Endometriosis and the Role of Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Pathophysiology: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which explains the pain that such patients report. Currently, we are faced with ineffective, non-invasive diagnostic methods and treatments that come with multiple side effects and high recurrence rates for both the disease and pain. These are the reasons why we are exploring the possibility of the involvement of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules in the process of the appearance of endometriosis. Cytokines play an important role in the progression of endometriosis, influencing cell proliferation and differentiation. Pro-inflammatory molecules are found in intrafollicular fluid. They have an impact on the number of mature and optimal-quality oocytes. Endometriosis affects fertility, and the involvement of endometriosis in embryo transfer during in vitro fertilization (IVF) is being investigated in several studies. Furthermore, the reciprocal influence between anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines and their role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis has been assessed. Today, we can affirm that pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play roles in survival, growth, differentiation, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune escape, which provides a perspective for approaching future clinical implications and can be used as biomarkers or therapy.

Oxidative-Stress Related Gene Polymorphism in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility.

Background and Objectives: Endometriosis is a benign inflammatory disease associated with infertility and chronic pelvic pain, estimated to affect 7−10% of reproductive-age women, with the possibility of malignant transformation. Recent studies focus on oxidative stress and genetic mutations as risk factors in the pathophysiology of endometriosis-associated infertility. Materials and Methods: This case-control study is the first in Eastern European women that aimed to investigate four genes' genetic polymorphisms that encode antioxidant enzymes involved in oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase 1, GPX1 198Pro > Leu, catalase CAT-262C > T, glutathione S-transferase M1, and T1 null genotype) and their association with endometriosis-related infertility. We compared 103 patients with endometriosis-associated infertility with 102 post-partum women as the control group. Results: The endometriosis group had a mean age of 34.5 +/− 6.12 years, while the control group's mean age was 35.03 +/− 5.95 years. For CAT-262C > T polymorphism, the variant genotypes were significantly more frequent in the endometriosis group. Moreover, for the GPX1 198Pro > Leu, the endometriosis group had significantly more frequent CT and TT genotypes. The null genotype of GSTM1 was detected significantly higher in the endometriosis group. No significant differences were found in the frequency of GSTT1 between the two groups. This study suggests that GPX1 198Pro > Leu, CAT-262C > T, and GSTM1 polymorphisms may be risk factors and that the association between the GSTM1-GSTT1 null genotype may play a significant role in endometriosis-associated infertility. Moreover, this study suggests that the GSTT1 null genotype does not influence the disease. Visual identification of endometriotic lesions with microscopic confirmation is the accepted gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis, but general anesthesia and laparoscopy are required. Conclusions: In this regard, a panel of genetic or laboratory markers is needed for the early diagnostics of this prevalent disease, especially in the case of young patients with future pregnancy intention.

Clinical and Pathological Significance of Cellular Atypia in Endometriosis.

Objective: To highlight the most frequent localization of ovarian endometriosis, the presence of atypical endometriosis, and recurrences. Retrospective review of 259 patients diagnosed with ovarian endometriosis treated at Tîrgu-Mures Emergency County Hospital, Obstetric Gynecology Clinic, between January 2014 and December 2018. Methods: Data were collected and analyzed for demographics, size of ovarian endometriotic cyst, and recurrences. Results: Out of 259 patients, 51 patients presented atypia, 20 on the right, 24 on the left, and seven patients were diagnosed with endometriosis with bilateral atypia. Higher susceptibility for left localization was noted. Thirty-nine patients (15.1%) presented recurrence. A statistically significant correlation (p = 0.006) was noted between patients with recurrence and atypia compared with those without atypia and endometriotic cysts larger than 7 cm. Patients with relapse under the age of 40 were noted to have mainly atypia with localization on the right (p = 0.025, OD = 4.107). Conclusions: The presence of endometrioma was not statistically significant correlated with left or right sided localization; recurrent endometriomas larger than 7 cm represents a risk for atypical endometriosis development. Recurrence and atypia appear more often in patients under the age of 40 and are right-sided. The total removal of the endometriomas can prevent the recurrence and subsequently the appearance of atypia and secondary neoplastic conditions.