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Sabien Wielsma

Publications and source records attributed to Sabien Wielsma.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Guidelines following hydatidiform mole: a reappraisal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine how often patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) who spontaneously achieve normal human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels subsequently develop persistent or recurrent gestational trophoblast disease. METHODS: Four hundred and fourteen cases of CHM registered at the Hydatidiform Mole Registry of Victoria were reviewed retrospectively after molar evacuation. Maternal age, gestational age, gravidity and parity were determined for each patient, as well as the need for chemotherapy. RESULTS: Among the 414 patients, 55 (13.3%) required chemotherapy for persistent trophoblastic disease. None of the patients whose hCG levels spontaneously fell to normal subsequently developed persistent molar disease. CONCLUSION: Weekly hCG measurements are recommended for all patients until normal levels are achieved. For patients who attain normal hCG levels within 2 months after evacuation, it seems safe to discontinue monitoring once normal levels are achieved. Patients who fail to achieve normal hCG levels by 2 months after evacuation should be monitored with monthly hCG measurements for 1 year after normalisation to assure sustained remission.

Adult↗

Persistent trophoblast disease following partial molar pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) follow-up data were analysed retrospectively in all patients registered in the Hydatidiform Mole Registry at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne from January 1992 to January 2001 to determine the risk of persistent trophoblast disease following partial molar pregnancy and to review the present follow-up protocol of patients suffering from partial hydatidiform molar pregnancy (PHM). METHODS: Demographic factors were determined for all 344 cases with a review diagnosis of PHM, included age, history of previous hydatidiform mole, gestation length, hCG levels and compliance with follow-up. FINDINGS: Six of the 344 patients diagnosed with PHM required treatment with single-agent methotrexate and folinic acid rescue. All six patients achieved and maintained a complete biochemical remission after chemotherapy. hCG regression assays were analysed for 235 patients: 225 patients had at least one normal hCG measurement during follow-up, of whom 152 (64.7%) patients obtained normal values within 2 months after evacuation. All patients obtained normal levels within 32 weeks after evacuation of the partial hydatidiform mole. Only 63 (25.6%) patients completed the recommended follow-up program. No patient who achieved normal hCG levels required chemotherapy because of a recurrent gestational trophoblastic tumour. RECOMMENDATIONS: This study indicates that 1.7% of all partial mole pregnancy patients needed treatment for malignant sequelae. In contrast, no patient diagnosed with partial mole had a biochemical or clinical relapse after achieving normal levels of hCG, consistent with previous studies. Patients who have had a partial hydatidiform mole should be followed by hCG assays until normal levels are achieved and then follow-up can be safely discontinued.

Adult↗