title: Familial prevalence of uterine fibroids is associated with distinct clinical and molecular features.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London N18 1QX, UK. S.okolo@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Okolo
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Perrett
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Maclean
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A