Calretinin and CD34 immunoreactivity of the endometrial stroma in normal endometrium and change of the immunoreactivity in dysfunctional uterine bleeding with evidence of 'disordered endometrial stroma'.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the pattern of reactivity of calretinin and CD34 in normal and pathological endometria.


METHODS
Various endometrial tissues were submitted for calretinin and CD34 immunostaining.


RESULTS
Calretinin reactivity was limited to the endometrial stromal cells (ESC) of the superficial zone of the functionalis layer (FL) in the proliferative phase, and was extensive in all stages of the secretory phase. The ESC of the post-menopausal, ectopic, hyperplastic or neoplastic endometria showed negative or focal weak reactivity for calretinin. In dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) with a normal or an abnormal histopathological appearance on routine stain, there were varying degrees of focal to extensive decreases in calretinin reactivity. The foci of negative calretinin reactivity in the FL displayed varying reactivity for CD34 and appeared to be continuous with the basalis layer (BL). Endometrial polyps were often reactive for CD34, but not reactive for calretinin.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunostaining for calretinin and CD34 is helpful in the diagnosis of endometrial polyp and hyperplasia. In DUB, with or without abnormal histopathological findings, there were alterations of the zonal pattern of calretinin reactivity in the FL. This alteration appears to be an expansion of the stroma of the BL into the FL, resulting in a 'disordered endometrial stroma'.
Mai
Kien T
KT
Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa Civic Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ktmai@ottawahospital.on.ca
Teo
Iris
I
Al Moghrabi
Hatim
H
Marginean
E Celia
EC
Veinot
John P
JP
D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D064032:Calbindin 2; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011127:Polyps / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; C576764:CALB2 protein, human; D064032:Calbindin 2; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G