Low prevalence of DNA viruses in the human endometrium and endometriosis

Anna L Vestergaard, Ulla Breth Knudsen, Ulla B Knudsen, Torben Munk, Hanne Rosbach, Seweryn Bialasiewicz, Theo P Sloots, Pia M Martensen, Annika Antonsson
Archives of virology · 2010 · vol. 155(5) , pp. 695–703 · doi:10.1007/s00705-010-0643-y · PMID:20300784 · W2033133818
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This study found a low prevalence of tested DNA viruses in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis, with no viruses detected in endometriotic lesions, suggesting these viruses do not cause the disease.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 · read from full text ⓘ

This study assessed whether pathogenic DNA viruses are present in human endometrium and endometriosis by purifying DNA from endometrial biopsies and using highly sensitive PCR assays for HPV types, HSV-1/2, CMV, EBV, and several polyomaviruses. Across samples, pathogenic DNA virus prevalence in the human endometrium was generally low (0–10%), with only slight, non-significant differences between healthy women and women with endometriosis. No viruses were detected in endometriotic lesions. The paper concludes its findings do not provide evidence that endometriosis is caused by the tested viruses. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it tests specific DNA viruses (HPV, herpesviruses, CMV/EBV, and polyomaviruses) in endometrium and endometriotic lesions.

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Abstract

The chronic female disease endometriosis causes debilitating pain and lowered fertility. The aetiology is unknown, but indications of an infectious agent are present. This study investigates the possible involvement of a pathogenic virus in endometriosis patients and controls. DNA was purified from biopsies and subjected to highly sensitive PCR tests detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) types, the herpes family viruses HSV-1 and -2, CMV, and EBV, and the polyomaviruses SV40, JCV, BKV, KIV, WUV, and MCV. The prevalence of pathogenic DNA viruses in the human endometrium was generally low (0-10%). The virus prevalence was found to vary slightly when comparing the endometrium of healthy women and women with endometriosis. However, these were not significant differences, and no viruses were identified in endometriotic lesions. These results do not point towards any evidence that endometriosis is caused by these viruses.
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Abstract

The chronic female disease endometriosis causes debilitating pain and lowered fertility. The aetiology is unknown, but indications of an infectious agent are present. This study investigates the possible involvement of a pathogenic virus in endometriosis patients and controls. DNA was purified from biopsies and subjected to highly sensitive PCR tests detecting human papillomavirus (HPV) types, the herpes family viruses HSV-1 and -2, CMV, and EBV, and the polyomaviruses SV40, JCV, BKV, KIV, WUV, and MCV. The prevalence of pathogenic DNA viruses in the human endometrium was generally low (0-10%). The virus prevalence was found to vary slightly when comparing the endometrium of healthy women and women with endometriosis. However, these were not significant differences, and no viruses were identified in endometriotic lesions. These results do not point towards any evidence that endometriosis is caused by these viruses. | Original language | English | |---|---| | Journal | Archives of Virology | | Volume | 155 | | Pages (from-to) | 695-703 | | Number of pages | 9 | | ISSN | 0304-8608 | | DOIs | | | Publication status | Published - 2010 |

Keywords

- Endometriosis - Endometrium - Interferon - Virus - HPV - Herpes - Polyomavirus - Papillomavirus Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Low prevalence of DNA viruses in the human endometrium and endometriosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects - 1 Finished - Enometriosis and type I Interferon Vestergaard, A. L. (Project manager) & Martensen, P. M. (Project manager) 01/08/2007 → 31/07/2010 Project: Research Cite this - APA - Author - BIBTEX - Harvard - Standard - RIS - Vancouver

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Herpesviridae Papillomaviridae Polyomavirus Adult Endometriosis Endometrium Female Herpesviridae Humans Papillomaviridae Polymerase Chain Reaction Polyomavirus Prevalence Sensitivity and Specificity

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