Estrogen Receptor Gene PvuII and XbaI Polymorphism in Patients with Endometriosis

Objective : To explore the association of the estrogen receptor PvuII and XbaI polymorphism with endometriosis. Methods : One hundred sixty women with surgically or histologically diagnosed endometriosis of stages I-IV, and 142 patients with no evidence of endometriosis by laparoscopy or laparotomy served as control. Frequency and distribution of PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms for estrogen receptor gene were evaluated. Results : There was no statistically significant difference in the allele distribution of PvuII polymorphism between the patients and the controls (pp of 35%, pP of 51%, PP of 14% vs. 42%, 44%, 15%, p>0.1); or in the frequency of the positive PvuII allele (0.61 vs. 0.63, p>0.1). And no significant difference was also observed in the allele distribution of XbaI polymorphism between the patients and the controls (xx of 66%, xX of 29%, XX of 5% vs. 68%, 30%, 1%, p>0.1); or in the frequency of the positive XbaI allele (0.80 vs. 0.83, p>0.1). Conclusion : These results suggest that the PvuII or XbaI polymorphism of the estrogen receptor gene is not associated with the risk for endometriosis in the Korean population.