title: Serial laparoscopies over 30 months show that endometriosis in captive baboons (Papio anubis, Papio cynocephalus) is a progressive disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that spontaneous endometriosis is a progressive disease in baboons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve baboons with histologically proven spontaneous endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four serial laparoscopies (4.2 +/- 1.9 per animal, range 1 to 7) were performed after 1 to 3 months (n = 2), 4 to 6 months (n = 1), 7 to 9 months (n = 6), 10 to 12 months (n = 17), 13 to 15 months (n = 7), 16 to 18 months (n = 1), 19 to 21 months (n = 8), 22 to 24 months (n = 8), 25 to 27 months (n = 2), and 30 to 32 months (n = 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  During each laparoscopy the pelvis was examined for the presence of endometriosis. The number, size, and type of endometriotic implants were noted on a pelvic map and both endometriosis score and stage were calculated. Remodeling was defined as a change in laparoscopic appearance (typical, subtle, suspicious) of an individual endometriotic lesion. Data were analyzed by a signed rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometriosis was progressive as shown by the significant increase in the number and surface of lesions and in endometriosis scores after 24 months. The total number of endometriotic lesions after 24 months consisted of 69% new (and mostly subtle) implants, 10% remodeled lesions, and 21% unchanged implants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that endometriosis in captive baboons undergoing repeated laparoscopies is a dynamic and moderately progressive disease with periods of development and regression and active remodeling between different types of lesions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Bambra
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Raeymaekers
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Koninckx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010215:Papio; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies