Farnaz Sohrabvand , Mamak Shariat , Mohammad Jafar Farahvash , Fedyeh Haghollahi , Mahnoosh Khosravi , Masoomeh Maasomi , Maryam Bagheri , Alireza Abdollahi , Akram Sarbiyaie , Fariba Bashari ,
Volume 71, Issue 10 (January 2014)
Abstract
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Chronic infections have been mentioned as one of the different etiologic factors related to PCOS. Due to the high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection especially in developing countries, its probable role in the pathogenesis of PCOS and the limited information available in this area, serologic study of H.Pylori infection in patients with PCOS, was performed.
Methods: This research was performed as a case control study from Dec 2010 until May 2012 in 82 patients (and their spouses) with polycystic ovary syndrome (case group) and 82 non PCOS patients (control group) with an age range of 20-40 referred to Vali-e-Asr Hospital infertility clinic. Both groups and their husbands filled a questionnaire and were examined by testing their serum H.Pylori IgG and IgA antibody levels. Statistical testing and analysis was performed by t-student and λ2 tests.
Results: Mean age of the women and men and also other demographic characteristics except their profession showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in the two groups (PCOS and non PCOS). H.Pylori antibody IgG serum level was positive in 78% and 76.5% and H.Pylori antibody IgA level in 30.5% and 37% of PCOS versus non PCOS patients respectively which showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). There was also no significant difference between the H.Pylori antibodies levels in the spouses in the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed no significant difference in serologic examination re-sults in PCOS versus non PCOS patients. The finding of high prevalence of H.Pylori IgG and IgA positive levels in both PCOS and non PCOS patients can be probably re-lated to the high prevalence of H.Pylori infection or exposure in Iranian population and therefore suggest an issue for further investigation.
Razieh Mohamad Jafari, Mehrnaz Taghvai Maasomi , Mahin Najafian , Najmie Saadati ,
Volume 72, Issue 7 (October 2014)
Abstract
Background: Previous investigations have shown that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) fetuses as well as preterm delivery. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of preterm delivery in women with low PAPP-A and at intermediate risk for chromosomal abnormalities in the first trimester screening.
Methods: A total of 137 women who underwent Down syndrome screening between 11 to 14 weeks of gestation were studied from September 2011 to September 2013 at Perinatal Care Clinic, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran. From those, 52 patients had low PAPP-A. Inclusion criteria were singleton pregnancies, at 11 to 14 weeks of gestation, at intermediate risk for Down syndrome (risk in 1:101 to 1:1000). The intermediate risk was estimated based on maternal parameters, maternal serum markers (PAPP-A and β-hcG), and nuchal translucency (NT) using fetal medicine foundation (FMF), UK) software. The power of the study was 90%. The sample size was estimated based on prevalence of preterm delivery in pregnancies with low PAPP-A in the first trimester screening. Patients were followed-up until delivery to observe pregnancy outcomes. We evaluated the variables such as level of PAPP-A, outcomes of delivery, age, β-hCG, and gestational age.
Results: Among 137 normotensive pregnant women at intermediate risk for Down syndrome, 52 cases (38%) had low PAPP-A (<0.4 MoM). Of 52, 14 cases (27%) had preterm delivery. None of our patients had pregnancy related or non related diabetes, preeclampsia, or chromosomal anomalies. 45 cases (86%) from 52 patients were equal or less than 35 years, while 7 patients were more than 35 years. Among 52 followed-up patients, 48 patients (92.4%) were at low-intermediate risk (risk in 1:251 to 1:1000), and 4 cases (7.6%) were at high-intermediate risk (risk in 1:101 to 1:250).
Conclusion: We found high frequency of preterm delivery in pregnant women with low PAPP-A level at the first trimester screening. Hence, this group of patients needs special and early preventive management. Furthermore, we suggest that future researches to be conducted with larger sample size and also cervix length measurement to be included.
