Obstetric management of women after treatment for CIN

Photodynamic therapy of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1-3 and human papilloma virus (HMV) infection with methylaminolevulinate and hexaminolevulinate--a double-blind, dose-finding study

INTRODUCTION

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1-3 is the precursor of invasive cervical cancer and associated with human papillomavirus infection. Standard treatment is surgical and may be associated with subsequent pregnancy complications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of CIN may be an interesting alternative.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients were treated by PDT using hexaminolevulinate (HAL) and methylaminolevulinate in six dose and light groups and two incubation periods in a double-blind setting. Follow-up examinations were performed after 3, 6, and 12 months with histology, cytology, and HPV testing.

RESULTS

We included eight patients with CIN1, 23 with CIN2, and 36 with CIN3. Treatment was well tolerated. HAL 40 mM with 3-hour application turned out to be the most-effective group with 67% (10/15) complete response rate. The combined complete and partial response for patients with CIN2 was 83% (20/24).

CONCLUSION

PDT with CIN may be a safe and effective procedure for CIN treatment.

Obstetric management of moderate and late preterm labour

Moderate and late preterm births account for the majority of preterm babies. The common perception that birth at 32-36 weeks' gestation carries few risks is now being challenged, as these babies have increased risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. However, spontaneous labour at this gestation frequently has no specific, easily identifiable precursor, although preterm birth per se has a number of epidemiological and clinical associations. Prediction and prevention of preterm birth is currently largely aimed at identifying women at high risk such as those with previous preterm birth, and targeting intervention at this group. Both cervical length assessment and fibronectin testing permit some modification of the likelihood of preterm birth in this group. Progesterone treatment for the prevention of preterm birth is currently being researched widely, and appears a potentially promising strategy. Babies born at 32-36 weeks' gestation need careful monitoring in labour, with modification of intervention in labour due to their prematurity.