Home blood pressure monitoring detects unrevealed hypertension in women with a history of preeclampsia: Results of the BP-PRESELF study.

Objectives: The risk of cardiovascular disease more than doubles after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. As early onset chronic hypertension contributes to cardiovascular risk, implementation of screening strategies, using home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM), may help to improve long-term cardiovascular health.We evaluated whether HBPM among women with a history of preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome is feasible for early detection and management of hypertension.

Blood pressure after PREeclampsia/HELLP by SELF monitoring (BP-PRESELF): rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), such as preeclampsia (PE) or the Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome are associated with elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, but standardized prevention guidelines after such pregnancies are lacking. Hypertension is the first emerging risk factor after PE/HELLP pregnancies and is a major risk factor for CVD. Hypertension before the age of 55 years may lead to various manifestations of end-organ damage at relatively young age.

The analysis of longitudinal quality of life measures with informative drop-out: a pattern mixture approach.

Purpose: The analysis of longitudinal health-related quality of life measures (HRQOL) can be seriously hampered due to informative drop-out. Random effects models assume Missing At Random and do not take into account informative drop-out. We therefore aim to correct the bias due to informative drop-out.

Analyzing longitudinal data with patients in different disease states during follow-up and death as final state.

This paper considers the analysis of longitudinal data complicated by the fact that during follow-up patients can be in different disease states, such as remission, relapse or death. If both the response of interest (for example, quality of life (QOL)) and the amount of missing data depend on this disease state, ignoring the disease state will yield biased means. Death as the final state is an additional complication because no measurements after death are taken and often the outcome of interest is undefined after death.

Effect of tamoxifen on the endometrium and the menstrual cycle of premenopausal breast cancer patients.

Objective: Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, is the agent of choice in the treatment of premenopausal receptor-positive breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of tamoxifen on the menstrual cycle and serum hormone levels and the subsequent endometrial response in premenopausal breast cancer patients.

Methods: In tamoxifen-using breast cancer patients aged 55 years or younger, the last menstrual period was registered, serum hormone levels measured, and the endometrial response visualized by transvaginal ultrasonography every 6 months.

Venlafaxine versus clonidine for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a double-blind, randomized cross-over study.

Purpose: Breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopause experience frequent and severe hot flashes (HF). We compared venlafaxine and clonidine for the treatment of HF with regard to side effects, efficacy, quality of life and sexual functioning.

Methods: In a double-blind, cross-over study, 60 breast cancer patients experiencing HF were randomized to 8 weeks venlafaxine followed by 2 weeks wash-out, and 8 weeks clonidine or vice versa.

The influence of endocrine treatments for breast cancer on health-related quality of life.

Unlabelled: Many hormonal modalities are available for breast cancer treatment, such as selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), aromatase inhibitors, progestins and luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. The long-term impact of these endocrine manipulations is an issue, because the duration of adjuvant treatment is still increasing, as is the number of breast cancer survivors. Premature menopause is induced at a young age, and may often be permanent after chemotherapy.

Prospective study of long-term impact of adjuvant high-dose and conventional-dose chemotherapy on health-related quality of life.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after conventional- and high-dose adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to either a conventional or high-dose chemotherapy regimen; both regimens were followed by radiotherapy and tamoxifen. HRQOL was evaluated until disease progression using the Short Form-36 (SF-36), Visual Analog Scale, and Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and assessed every 6 months for 5 years after random assignment.

Hot flushes in breast cancer patients.

Objectives: A literature search was conducted to gather information concerning the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to hot flushes, their prevalence and severity in breast cancer patients, their influence on quality of life, and the best therapeutic option.

Methods: Relevant studies in English were selected from Medline.

Results And Conclusion: Pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to hot flushes are poorly understood.

Fatigue and relating factors in high-risk breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant standard or high-dose chemotherapy: a longitudinal study.

Purpose: Determine whether standard or high-dose chemotherapy leads to changes in fatigue, hemoglobin (Hb), mental health, muscle and joint pain, and menopausal status from pre- to post-treatment and to evaluate whether fatigue is associated with these factors in disease-free breast cancer patients.

Patients And Methods: Eight hundred eighty-five patients were randomly assigned between two chemotherapy regimens both followed by radiotherapy and tamoxifen. Fatigue was assessed using vitality scale (score < or = 46 defined as fatigue), poor mental health using mental health scale (score < or = 56 defined as poor mental health) both of Short-Form 36, muscle and joint pain with Rotterdam Symptom Checklist, and Hb levels were assessed before and 1, 2, and 3 years after chemotherapy.