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A M Franssen

Publications and source records attributed to A M Franssen.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

On the origin and significance of serum CA-125 concentrations in 97 patients with endometriosis before, during, and after buserelin acetate, nafarelin, or danazol.

OBJECTIVE: To further elucidate the origin and significance of serum CA-125 in pelvic endometriosis. DESIGN: Retrospective. PATIENTS: Ninety-seven women with endometriosis who participated in two trials: (1) open-label study on buserelin acetate (n = 51) and (2) comparative, placebo-controlled study on nafarelin (n = 31) versus danazol (n = 15) (2:1 ratio). INTERVENTIONS: (1) Buserelin acetate 900 micrograms/d intranasally (IN); (2) nafarelin 400 micrograms/d IN versus danazol 400 mg/d orally during 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum CA-125 and estradiol concentrations; severity of endometriosis-related symptoms; scores according to The American Fertility Society (AFS) classification for endometriosis and/or adhesions (before and on last day of therapy). RESULTS: Menstruation and adhesions appeared major factors influencing pretreatment serum CA-125 concentrations. Compared with nonmenstruating women without adhesions, both menses and adhesions induced a slight increase tending to significancy, whereas the elevating effect of adhesions and menses together was highly significant and more than expected. All three treatment regimens reduced CA-125 concentrations to the same extent; cessation of therapy was followed by restoration to pretreatment concentrations. Of the AFS scores for implants and/or adhesions, only pretreatment scores for adhesions correlated significantly with CA-125 concentrations. Severity scores for endometriosis-related complaints did not correlate. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that adhesions play a major role in the presence of CA-125 in the systemic circulation and suggest that reductions of serum CA-125 concentrations during gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and danazol therapy are hormonally determined.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

Subcutaneous injection or infusion of gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist buserelin in the treatment of enlarged uteri harboring leiomyomata.

Thirteen women with symptomatic enlarged leiomyomatous uteri completed 6 months treatment with the gonadotropin releasing-hormone agonist (GnRH-a) buserelin, 600 micrograms daily subcutaneously (s.c.). Seven patients received injections (200 micrograms thrice daily, I-group) and six infusion by pump (50 micrograms.min-(1).2 h-(1). P-group). Residual uterine volumes after 6 months therapy were comparable in both study groups (I-group median 37%, range 23 to 74%; P-group median 49%, range 30 to 69%), as were estradiol levels. Symptoms were well controlled within short time. Six months posttreatment follow-up revealed uterine regrowth to pretreatment dimensions in all but 1 patient with recurrence of symptoms in most women. During therapy, several biochemical indices of bone metabolism were significantly elevated, reflecting an increased bone resorption; they were restored within 3 months after cessation of therapy, except for alkaline phosphatase. Triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol did not change during study; cholesterol was slightly, but significantly elevated after 6 months therapy. GnRH-a buserelin, 600 micrograms daily by s.c. injection or infusion is equally effective in reducing enlarged leiomyomatous uteri. Discontinuation of therapy is followed by uterine regrowth with recurrence of symptoms in most women. The present mode of therapy seems to be beneficial as an adjunct before myomectomy, or in advancing menopause in symptomatic, climacteric women.

Adult↗

Endometriosis: treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist Buserelin.

Fifty-one women with pelvic endometriosis were treated with the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) Buserelin (Hoechst Holland N.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands) 300 micrograms three times a day intranasally for 6 months. Forty-nine women completed treatment; 42 were available for 6 months of follow-up following treatment. Symptoms showed prompt and significant improvement. Follow-up after treatment revealed persistent relief from dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia in, respectively, 58.6% and 88.2% of the women, whereas pelvic pain returned to pretreatment scores. Serum estradiol (E2) was suppressed to predominantly early follicular phase concentrations. Laparoscopy at the end of therapy showed significant reduction of scores for implants only. There was no relation between the degree of E2 suppression during therapy and the improvement of symptoms or the reduction of endometriosis. Statistical analysis in 22 infertile patients, of whom 7 conceived during follow-up, revealed no differences in E2 levels during therapy, improvement of symptoms, or reduction of endometriosis. Buserelin appears to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in the management of endometriosis and associated complaints.

Adult↗

Treatment with a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone analogue (Buserelin) in danazol-resistant endometriosis patients.

Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist (Buserelin) therapy administered for a period of 6 months in 4 patients with longstanding, severe, danazol-resistant endometriosis, was found to be effective in reducing all complaints related to endometriosis. From 2 weeks on, nearly half of the E2 determinations were below the sensitivity level of the assay, while the other values were predominantly in the range of the early follicular phase. Side effects associated with the induced hypoestrogenemia were mild and well tolerated. After six months of follow-up without treatment, one patient who desired pregnancy conceived shortly after cessation of therapy and one patient showed lasting amelioration of her complaints. The symptoms relapsed in the other two, possibly due to inadequate dose and/or duration of treatment.

Adult↗

An acardiac acephalic monster.

A case of an acardiac acephalic monster is described, and the literature concerning the incidence, classification and etiology of acardia is reviewed. Acardia is a very rare congenital anomaly occurring in less than 1 in 34600 deliveries. The acardiac monster has been reported only in multiple, monochorionic pregnancies. This bizarre anomalous fetus is sustained in utero by parasitic anastomoses to the circulation of its usually normal co-twin and is therefore not compatible with extrauterine survival. Possibilities for prenatal diagnosis and complications during pregnancy and delivery are considered.

Abnormalities, Severe Teratoid↗