Fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer leads to severe anaemia and haemodynamic instability. Palliative management includes vaginal packing as temporary measure, radiotherapy and other invasive surgical procedures. High dose emergency chemotherapy is not commonly implemented particularly when complicated with anaemia and renal impairment. We discuss three case series on the usefulness of high dose chemotherapy to combat bleeding from cervical cancer as an emergency treatment. The first case was clinically staged as operable 2A disease with severe anaemia due to bleeding from the tumour mass. The haemoglobin was corrected by blood transfusion while the bleeding was being arrested by high dose chemotherapy. The second case was inoperable with invasion to the bladder mucosa. She had frank haematuria and bleeding from the tumour with severe anaemia. A course of chemotherapy and blood transfusion controlled the bleeding and anaemia was corrected. The third case presented late with obstructive uropathy and anaemia. She required dialysis, blood transfusion and high dose emergency chemotherapy to stop the bleeding before undergoing urinary diversion after an unsuccessful ureteric stenting. High dose chemotherapy consisting cisplatin, vincristine, bleomycin and mitomycin-C has a clinical value in arresting fulminant haemorrhage in cervical cancer.

PURPOSEHost response to polytrauma occasionally has unpredictable outcomes. Immune response is a major factor influencing patient's outcome. This study evaluated the interaction of two main cytokines in immune response after major trauma, specifically interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Plasma level of these cytokines is determined by mRNA expression of these cytokines genes which may decide the outcome of polytrauma patients.

METHODSThis prospective multicenter trial held at four trauma centers enrolled 54 polytrauma patients [Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16]. Plasma levels and mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured for 5 days after trauma. Clinical evaluation was conducted to observe whether patients endured multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death. MODS evaluation was performed using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA). Trauma load which in this study is represented with ISS, plasma level, expression of cytokine genes and patient's outcome were examined with correlation test and statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe elevated IL-6/IL-10 ratio indicated increased activity of systemic inflammation response, especially pro-inflammation response which bears higher probability of progressing to MODS and death. The decline of IL-6/IL-10 ratio with heavy trauma load (ISS > 30) showed that compensatory anti-inflammation response syndrome (CARS) state was more dominant than systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), indicating that malfunction and failure of immune system eventually lead to MODS and deaths. The statistical significance in plasma level of cytokines was found in the outcome group which was defined as bearing a low trauma load but mortality.

CONCLUSIONThe pattern of cytokine levels in inflammation response has great impact on the outcome of polytrauma patients. Further study at the genetic level is needed to investigate inflammation process which may influence patient's outcome.