Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of levonorgestrel- releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in the treatment of adenomyosis and the influence of ovarian function. Methods Eighty patients with adenomyosis were followed up for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12 months after treating with LNG-IUS. The menstrual blood volume, dysmenorrheal, size of uteri, CA125 and EMAb level, hepatic function, serum glucose and serum lipids were observed and evaluated. Serum- levels of FSH and LH were tested before insertion and followed up for 6, 12 months after insertion, respectively. Results After inserting LNG-IUS,dysmenorrhea was obviously alleviated, and it was significantly decreased after 6 months. The menstrual blood volume was (200. 0 ±60)ml, (40. 0 ± 15)ml and (28 ±7)ml in 0, 6, 12 months after the insertion.Serum CA125 and positive rate of EMAb also significantly reduced [CA125: (50. 69 ± 10. 00) IU/L vs (18. 60 ±3.55)IU/L;EMAb:80. 0% vs 3. 8%, P ＜0. 05]. The volume of uterus reduced without significant changed (P ＞0. 05). There were little changes in the levels of hepatic function, serum glycosum, serum lipids, FSH and LH at 6 and 12 months after LNG-IUS(P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusions LUG-IUS is an effective and safe therapy for adenomyosis with dysmenorrheal and menorrhagia, and it has no significant effects on ovarian function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of serum IgA/C3 ratio in the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy and explore its relationship with the clinicopathological features of the patients.

METHODSSixty-six patients with IgA nephropathy, 111 with other glomerular diseases, and 40 healthy control subjects without kidney disease were tested for serum IgA and C3 levels using CRM470 adjusted standardized immune turbidimetric method, and the IgA/C3 ratio was calculated. According to Oxford and Lee's classification criteria, we analyzed the pathological grades of the renal biopsy samples from patients with IgA nephropathy. The ROC curve was used to assess the value of serum IgA and IgA/C3 ratio in predicting IgA nephropathy.

RESULTSPatients with IgA nephropathy had an elevated serum IgA/C3 ratio than those with other glomerular diseases and the control subjects, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.776. An elevated serum IgA/C3 ratio was not found to significantly correlate with the pathological grade of renal biopsy samples in patients with IgA nephropathy.

CONCLUSIONIn the absence of renal biopsy findings, serum IgA/C3 ratio can help in the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.

Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Kidney ; pathology