title: Diagnosis of endometrial nerve fibers in women with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies indicated that there is a high density of small nerve fibers in the functional layer of the endometrium in women with endometriosis and that it can be used as a marker to detect endometriosis. In this study, the efficacy assessment of small nerve fibers' density as a diagnostic marker was compared in patients with and without endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, women with history of pelvic pain and/or infertility who were candidates for laparoscopy or laparotomy in Rassoul hospital (2007-2009) were enrolled. Histological sections of endometrial tissue were prepared from endometrial biopsy from women with endometriosis (n = 12) (1) and without endometriosis (n = 15) (2). Protein gene product 9.5 and neurofilament were evaluated as marker from endometrial biopsies by immunohistochemical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between two groups according to age, body mass index. Nerve fibers were detected in all endometrial biopsies from all women with endometriosis but detected only in three women without endometriosis. The mean density of nerve fibers was 2.2 ± 4.7 mm(-2) in group without endometriosis and) 13.1 ± 3.3 (in group with endometriosis (p < 0.001). Women with endometriosis had significantly higher nerve fiber density in comparison with women without endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicated that endometrial biopsy for detecting density of nerve fibers by usage of protein gene product 9.5, provided a reliable marker for diagnosis of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aghaey Meibody
authors.forename: Abolfazl
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh Kashi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zare Mirzaie
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghajarie Bani Amam
authors.forename: Afsane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shariati Behbahani
authors.forename: Bita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zolali
authors.forename: Laily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Najafi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase