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Arup G, Shravan N. Cancer and Pregnancy in the Post-Roe v. Wade Era: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:9448-9457. [PMID: 37999104 PMCID: PMC10669942 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30110684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer during pregnancy, affecting 1 in 1000 pregnancies, is rising in incidence due to delayed childbearing and improved detection. Common types include breast cancer, melanoma and cervical cancer and Hodgkin's Lymphoma. There are several physiological changes that occur during pregnancy that make its management a challenge to clinicians. Managing it requires multidisciplinary approaches and cautious test interpretation due to overlapping symptoms. To minimize fetal radiation exposure, non-ionizing imaging is preferred, and the interpretation of tumor markers is challenging due to inflammation and pregnancy effects. In terms of treatment, chemotherapy is avoided in the first trimester but may be considered later. Immunotherapy's safety is under investigation, and surgery depends on gestational age and cancer type. Ethical and legal concerns are growing, especially with changes in U.S. abortion laws. Access to abortion for medical reasons is vital for pregnant cancer patients needing urgent treatment. Maternal outcomes may depend on the type of cancer as well as chemotherapy received but, in general, they are similar to the non-pregnant population. Fetal outcomes are usually the same as the general population with treatment exposure from the second trimester onwards. Fertility preservation may be an important component of the treatment discussion depending on the patient's wishes, age and type of treatment. This article addresses the complicated nature of a diagnosis of cancer in pregnancy, touching upon the known medical literature as well as the ethical-legal implications of such a diagnosis, whose importance has increased in the light of recent judicial developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganguly Arup
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Narmala Shravan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, DHR Health Oncology Institute, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA;
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Reddy Eleti M, Agrawal M, Dewani D, Goyal N. Serum LDH Levels in Normotensive and Preeclamptic-Eclamptic Pregnant Women and Its Correlation With Fetomaternal Outcome. Cureus 2023; 15:e37220. [PMID: 37159784 PMCID: PMC10163943 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background One of the most prevalent medical issues observed during pregnancy is hypertension. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and their consequences affect around 5-10% of all pregnancies globally. Preeclampsia is caused by endothelial dysfunction, which causes widespread endothelial leakage and contributes to potentially fatal consequences, such as eclampsia, placental abruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), severe renal failure, pulmonary edema, and hepatocellular necrosis. As a result, looking for predictive markers for at-risk pregnancies that can suggest poor maternal or fetal outcomes is critical. Elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as a sign of cellular damage and dysfunction, can be utilized as a biochemical marker in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) as it represents the severity of the disease, and the occurrence of problems, and has also been demonstrated to co-relate with fetomaternal outcomes. Methodology A total of 230 singleton pregnant women of 28-40 weeks of gestational age were enrolled in this study. All women were divided into two groups - normotensive and preeclamptic-eclamptic groups; the second group was further divided into mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, and eclampsia, based on blood pressure and the presence of proteinuria. Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were measured in both groups and correlated with their fetomaternal outcome. Results Mean serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in eclamptic women was 1515.86 ± 754, in severely preeclamptic women was 932.2 ± 448, mild preeclamptic women were 580.5±213, while in normotensive women mean LDH level was 378.6 ± 124. The difference between normotensive and preeclamptic-eclamptic women was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The complications in the preeclamptic-eclamptic group were increased significantly in women with LDH > 800 IU/L, 600-800 IU/L compared to those who had < 600 IU/L LDH levels. Conclusions Serum LDH levels were significantly higher in women of preeclamptic-eclamptic group compared to the normotensive pregnant women. Higher LDH levels were positively correlated with disease severity and maternal complications like placental abruption, hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelet count (HELLP), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), acute renal failure, intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, and maternal death and for fetal complications like preterm, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), APGAR at 1 minute < 7, APGAR at 5 minutes < 7, low birth weight (LBW), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and intrauterine fetal death (IUFD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Manila Reddy Eleti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, IND
| | - Manjusha Agrawal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, IND
| | - Deepika Dewani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, IND
| | - Nidhi Goyal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, IND
