fibrin and Uterine-Prolapse

Women who were to be operated upon for prolapse of the uterus were treated preoperatively with estrogens for atrophic vaginal mucosa and examined postoperatively by the 125I-fibrinogen uptake test and phlebography. Among 11 women who received 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol daily for three weeks, fibrin deposits were found in six. Of eight women receiving 200 micrograms daily for 12 days, such deposits developed in four. Corresponding figures for the control group were 18 of 157, p < 0.001. Estrogens, therefore, should not be given preoperatively, and those patients treated with preparations containing estrogens should have such therapy discontinued preoperatively.. This study determines whether or not fibrin deposits occur more frequently in patients who had gynecologic surgical procedures for prolapse of uterus and treated with estrogens than in those in a control group. 11 women were given 50 ug of ethinyl estradiol daily for 3 weeks while 8 women were given 200 ug ethinyl estradiol daily for 12 days. The remaining 157 women who received no hormonal treatment served as controls. The women were examined postoperatively by the Iodine fibrinogen uptake test and phlebography according to the method of Nylander. The chi-square test with Yate's correction was used for data analysis. Fibrin deposits were found in 6 of the 11 women who received 50 ug ethinyl estradiol for 3 weeks and in 4 of 8 women receiving 200 ug for 12 days. Corresponding figures for the control group were 18 of 157, p 0.001. Estrogens should not prescribed to patients preoperatively. Estrogen therapy should be discontinued in patients who are about to be operated.

Topics: Estradiol; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Fibrin; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Middle Aged; Phlebography; Postoperative Complications; Thrombophlebitis; Uterine Prolapse