Pelvic organ prolapse and connective tissue abnormalities in Korean women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between pelvic organ prolapse in Korean women and joint hypermobility, which suggests a metabolic collagen fiber abnormality.


METHODS
Between March 1998 and March 2000, we investigated 55 patients with prolapse. The prevalence of joint hypermobility, by measuring finger extension angle, and the proportion of patients with joint hypermobility were measured in patients with pelvic organ prolapse and benign gynecologic patients (control group).


RESULTS
In middle-aged women (40-59 years), the average finger extension angles were higher in the POP group than in the control group (50.04 +/- 9.70 degrees vs. 39.50 +/- 12.19 degrees, respectively; P < .05), but in older women there was no significant difference between the two groups (42.84 +/- 13.05 degrees vs. 43.00 +/- 13.34 degrees, respectively; P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of joint hypermobility was higher in the POP group and with advanced POP stage (III, IV) than in the control group and early POP stage (I, II). Our results suggest that intrinsic connective tissue abnormality is related to the development of pelvic organ prolapse. Further study involving more patients with pelvic organ prolapse is warranted, and molecular studies to determine the genetic basis of pelvic organ prolapse are also required to further elucidate this abnormality.
Bai
Sang Wook
SW
Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. swbai@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Choe
Byung Hoon
BH
Kim
Jeong Yeon
JY
Park
Ki Hyun
KH
D000328:Adult; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology