Immunohistochemical expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in endometrial polyps and adjacent endometrium in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the presence of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in endometrial polyps and adjacent endometrium in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Forty-four consecutively enrolled postmenopausal patients were submitted to operative hysteroscopy. These patients had diagnosed benign endometrial polyp. The presence of ER and PR was determined in endometrial samples and polyps by immunohistochemical method and the slides were evaluated using a semiquantitative analysis.


RESULTS
In the glandular epithelium, the median of the ER score was 7.0 in the polyps and 5.0 in the endometrium (P<0.0001) and the median of the PR was 6.0 in the polyps and 4.0 in the endometrium (P<0.0001). In the stroma, the median of the ER score was 6.0 in the polyps and 5.0 in the endometrium (P=0.021) and the median of the PR score was 4.0 in the polyps and 4.5 in the endometrium (P=0.34 ).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggests that steroids receptors present a crucial role in the phisiopathology of the endometrial polyps in postmenopausal women, specially the estrogen receptors.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, no. 3900, 8o andar, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP 14049-900, Brazil.
Elza Carvalho
EC
Sant'Ana de Almeida
Antonio Alberto
AA
Nogueira
Francisco José
FJ
Candido dos Reis
Leandra Náira
LN
Zambelli Ramalho
Sérgio
S
Zucoloto
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone