[Are there anatomical and clinical correlations between minimal and deep endometriosis? First results of Auvergne's Registry of Endometriosis].
OBJECTIVE
With a prospective study, to evaluate the existence of two distinct clinical diseases in the endometriosis syndrome, by comparing pain symptoms and quality of life from patients with minimal endometriosis (AFS-R<5) and data from patients with severe disease (deep infiltrating nodules and/or ovarian endometrioma).


METHODS
Patients with minimal disease (group A with AFS-R<5) and severe endometriosis (group B) are selected from the Auvergne Endometriosis Registry which started in January 2004. They have never been treated before for endometriosis. A surgical laparoscopic and a pathological diagnosis are required for the subjects to be included. Pelvic pain is assessed using a standardized questionnaire, and a visual analogue scale, quality of life using SF-36. The two groups are compared for the incidence and the severity of pelvic pain and for the impairment of their quality of life.


RESULTS
Forty-seven patients have a minimal disease, whereas 111 have a severe endometriosis. Demographic characteristics are similar in both groups. Quality of life (SF-36) and pelvic pains included chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, and defecation disorders are as common and severe in both groups. However, dysmenorrhea is more affected in group B than in group A (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
We find no relationship between severity of symptoms, quality of life, and the extent of endometriotic lesions at surgery. There would be no differences between minimal and severe disease. It could be explained by different painful mechanisms between minimal and severe endometriosis.
Chêne
G
G
Service de gynécologie-obstétrique et de médecine de la reproduction, hôpital Nord, CHU de St-Etienne, 42000 St-Etienne, France. chenegautier@yahoo.fr
Jaffeux
P
P
Lasnier
C
C
Aublet-Cuvelier
B
B
Matsuzaki
S
S
Jardon
K
K
Mage
G
G
Pouly
J-L
JL
Canis
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004414:Dyspareunia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires