Diagnosis of endometrial nerve fibers in women with endometriosis

Aghaey Meibody F, Fatemeh Aghaey Meibody, Abolfazl Mehdizadeh Kashi, Mehdizadeh Kashi A, Zare Mirzaie A, Ali Zare Mirzaie, Ghajarie Bani Amam M, Marjan Ghajarie Bani Amam, Shariati Behbahani A, Afsane Shariati Behbahani, Zolali B, Bita Zolali, Laily Najafi
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2010 · vol. 284(5) , pp. 1157–1162 · doi:10.1007/s00404-010-1806-5 · PMID:21165744 · W1964378623
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-28 ⓘ

This study assessed the efficacy of small nerve fiber density in endometrial biopsies as a diagnostic marker for endometriosis, finding significantly higher densities in women with the condition.

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

This study evaluated whether the density of small nerve fibers in endometrial tissue could serve as a diagnostic marker for endometriosis, using endometrial biopsies from women with pelvic pain and/or infertility scheduled for laparoscopy or laparotomy. Immunohistochemistry quantified protein gene product 9.5 and neurofilament in biopsies from 12 women with endometriosis and 15 without, finding that nerve fibers were present in all endometriosis cases but only in three women without endometriosis, with a much higher mean density in the endometriosis group (13.1 ± 3.3 vs 2.2 ± 4.7 mm−2; p < 0.001). The paper’s main limitation is the small sample size and relatively narrow comparison groups from a single clinical setting. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it tests endometrial nerve fiber density as a diagnostic marker for endometriosis.

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Abstract

PurposeRecent 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.MethodsIn 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.ResultsThere 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.ConclusionsOur 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.
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Abstract

Purpose 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. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Fertil Steril 92(5):1799–1801 Tokushige N, Markham R, Russell P, Fraser IS (2007) Different types of small nerve fibers in eutopic endometrium and myometrium in women with endometriosis. Fertil Steril 88(4):795–803 Tokushige N, Markham R, Russell P, Fraser IS (2006) High density of small nerve fibres in the functional layer of the endometrium in women with endometriosis. Hum Reprod 21(3):782–787 Evans S, Moalem-Taylor G, Tracey DJ (2007) Pain and endometriosis. Pain 132:S22–S25 Berbic M, Schulke L, Markham R, Tokushige N, Russell P, Fraser IS (2009) Macrophage expression in endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. Hum Reprod 24:325–332 Al-Jefout M, Andreadis N, Tokushige N, Markham R, Fraser I (2007) A pilot study to evaluate the relative efficacy of endometrial biopsy and full curettage in making a diagnosis of endometriosis by the detection of endometrial nerve fibers. 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Conflict of interest None. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Aghaey Meibody, F., Mehdizadeh Kashi, A., Zare Mirzaie, A. et al. Diagnosis of endometrial nerve fibers in women with endometriosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 284, 1157–1162 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1806-5 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1806-5

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Adolescent Adult Biomarkers Biomarkers Biopsy Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Middle Aged Nerve Fibers Nerve Fibers Neurofilament Proteins Neurofilament Proteins

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