Endometriosis and atherosclerosis: what we already know and what we have yet to discover.
The possible association between endometriosis and atherosclerosis represents an emerging topic in the field of women's health. In this Clinical Opinion paper, we analyze this theme focusing on the pathogenetic mechanisms of both diseases, deeply discussing about what is already known about this association and producing starting points about what we consider suitable to research in the near future with regard to cardiovascular involvement in women affected by endometriosis. We have identified 5 reports specifically carried out to investigate the relationship between atherosclerosis and endometriosis; these studies show the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in women affected by endometriosis, susceptible of regression after surgical removal of endometriosis, with a possible prognostic relevance for variations of cardiovascular risk in these women. However, to date, no studies in literature have been carried out to investigate the real incidence of cardiovascular events in women with endometriosis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: lu_santoro@libero.it.
Luca
L
Santoro
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Ferruccio
F
D'Onofrio
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Roberto
R
Flore
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Antonio
A
Gasbarrini
Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Angelo
A
Santoliquido
D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; carotid intima-media thickness; endometriosis; endothelial dysfunction