Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu

Prof. Dr. Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 June 2021 in Medicina
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ASANCA ANGELA SIMIONESCU
ANCA ANGELA SIMIONESCU
MCMonica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu
CCCatalin Cirstoiu
Catalin Cirstoiu
Stanescu Ana Maria AlexandraStanescu Ana Maria Alexandra
Stanescu Ana Maria Alexandra
BCBogdan Cretu
Bogdan Cretu
In adults, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) represents a spectrum of disorders. It is commonly found in women in routine orthopedic practice. Hip dysplasia is a leading precursor of joint laxity; when untreated, it can contribute to chronic modifications, such as thickening of the pulvinar and ligamentum teres (which can also elongate), hypertrophy of the transverse acetabular ligament, and osteoarthritis. DDH is presumed to be associated with alterations in pelvic morphology that may affect vaginal birth by the reduction in the transverse diameter of the pelvic inlet or outlet. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of pregnancy-associated DDH. We primarily focused on how a surgical DDH treatment might influence the pelvic shape and size and the effects on the mechanism of birth. We presented the female pelvis from the standpoint of bone and ligament morphology relative to a pelvic osteotomy. Then, we described whether the pregnancy was impacted by previous surgical DDH treatments, performed from infancy to adulthood. In conclusion, hip dysplasia is not associated with high-risk complications during pregnancy or with increased difficulty in vaginal delivery.

17 November 2021 in Medicina
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FSFrancesca Scurtu
Francesca Scurtu
ACAndreea Carp-Veliscu
Andreea Carp-Veliscu
APAida Petca
Aida Petca
DBDumitru-Cristinel Badiu
Dumitru-Cristinel Badiu
EBElvira Brătilă
Elvira Brătilă
CMClaudia Mehedintu
Claudia Mehedintu
The connection between endometriosis and pregnancy outcomes is trending among the research topics. Until recently, endometriosis and its painful symptomatology were considered to be alleviated by pregnancy. However, these beliefs have shifted, as emerging literature has demonstrated the role of this condition in affecting pregnancy evolution. The underlying pathogenesis of endometriosis is still poorly understood, all the more when pregnancy complications are involved. Debatable opinions on endometriosis associated with obstetric complications exist because of the potential bias resulting from the heterogeneity of preceding evidence. This review aims to evaluate the connection between endometriosis and adverse pregnancy outcomes and their shared pathogenic mechanisms. We searched PubMed and EMBASE and focused on the studies that include placenta praevia, premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous preterm birth, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, obstetric hemorrhages (ante- and postpartum bleeding, abruptio placentae), miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational cholestasis, small for gestational age, and their association with endometriosis. Not only the risks of emergence were highlighted, but also the pathogenic connections. Epigenetic alterations of some genes were found to be mirrored both in endometriosis and obstetric complications. This review issues a warning for providing increased attention to pregnant women with endometriosis and newborns as higher risks of preeclampsia, placental issues, and preterm deliveries are associated.

6 December 2022 in Medicina
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AUAna Veronica Uzunov
Ana Veronica Uzunov
MCMonica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu
DSDiana Cristina Secară
Diana Cristina Secară
CICringu Ionescu
Cringu Ionescu
AMAlexandra Matei
Alexandra Matei
Valentin Nicolae VarlasValentin Nicolae Varlas
Valentin Nicolae Varlas
Background: Adolescent pregnancy represents an important public-health problem due to its maternal and fetal outcomes. Adolescent patients are predisposed to multiple obstetrical complications, including anemia and preterm birth which has a higher incidence among this population; withal, in the specialty literature, anemia is considered to be a risk factor for preterm delivery; furthermore, multiple studies have demonstrated that a very young age is an independent risk factor for preterm birth. Objectives: The study aims to reveal if anemia during adolescent pregnancy has a negative impact on the time and mode of delivery and newborns’ outcomes. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective multicentric study on adolescent pregnancy. We analyzed 172 patients aged between 13 and 16 years who delivered in two large tertiary hospitals between 1 October 2018 and 15 April 2022. We divided the patients into two groups—a study group (n = 64) with anemia and a control group (n = 108) without anemia. We evaluated the modes of delivery, the times of birth, and the neonatal outcomes by 1-min newborn’s Apgar score, neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) admission, and the newborns’ weights. Results: The rate of cesarean section was higher in patients with anemia than in the control group (45.31% vs. 38.88%, p < 0.001). We found that patients between 13 and 16 years diagnosed with anemia have a higher risk of preterm birth than those without anemia (35.93% vs. 21.29%, p < 0.001); however, an increased rate of LBW neonates was observed in the anemic adolescent group ≤14 years (p < 0.001). Regarding the newborns’ 1-min Apgar score, NICU admission, no statistically significant differences were recorded between the two groups according to the severity of anemia. In the anemic patients’ group, prenatal screening was identified in 9.37% of cases, while in the control group, in 16.67% (p = 0.034), which represents negative predictive factors, along with a low socio-economic status for the presence of anemia in young adolescent patients. Conclusions: Anemia is a risk factor for preterm birth, LBW, and cesarean section in young adolescent pregnancy. The association of lack of prenatal care and low socio-economic status worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Valentin Nicolae VarlasValentin Nicolae Varlas
Valentin Nicolae Varlas
RVRoxana Georgiana Varlas
Roxana Georgiana Varlas
PMPlotogea Mihaela
Plotogea Mihaela
MIMadalina Iordache
Madalina Iordache
CMClaudia Mehedintu
Claudia Mehedintu
MCMonica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu
SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women is of growing interest due to controversy over the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs during pregnancy and postpartum. Pregnant women are susceptible to develop severe forms of viral infections due to pregnancy-related immune alterations, changes in lung functions, and hypercoagulability. The association of pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause an increased incidence of thrombotic complications, especially in the case of patients with some genetic variants that favor inflammation and thrombosis. Compared to the general population, pregnant women may be at increased risk of thrombotic complications related to COVID-19. The lack of extensive clinical trials on thromboprophylaxis and extrapolating data from non-pregnant patients lead to major discrepancies in treating pregnant women with COVID-19. Currently, a multidisciplinary team should determine the dose and duration of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy for these patients, depending on the disease severity, the course of pregnancy, and the estimated due date. This narrative review aims to evaluate the protective effect of thromboprophylaxis in pregnant women with COVID-19. It is unknown at this time whether antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy initiated at the beginning of pregnancy for various diseases (preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, thrombophilia) offers a degree of protection. The optimal scheme for thromboprophylaxis in pregnant women with COVID-19 must be carefully established through an individualized decision concerning gestational age and the severity of the infection.

