Progesterone; Estradiol and their Receptors in Leiomyomata and the Adjacent Normal Myometria of black Kenyan Women

ABSTRACT

The contents of progesterone and oestrogen; and their respective receptors in uterine leiomyomata and adjacent normal myometrial tissue in indigenous black women in Kenya were studied. A random selection of twenty women undergoing hysterectomy for uterine fibroids at Kenyatta National Hospital was used for the studies. The myometria contained higher levels of E(2 ) (181 P 0.001); and P(4 ) (240.6 P 0.001); as compared to the leiomyomata. On the other hand uterine leiomyomata contained significantly higher levels of ER (147.6 P 0.001); and PR (178.7 P 0.001 ); than normal myometria. These findings differ slightly from those reported in black women in developed countries; but support the proposal that manipulation of sex steroids may be useful in the treatment and management of uterine leiomyomata