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Michalczyk K, Cymbaluk-Płoska A. Approaches to the Diagnosis and Management of Ovarian Cancer in Pregnancy. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:2329-2339. [PMID: 33732025 PMCID: PMC7959196 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s290592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological cancers diagnosed in pregnancy. Its management is often very problematic due to the proximity of the adnexa to the developing fetus and chemotherapy-related toxicity risk. Tumor markers and imagining studies play important roles in diagnosis, help differentiate benign masses from malignancy and allow to plan the treatment. Due to the physiological changes that occur in pregnancy, levels of tumor markers can be altered and reduce their diagnostic value. We review current recommendations for the management and treatment of ovarian cancer in pregnant patients considering gestational age at diagnosis, tumor histology, stage of the disease, risk of obstetrical complications, and patient’s preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Michalczyk
- Department of Gynecological Surgery and Oncology of Adults and Adolescents, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska
- Department of Gynecological Surgery and Oncology of Adults and Adolescents, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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Evaluation of total LDH and its isoenzymes as markers in preeclampsia. J Med Biochem 2020; 39:392-398. [PMID: 33269027 DOI: 10.2478/jomb-2019-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preeclampsia, a rapidly progressing pregnancy-specific multi-systemic syndrome is globally the leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate the serum total Lactate dehydrogenase levels in women with preeclampsia when compared to normotensive pregnant women and assess the electrophoretic pattern of the LDH isoenzymes in normal pregnancy, preeclampsia and eclampsia. Methods The study, carried out in the Department of Biochemistry of MVJ Medical College, included 30 patients of preeclampsia and 30 normotensive gestational age-matched pregnant women admitted to the Department of OBG. Serum total LDH was analysed by DGKC method. Serum and cord blood samples for isoenzyme distribution analysis were collected from a normal pregnant woman undergoing delivery, a woman with mild eclampsia, two women with eclampsia, and analysed by slab gel electrophoresis followed by activity staining. Results LDH was significantly elevated in cases as well as between the case (mild and severe) groups, showed a moderate positive statistically significant correlation with systolic, diastolic blood pressure and a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 80%. Further, the isoenzyme pattern showed a decreasing distribution of aerobic forms of LDH in preeclampsia-eclampsia. Conclusions Serum total LDH may serve as a robust and affordable marker of preeclampsia. Serum total LDH, along with its isoenzyme profile, might serve as a predictor and a stronger marker of preeclampsia when compared to serum LDH analysis alone. It may also be used to assess the severity of preeclampsia and hence help in predicting and preventing adverse maternal and foetal outcomes.
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Patavoukas E, Åberg-Liesaho J, Halvorsen CP, Winbladh B, Wiberg-Itzel E. Relationship between various maternal conditions and lactic acid dehydrogenase activity in umbilical cord blood at birth. J Perinat Med 2018. [PMID: 28622146 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) is a valuable marker for some of the most important diseases in newborns and the plasma LDH activity in newborns correlates well with conditions such as asphyxia. If LDH should be considered as a useful tool also in obstetric care, key factors associated with maternal health before and during pregnancy which could affect umbilical cord LDH activity need to be known. The aims of this study were to explore relationships between selected maternal conditions and arterial lactic acid dehydrogenase activity (aLDH) in umbilical cord blood at delivery. METHODS A prospective observational study was conducted at Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. Included in the study were 1247 deliveries, and cord blood samples from each were analyzed for aLDH. Background, delivery and neonatal data were collected from the medical records. RESULTS Higher median values of aLDH were found (P=0.001) among women with chronic disorders not related to pregnancy but there was no increased frequency of high aLDH levels (>612 μ/L, P=0.30). No difference in aLDH was identified between infants born to women with pregnancy-related disorders compared with healthy women, neither in median values, nor in high values (>612 μ/L, P=0.95). CONCLUSION Newborn infants born to women with non-pregnancy-related chronic disorders had a somewhat higher median value of aLDH in cord blood at delivery. The influence of common maternal conditions and diseases on umbilical cord arterial LDH levels is small compared to the increase reported in fetal distress and several other critical conditions in the newborn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Patavoukas
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Josefina Åberg-Liesaho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Pegelow Halvorsen
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birger Winbladh
- Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Wiberg-Itzel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
