RESUMO
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the expression of Ezrin and Phosphorylated Ezrin (Phospho-Ezrin) in endometriosis lesions and its relation to the menstrual cycle phase, stage of endometriosis, histological classification, and clinical symptoms. Material and methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study, with endometriotic lesions collected from women with endometriosis (n = 57) who underwent laparoscopy from 2017 to 2018. The expression of Ezrin and Phosphorylated Ezrin proteins was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: All the endometriotic lesions contained immunostaining for Ezrin in the glands. Phosphorylated Ezrin was expressed in the stroma of all endometriotic lesions. There was no difference in the Ezrin and Phosphorylated Ezrin's expression in the retrocervical, ovarian, superficial, and intestinal lesions in the same patient. Dysmenor-rhea, dyspareunia, acyclic pain, infertility, and dysuria were similar in the three groups of Ezrin staining. There was an inversely proportional relationship between severe dyschezia and Ezrin's intensity, being 66.7% of Ezrin 1 (weak intensity), 36.7 Ezrin 2 (moderate intensity), and 10.0% of Ezrin 3 (p = 0.013). Regarding Phospho-Ezrin there wasn't a significant difference between all the analyzed variables. Histological classification and menstrual cycle phase had also no significant difference between Ezrin and Phospho-Ezrin immunostaining. Conclusion: Ezrin protein and Phospho-Ezrin can be considered important markers to elucidate the mechanisms related to migration and attachment of endometriotic lesions. It is still unclear if Ezrin and Phospho-Ezrin are a cause or consequence of endometriosis. Further studies comparing different types of lesions and eutopic endometrium are necessary to elucidate the role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. HIGHLIGHTS The implantation of endometrial cells in the pelvic cavity has been related to some factors such as a receptive environment that allows the implantation and proliferation of these cells. Several studies have shown the participation of the Ezrin protein in the process of invasion of malignant cells. The expression of Ezrin and its activated form was observed in endometriotic lesions providing great evidence that these proteins can play an important role in the migration and attachment of endometriotic lesions.
RESUMO
A endometriose é uma doença crônica de mulheres em idade reprodutiva com sintomas que levam à diminuição na qualidade de vida e à infertilidade. As formas infiltrativas da doença penetram mais que 5 mm abaixo da superfície peritoneal, representando lesões ativas e fortemente relacionadas com dor pélvica e dispareunia profunda. A abordagem da mulher com endometriose profunda representa nos dias de hoje grande desafio para muitos ginecologistas. O diagnóstico pode ser realizado por várias técnicas, porém a ultrassonografia transvaginal e a ressonância magnética são métodos que aumentam as chances de se detectar múltiplos nódulos, as camadas envolvidas e a distância da borda anal. Não existem dados consistentes na literatura que afirmem qual a melhor opção de tratamento, clínico ou cirúrgico. A terapêutica clínica envolve medicamentos direcionados à melhora da dor, enquanto a cirúrgica baseia-se nas possíveis técnicas operatórias com menor índice de morbidade e de complicações. Assim, a mulher com endometriose deve ser abordada individualmente e de preferência com uma equipe multidisciplinar, para que se obtenham os melhores resultados, visando exclusivamente à melhora dos sintomas
Endometriosis is a chronic disease of reproductive-aged women with symptoms that lead to decreased quality of life and infertility. The infiltrative forms of the disease penetrate more than 5 mm the peritoneal surface, representing active lesions and strongly related to pelvic pain and deep dyspareunia. Nowadays, the treatment of deep endometriosis is a great challenge for many gynecologists. The diagnosis can be performed by many techniques, but the vaginal ultrasound and the magnetic resonance imaging are methods that increase the chances in detecting multiple nodules, layers involved and the distance from the anal verge. There are no consistent data in the literature that state which is the best treatment, medical or surgical. The medical therapy involves drugs related to pain relief, while the surgery is based on surgical techniques with less morbidity and complications. Therefore, women with endometriosis should be treated individually and preferably with a multidisciplinary team, to achieve the best results, in order exclusively to improve the symptoms