breech position. Cardiotocography (CTG) revealed regular uterine contractions and a diagnosis of threatened preterm labour was made; therefore, tocolytics were given alongside an intravenous infusion with Tractocile (Ferring, West Drayton, UK) and two doses of betamethasone steroid were given. 263 263 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:263–266 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.253) Case Report Investigations The patientвЂ�s blood group was O Rh positive, her haemoglobin concentration was 11 g%, her white blood cell count was 18 000/mm3, her C–reactive protein level was 14.6 mg/l and her coagulation profile was normal. Tests that were used to look for hepatitis markers, human immunodeficiency virus and venereal disease were all negative. A mid-stream urine sample and a high vaginal swab both confirmed that no pathogens were present and detailed obstetric ultrasonography showed viable dichorionic diamniotic twins. The first twin was estimated to weigh 953 g and the second twin 1820 g. The liquor was found to be adequate around both twins and two placentae were seen, one anteriorly and one posteriorly. After completion of the 48-hour cycle of Tractocile, the patient began to experience contractions again; therefore, oral nifedipine was given as second-line tocolytic in view of extreme fetal prematurity. She remained pain free for 24 hours before the contractions began again. The patient was suffering from dyspnoea, cough and palpitations but on vaginal examination, the os was still closed. Vital signs remained stable and a blood culture showed no growth, with tests for Mycoplasma giving a negative result. Chest radiography revealed bilateral haziness in the lower lung zones and Doppler study of lower limbs showed no signs of deep vein thrombosis. Medical consultation resulted in diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Antibiotics were given intravenously and the patient’s condition improved over the next 10 hours of observation in the high-dependency unit of Latifa Hospital. following this examination, it was decided that an emergency lower segment caesarean section should be performed as intraperitoneal haemorrhage was suspected. The lower uterine segment was incised and first baby was in the correct position for delivery, with the vertex at the front of the mother’s pelvis. The baby was female and weighed 850 g with Apgar scores of 8 at 1 minute and 8 at 5 minutes. The second baby was delivered from the breech position, was also female, weighed 865 g and had Apgar scores of 6 at 1 minute and 8 at 5 minutes. Both babies were attended by a neonatologist and transferred to the special care baby unit (SBCU). During investigation, a defect of 6 × 6 cm was noted at the left uterine cornua and posterior wall that resulted in placental tissue and the amniotic sac of the second twin protruding through the defect (Figure 1). No active bleeding was noted at that site (Figure 2) and both placentae, with complete membranes, were delivered and blood clots removed. The defective area was repaired in two layers and checked for integrity through the cavity (Figure 3). The lower segment incision was closed in two layers and haemostasis ensured. The patient suffered 1.5 litres of blood loss and her haemoglobin concentration was 8.6 g%. She was monitored in the intensive care unit postoperatively and received a blood transfusion. She was stable postnatally and discharged after 3 days with a haemoglobin concentration of 12.5 g%. The first twin died after 20 days in SBCU; however, the second twin was doing well at the time of reporting. During her stay, the patient continued to experience irregular abdominal pain. CTG was reassuring as regards the condition of both twins; however, on palpation, there was tenderness mainly on left side of uterus. It was decided that the babies should be delivered if signs of chorioamnionitis developed. A week after her admission, the patient was experiencing stronger abdominal pain in association with shivering and dizziness; however, her vital signs were normal. Strong uterine contractions were palpable and there was tenderness in left upper quadrant of the uterus. CTG showed regular uterine contractions but the cervical os was still not sufficiently dilated for vaginal delivery. One hour 264 Figure 1  Placenta and amniotic sac of the second twin protruding through the uterine defect. В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:263–266 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.253) Case Report commonly resulting in a weak scar include difficulty in suturing the defect, the use of electrocautery, single-layer closure, presence of haematoma, use of radiofrequencies for fusion of the tissues and the wound healing characteristics of the individual patient. The first case of obstetric uterine rupture subsequent to removal of a superficial myoma via laparoscopic myomectomy was reported in 1997 in a primigravid woman at 33 weeks’ gestation who presented with acute abdomen.2 Figure 2  The uterine defect at the left cornua and posterior wall. Figure 3  The uterine defect after closure. The mother was reviewed at 6 weeks in the postnatal clinic and she was asymptomatic and the caesarean wound was well healed. Discussion Laparoscopic myomectomy allows removal of small numbers of subserous and intramural myomas of less than 9 cm. Uterine rupture during pregnancy following laparoscopic myomectomy is a rare occurrence. The rate of uterine rupture after abdominal myomectomy is 5.3%, and after a previous caesarean ranges from 0.3% to 3.8%. In a large study reporting on pregnancies after laparoscopic myomectomy,В№ the rate of uterine rupture was 1% and, to date, only 19 cases of uterine rupture have been reported in the literature, which raises concern