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Morton A, Teasdale S. Review article: Investigations and the pregnant woman in the emergency department - part 1: Laboratory investigations. Emerg Med Australas 2018; 30:600-609. [PMID: 29656593 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.12957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Accurate assessment of the pregnant patient in the ED depends on knowledge of physiological changes in pregnancy, and how these changes may impact on pathology tests, appearance on point-of-care ultrasound and electrocardiography. In addition the emergency physician needs to be cognisant of disorders that are unique to or more common in pregnancy. Part 1 of this review addresses potential deviations in laboratory investigation reference intervals resulting from physiological alterations in pregnancy, and the important causes of abnormal laboratory results in pregnancy. Part 2 will address the role of point-of-care ultrasound in pregnancy, physiological changes that may affect interpretation of point-of-care ultrasound, physiological changes in electrocardiography, and the safety of radiological procedures in the pregnant patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Morton
- Mater Health and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stephanie Teasdale
- Mater Health and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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NETTO ALINEOLIVEIRA, MACEDO NATHÁLIAC, GALLEGO FRANCIANEQ, SINZATO YURIK, VOLPATO GUSTAVOT, DAMASCENO DÉBORAC. Evaluation of anaerobic threshold in non-pregnant and pregnant rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 89:2749-2756. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201720170199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - GUSTAVO T. VOLPATO
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Brazil
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Wray S. Insights from physiology into myometrial function and dysfunction. Exp Physiol 2015; 100:1468-76. [PMID: 26289390 DOI: 10.1113/ep085131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the topic of this review? I focus on clinical aspects of uterine physiology, specifically, myometrial contractility. I bring together and contrast findings using physiological approaches and those using newer techniques, 'omics'. What advances does it highlight? Physiological studies have recently shed light on the myometrium in twin pregnancies, but there have been no 'omic' approaches. In contrast, studies of preterm delivery using newer approaches are generating new research avenues, whereas traditional approaches have not flourished. Finally, I describe significant advances in understanding of 'slow-to-progress' labours, achieved using physiological and clinical approaches. Advances in molecular, genetic and 'omic' technologies are fuelling the thirst for better understanding of the uterus and application of this information to problems in pregnancy and labour. Progress has, however, been limited while we still have an incomplete understanding of some of the basic physiology of uterine smooth muscle (myometrium). In this review and opinion piece, I explore some of the fascinating findings from selected recent studies and see how these may provide new avenues for physiological and clinical research. It is also the case, however, that there is still limited mechanistic understanding about physiological and pathophysiological processes in the myometrium. This lack of understanding limits the usefulness of some findings from genomic and allied studies. By focusing on some key recent findings and relating these to two important clinical problems in childbirth that involve myometrial activity, namely preterm delivery and difficult labours, the interplay between our physiological knowledge and the information provided by newer technologies is explored. My opinion is that physiology has provided much more new mechanistic insight into difficult births and that the newer technologies may lead to breakthroughs in preterm birth research, but that this has not yet happened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Wray
- Harris/Wellbeing Centre for Preterm Birth Research, Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Han SN, Lotgerink A, Gziri MM, Van Calsteren K, Hanssens M, Amant F. Physiologic variations of serum tumor markers in gynecological malignancies during pregnancy: a systematic review. BMC Med 2012; 10:86. [PMID: 22873292 PMCID: PMC3425318 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-10-86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent insights provide support for the treatment of cancer during pregnancy, a coincidence that poses both mother and fetus at risk. Our aim was to critically review studies on the physiologic variations during pregnancy, the most common tumor markers used in diagnosis and follow-up of gynecological cancers. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of six tumor markers during normal pregnancy: carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3 (breast cancer); squamous cell carcinoma antigen (cervical cancer); and CA 125, anti-Müllerian hormone, inhibin B and lactate dehydrogenase (ovarian cancer). RESULTS For CA 15-3, 3.3% to 20.0% of all measurements were above the cut-off (maximum 56 U/mL in the third trimester). Squamous cell carcinoma antigen values were above cut-off in 3.1% and 10.5% of the measurements (maximum 4.3 µg/L in the third trimester). Up to 35% of CA 125 levels were above cut-off: levels were highest in the first trimester, with a maximum value up to 550 U/mL. Inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone and lactate dehydrogenase levels were not elevated in maternal serum during normal pregnancy. CONCLUSION During normal pregnancy, tumor markers including CA 15.3, squamous cell carcinoma antigen and CA 125 can be elevated; inhibin B, anti-Müllerian hormone and lactate dehydrogenase levels remain below normal cut-off values. Knowledge of physiological variations during pregnancy can be clinically important when managing gynecological cancers in pregnant patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sileny N Han
- Leuven Cancer Institute, Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anouk Lotgerink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | | | - Myriam Hanssens
- Foeto-Maternal Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Leuven Cancer Institute, Gynecologic Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
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