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Nerve bundles and deep dyspareunia in endometriosis Williams, Christina; Hoang, Lien; Yosef, Ali; Fahad, Alotaibi; Allaire, Catherine; Brotto, Lori A.; Fraser, Ian S.; Bedaiwy, Mohamed Ali, 1968-; Ng, Tony Ling Tin; Lee, Anna F.; et al.

Abstract

The etiology of deep dyspareunia in endometriosis is unclear. Our objective was to determine whether nerve bundle density in the cul-de-sac/uterosacrals (Zone II) is associated with deep dyspareunia in women with endometriosis. We conducted a blinded retrospective immunohistochemistry study (n=58) at a tertiary referral center (2011-2013). Patients were stringently phenotyped into a Study Group and two Control Groups. The Study Group (tender endometriosis, n=29) consisted of patients with deep dyspareunia, a tender Zone II on examination, and an endometriosis lesion in Zone II excised at surgery. Control Group 1 (nontender endometriosis, n=17) consisted of patients without deep dyspareunia, a non-tender Zone II on examination, and an endometriosis lesion in Zone II excised at surgery. Control Group 2 (tender non-endometriosis, n=12) consisted of patients with deep dyspareunia, a tender Zone II on examination, and a non-endometriosis lesion (e.g. normal histology) in Zone II excised at surgery. PGP9.5 immunohistochemistry was performed to identify nerve bundles (nerve fibers surrounded by perineurium) in the excised Zone II lesion. PGP9.5 nerve bundle density (bundles/HPF) was then scored by a pathologist blinded to the Group. We found a significant difference in PGP9.5 nerve bundle density between the three Groups (ANOVA, F[2,55]=6.39, p=0.003). Mean PGP9.5 nerve bundle density was significantly higher in the Study Group (1.16+/-0.56 bundles/HPF [+/-SD]), compared to Control Group 1 (0.65+/-0.36, Tukey test, p=0.005) and Control Group 2 (0.72+/-0.56, Tukey test, p=0.044). This study provides evidence that neurogenesis in the cul-de-sac/uterosacrals may be an etiological factor for deep dyspareunia in endometriosis.

Item Metadata

Title
Nerve bundles and deep dyspareunia in endometriosis
Creator
Williams, Christina; Hoang, Lien; Yosef, Ali; Fahad, Alotaibi; Allaire, Catherine; Brotto, Lori A.; Fraser, Ian S.; Bedaiwy, Mohamed Ali, 1968-; Ng, Tony Ling Tin; Lee, Anna F.; Yong, Paul John
Date Issued
2015
Description
The etiology of deep dyspareunia in endometriosis is unclear. Our objective was to determine whether nerve bundle density in the cul-de-sac/uterosacrals (Zone II) is associated with deep dyspareunia in women with endometriosis. We conducted a blinded retrospective immunohistochemistry study (n=58) at a tertiary referral center (2011-2013). Patients were stringently phenotyped into a Study Group and two Control Groups. The Study Group (tender endometriosis, n=29) consisted of patients with deep dyspareunia, a tender Zone II on examination, and an endometriosis lesion in Zone II excised at surgery. Control Group 1 (nontender endometriosis, n=17) consisted of patients without deep dyspareunia, a non-tender Zone II on examination, and an endometriosis lesion in Zone II excised at surgery. Control Group 2 (tender non-endometriosis, n=12) consisted of patients with deep dyspareunia, a tender Zone II on examination, and a non-endometriosis lesion (e.g. normal histology) in Zone II excised at surgery. PGP9.5 immunohistochemistry was performed to identify nerve bundles (nerve fibers surrounded by perineurium) in the excised Zone II lesion. PGP9.5 nerve bundle density (bundles/HPF) was then scored by a pathologist blinded to the Group. We found a significant difference in PGP9.5 nerve bundle density between the three Groups (ANOVA, F[2,55]=6.39, p=0.003). Mean PGP9.5 nerve bundle density was significantly higher in the Study Group (1.16+/-0.56 bundles/HPF [+/-SD]), compared to Control Group 1 (0.65+/-0.36, Tukey test, p=0.005) and Control Group 2 (0.72+/-0.56, Tukey test, p=0.044). This study provides evidence that neurogenesis in the cul-de-sac/uterosacrals may be an etiological factor for deep dyspareunia in endometriosis.
Subject
Endometriosis; Dyspareunia; Nerve; Immunohistochemistry; Laparoscopy
Genre
Postprint; Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2017-02-01
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
DOI
10.14288/1.0303148
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/58194
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of
Citation
Williams, C., Hoang, L., Yosef, A., Alotaibi, F., Allaire, C., Brotto, L., . . . Yong, P. J. (2015). Nerve bundles and deep dyspareunia in endometriosis. Reproductive Sciences,
Publisher DOI
10.1177/1933719115623644
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Copyright Holder
SAGE
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International