regarding the integrity of the scar created by laparoscopic myomectomy. Factors В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences In 2002, Hasbargen et al.3 reported a case of uterine rupture in a nulliparous woman at 29 weeks’ gestation who had been diagnosed preoperatively via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and underwent laparoscopic subserosal myomectomy that used unipolar electrocautery to seal the wound. However, inflammation and necrosis are often associated with electrocautery and can lead to delayed healing of the wound and a weak scar. Asakura et al.4 reported a case in 2004 of a multigravid woman at a gestation of 34 weeks and 1 day who was admitted because of threatened preterm labour with frequent uterine contractions and a normal fetal heart pattern. On examination, the internal os was closed; therefore, the tocolytic drug ritodrine was given and the patient was observed in hospital. At 35 weeks and 4 days of gestation, the patient had severe uterine tenderness. The fetal heart rate was initially reassuring but variable decelerations occurred after 7 hours and there was no reduction in the uterine tenderness, even after analgesia. Caesarean section revealed haemoperitoneum of 50 ml and a defect of 5 cm in the anterior fundus of the uterus. There was no fresh bleeding at site of rupture; therefore, the uterine dehiscence had occurred at admission (at 34 weeks and 1 day of gestation) and an overt rupture had occurred by the time of uterine tenderness (at 35 weeks and 4 days of gestation). In the case discussed previously, uterine dehiscence had occurred at 24 weeks and 4 days of gestation and overt rupture occurred a week later. Uterine rupture has also been reported to occur without signs of fetal distress. Banas et al.5 reported such a case of spontaneous uterine rupture at 35 weeks’ gestation, which was 3 years after the patient had undergone laparoscopic myomectomy, without signs of fetal distress.5 265 Hamdan Medical Journal  2013; 6:263–266 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7707/hmj.v6i2.253) Case Report Principles to follow during laparoscopic myomectomy include: 1 2 3 4 Use microsurgical techniques with fine, atraumatic sutures. Be sure to dissect along cleavage planes. Use electrocoagulation sparingly while controlling bleeding to avoid excess thermal damage and haematoma formation, especially during subserous myomectomy. Accurately approximate the hysterotomy incision by taking into account the full thickness of the edges of the uterus and ensure that the sutures are evenly spaced, irrespective of the number of suture layers.6 The mode of fetal delivery after laparoscopic myomectomy is elective caesarean section if the uterine wall was deeply penetrated during myomectomy, or vaginal delivery if subserous or pedunculated myomas were removed. our case, uterine rupture occurred early, at 24 weeks’ gestation, as the uterus was already overdistended by twins. MRI was not used as a diagnostic modality in this case, but may be the only method for preoperative diagnosis of uterine rupture,3 especially in women with posterior uterine scars. References 1 2 3 4 Conclusions Laparoscopic myomectomy is an effective technique and is associated with a low rate of patient morbidity. As the aim of the intervention is to preserve the uterus for future pregnancy, it is important to maintain the integrity of uterine wall. Because of the increasing number of cases of uterine rupture after laparoscopic myomectomy, stringent selection of patients suitable for the surgical procedure7 and awareness that this complication may occur long before term is essential. Uterine rupture can occur after removal of superficial myomas and even in the presence of a reassuring fetal heart pattern; therefore, careful review of surgical records is warranted. In 266 5 6 7 Dubuisson JB, Fauconnier A, Deffarges J-V, Norgaard C, Kreiker G, Chapron C. Pregnancy outcome and deliveries following laparoscopic myomectomy. Hum Reprod 2000; 15:869–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/15.4.869 Pelosi MA, Pelsi MA. Spontaneous uterine rupture at 33 weeks subsequent to previous superficial laparoscopic myomectomy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997; 177:1547–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70110-8 Hasbargen U, Summerer-Monstaki M, Hillemanns P, Scheidler J, Kimmig R, Hepp H. Uterine dehiscence in a nullipara; diagnosed by MRI, following use of unipolar electrocautery during laparoscopic myomectomy. Hum Reprod 2002; 17:2180–2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/17.8.2180 Asakura H, Oda T, Tsunoda Y, Matsushima T, Kaseki H, Takeshita T. Change in fetal heart rate pattern on spontaneous uterine rupture at 35 weeks gestation after lapraroscopically assisted myomectomy. J Nippon Med Sch 2004; 71:69–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1272/jnms.71.69 Banas T, Klimek M, Fugiel A, Skotniczny K. Spontaneous uterine rupture at 35 weeks gestation, 3 years after laparoscopic myomectomy, without signs of fetal distress. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2005; 31:527–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2005.00331.x Paul PG, Koshy AK, Thomas T. Pregnancy outcomes following laparoscopic myomectomy and single layer closure. Hum Reprod 2006; 21:3278–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/del296 Nkemayim DC, Hammadeh ME, Hippach M, Mink D, Schmidt W. Uterine Rupture in pregnancy subsequent to previous Laparoscopic Electromyolysis. Archiv Gynaecol Obstet 2000; 264:154–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004040000075 В© 2013 The Author(s) Journal Compilation В© 2013 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences
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