title: [Endometriosis: aetiopathogenetic basis].
abstract: Endometriosis, defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is a common condition affecting 10% of women in the reproductive age. Menstrual factors reported to increase risk include dysmenorrhea, early menarche, and shorter cycle lengths. The theory of retrograde menstruation with implantation of endometrial fragments, in conjunction with peritoneal factors to stimulate cell growth is the most widely accepted. There is a growing body of evidence that immunological factors and angiogenesis play a key role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In women with endometriosis, there appears to be an alteration in the function of peritoneal macrophages, natural killer cells and lymphocytes, with production of growth factors and inflammatory mediators in the peritoneal fluid. Survival, adhesion, proliferation, invasion and vascularization of endometrial tissue in abdominal cavity may be the consequence of retrograde menstruation and referred to as implantation theory.
authors.affiliation: UOC di Urologia, Azienda AUSL Reggio Emilia, Distretto di Guastalla, Italy. larosa@ausl.re.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larosa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzoli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monica
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia; D008954:Models, Biological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004967:Estrogens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011453:Prostaglandins; D007501:Iron; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases