Seric Calcium and Magnesium in Normal and Pre Eclamptic Pregnant Women: A Case-Control Study in Kinshasa, D R Congo

Goal: The present study aimed to determine the profile of seric calcium and magnesium in pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women of Kinshasa province in the Democratic Republic of Congo where preeclampsia is characterized not only by a high incidence, but also by a seasonal variation probably related to nutritional intake. Study Design: This is a case-control study that took place during the period from September 2014 to March 2015 in four quaternary and tertiary maternity hospitals in Kinshasa. A total of 113 healthy pregnant women (controls) and 112 pre-eclamptic and eclamptic pregnant women (cases) were included in this study. Seric calcium and magnesium were measured in all these gravidas by the principle of spectrophotometry with a HUMALYSER Primus semi-automaton. Results: The mean age of those gravidas was 26.8 ± 6.3 years (26.7 vs 26.9, p = 0.11). The majority of these gravidas were primiparous. The mean gestational age in both groups was 31.35 ± 0.9 weeks (32.1 vs 30.6, p = 0.21). The average seric calcium value was 4.47 ± 0.23 mEq /L in healthy pregnant women compared to 3.80 ± 0.71 mEq/l in pre-eclamptics (P 0.001). The mean of seric magnesium was 1.56 ± 0.15 mg/dL in healthy pregnant women compared to 1.20 ± 0.41 mg/dL in pre eclamptics (P 0.001). Seric calcium and magnesium values were low in the pre-eclamptic group and lower in the eclamptic group (P 0.001). Conclusion: This study establishes a relationship between the low concentration of seric calcium and magnesium with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, which could be one of the determinants of the high prevalence and seasonality of the disease in Kinshasa.

Assessing of the Therapeutic Efficacy of These 2 Treatment Regimens in the Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection at Kinshasa

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is a worldwide public health problem. Unfortunately, its management poses a problem because of resistance to antibiotics. However, there are codified treatment protocols covering sequential and concomitant quadritherapy with regard to first-line probabilistic treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of these 2 treatment regimens in the management of Hp infection at Kinshasa. Methods: This was a mixed study, with documentary, descriptive and interventional approaches, carried out between September 1, 2018 and April 30, 2020. Results: Sixty-four patients were collected, including 36 men against 28 women with a sex ratio of 1H:1F;the mean age was 54 ± 16.5 years. There was an over-representation of senior patients (n = 29);an intermediate number of adult patients (n = 22) and a lower number of young patients (n = 13). 34 and 30 were respectively treated according to the concomitant and sequential regimens. Concomitant quadruple therapy offered an eradication rate of 91.2% compared to 56.7% for sequential quadruple therapy;concomitant treatment, advancing age and absence of risky behavior more quickly predicted the occurrence of eradication success. Conclusion: The present study showed superiority of concomitant quadruple therapy over sequential quadruple therapy in first-line treatment. Alcohol with active smoking had a negative influence, while concomitant quadruple therapy, advancement in age had a positive influence on the success of the eradication of Hp infection.

Getting Pregnant after Infertility Management without Assisted Reproductive Technology in a Low-Income Setting

Getting pregnant after infertility management is a more challenging situation in some under equipped sub-Saharan setting. To highlight the determinants of conception without Assisted Reproductive technology (ART) in a low-income area. The current study concerned 2958 patients who sought care for infertility in the University Clinic of Kinshasa et the Centre Medical Edith, from January 2003 to December 2013. For them, any technique of ART was used. Age of patients ranged from 18 to 49 with average of 33.2 ± 5.6 years old. After treatment, 249 (9%) patients conceived (clinical pregnancy). Most of the patients who conceived were less than 36 years, without history of illegal abortions et who suffered from genital infections. The treatments closely associated with conception were antibiotics (73%), hydrotubation (12%) ovulation inductors (11%) and gynecologic surgery (4%). In that setting, ART is a must. Very few infertility problems, apart from infection and its consequences, can get solution.

Relationship between Uricemia and Other Biochemical Markers with the Materno-Fetal Complications during Pre-Eclampsia

Goal: Determining the place of Uricemia associated with other biochemical makers in the prediction of fetal-maternal complications during preeclampsia. Material and method: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study of 75 pre-eclamptic women in three maternities in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, during the January to December 2013. The values of the following biochemical markers: uricemia, proteinuria and creatinemia were correlated with maternal and fetal prognosis. Results: This study showed that hyper uricemia associated with massive proteinuria and a high creatinine level correlated with an unfavorable pregnancy outcome and the occurrence of major materno-fetal complications such as eclampsia (X-squared = 24.3598, ddl = 2, p-value = 0.000005) and low birth weight (p = 0.001, R2 = 0.08). Conclusion: In view of these results, it appears necessary to ensure these biochemical markers systematically in the monitoring of pre-eclampsia.

Tubal Infertility and Chlamydia Trachomatis in a Congolese Infertile Population

Infertility of tubal origin is the most frequent in sub-Saharan area. It is due to tuboperitoneal lesions mainly because of infection;especially sexually transmitted infection. Worldwide, Chlamydia trachomatis is the main pathogen. In our setting, some studies failed to establish the link between tubal infertility and chlamydia trachomatis. The current study aimed to determine the local data related to chlamydia trachomatis role in tubal infertility and the usefulness of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody titer test (CAT) in discrimination of the patients with and without tuboperitoneal lesions. Patients’ average age was 33.9 ± 4.8 years, average coitarche 19.4 ± 4.4 years and average number of partners: 3.1 ± 1.6. The level of CAT is correlated to the tuboperitoneal severity. CAT was more specific (93.3%;CI 95%: 81.7 - 98.6) than sensitive (72.7% CI 95%: 49.8 - 89.3) and discriminated correctly 89% (AUC = 0.89) of the patients with or without tuboperitoneal lesions. In conclusion, as it is stated worldwide, Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent sexually transmitted pathogen associated with tubal infertility. CAT has to be used as a tool to select patients to be submitted to invasive investigation, like laparoscopy.