10 June 2022 in Diagnostics
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OMOctavian Munteanu
Octavian Munteanu
DSDiana Secara
Diana Secara
MNMaria Narcisa Neamtu
Maria Narcisa Neamtu
ABAlexandru Baros
Alexandru Baros
ADAdela Dimitriade
Adela Dimitriade
MCMonica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu
(1) Background: A quarter of maternal deaths are caused by post-partum hemorrhage; hence obstetric bleeding is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Pelvic artery embolization (PAE) represents a minimally invasive interventional procedure which plays an important role in conservative management of significant bleeding in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and the complications of PAE in patients with significant vaginal bleeding with different obstetrical and gynecological pathologies. (2) Methods: We conducted an observational, retrospective study on 1135 patients who presented to the University Emergency Hospital of Bucharest with vaginal bleeding of various etiology treated with endovascular therapy. All the patients included in the study presented vaginal hemorrhage that was caused by: uterine leiomyomas, genital tract malignancies, ectopic pregnancy, arterio-venous mal-formations and other obstetrical causes. We excluded patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe hepatic impairment, congestive heart failure, renal failure or ventricular arrhythmias. (3) Results: Bleeding was caused in 88.19% of cases by uterine leiomyomas (n = 1001), 7.84% (n = 89) by cervical cancer, 2.29% by ectopic pregnancy (n = 26), 1.23% by arteriovenous malformation (n = 14) and 0.52% by major hemorrhage of obstetrical causes. Endovascular procedures were used in all the cases. In patients with uterine leiomyomas, supra-selective uterine arteries embolization was used. In 97% (n = 1101) of patients, bleeding was stopped after the first attempt of PAE. 3% (n = 34) needed a second embolization. In 12 of 14 cases of AVM, PAE was successful, two other cases needed reintervention; (4) Conclusions: Endovascular procedures represent a major therapy method for both acute and chronic hemorrhage in Obstetrics and Gynecology. It can be used in post-partum or post-traumatic causes of vaginal bleeding, but also in patients with chronic hemorrhage from uterine leiomyomas or inoperable genital malignancies or even as a preoperative adjuvant in cases of voluminous uterine fibroids or invasive malignant tumors, aiming to reduce intraoperative hemorrhage.

20 January 2023 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Journal Article
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DMDaniela Catalina Meca
Daniela Catalina Meca
Valentin Nicolae VarlasValentin Nicolae Varlas
Valentin Nicolae Varlas
CMClaudia Mehedintu
Claudia Mehedintu
MCMonica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Monica Mihaela Cirstoiu
Background: Kidney function impairment in pregnancy is challenging, with incidence and prognosis only partially known. Studies concerning maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies occurring in patients with renal injury and the therapeutic strategies for improving the prognosis of these patients are scarce due to the limited number of cases reported. Objectives: We aimed to establish correlations between the main maternal and fetal outcomes in patients with severe CKD or AKI in pregnancy to improve the prognosis, referring to a control group of patients with mild kidney impairment. Methods: For this purpose, we conducted a retrospective study, at University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, Romania, from January 2019 until December 2021, selecting 38 patients with AKI and 12 patients diagnosed with advanced CKD, compared to 42 patients displaying borderline values of serum creatinine (0.8–1 mg/dL), reflecting the presence of milder kidney impairment. Results: The probability of having a child that is premature and small for gestational age, with a lower Apgar score and more frequent neonatal intensive care unit admissions, delivered by cesarean section, is higher in patients with highly reduced kidney function. Conclusion: Severe kidney function impairment is associated with a grim fetal prognosis and obstetrical complications.