Familial prevalence of uterine fibroids is associated with distinct clinical and molecular features.
BACKGROUND
Although uterine fibroids are very common, their pathogenesis and clinical behaviour are poorly understood. Since they may be prevalent in some families, we investigated whether such a prevalence was associated with distinctive clinical and molecular features.


METHODS
A case-control questionnaire study of 300 multi-ethnic women with uterine fibroids at a London university hospital was undertaken, with review of case notes and immunohistochemical determination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in fibroids.


RESULTS
When compared with families with sporadic fibroids, familial prevalence of fibroids was associated with a higher incidence of abdominal swelling (59.1% versus 41.6%; P=0.037), menorrhagia (84.4% versus 51.9%; P=0.042), dysmenorrhoea (64.4% versus 46.3%; P=0.004), dyspareunia (43.2% versus 27.9%; P=0.012) and family history of cancers (52.3% versus 32.4%; P<0.01). The fibroids were also more multiple (mean +/- SEM: 7 +/- 0.86 versus 3 +/- 0.42; P<0.011) and strong VEGF-A expression in fibroids was more common in the familial group (64% versus 28%). Racial distribution was the same in both groups (blacks 49%, whites 33.4%, others 18.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Familial prevalence of uterine fibroids is associated with distinct clinical and molecular features that differ from those found when fibroids occur sporadically in families.
Okolo
S O
SO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London N18 1QX, UK. S.okolo@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
Gentry
C C
CC
Perrett
C W
CW
Maclean
A B
AB
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D005819:Genetic Markers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A