title: Estrogen receptor expression in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A pilot study was performed to investigate the relationship between vulvar vestibulitis syndrome and estrogen receptor expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with a diagnosis of vulvar vestibulitis syndrome had tissue samples taken for vulvar estrogen receptor-alpha expression and this was compared with a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group showed a significant decrease in estrogen receptor expression, and 50% of the samples did not exhibit any receptor expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be a subgroup of women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome who exhibit abnormal estrogen receptor-alpha expression. This may be helpful in explaining why some women are resistant to medical treatment and may allow treatment to be prescribed more effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Free and University College Medical School (Royal Free Campus), London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lois J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Eva
authors.forename: Allan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Wendy M N
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Kerstin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Perrett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013577:Syndrome; D014847:Vulvitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen