Increased Proliferating Activity of Endometrium in Endometriosis

Objective : We investigated the expression of Ki-67, NF-B, and COX-2 in endometrial tissue, and the incidence of polyps by hysteroscopic biopsy with or without endometriosis. Methods : The study group was 92 patients with endometriosis and the control group was 90 patients without endometriosis. The subjects were 20 samples. The 10 samples consisted of eutopic endometrium with endometriosis. The control subjects were 10 samples of normal endometrium. Expression of Ki-67, NF-B, and COX-2 was immunohistochemically investigated by polyclonal antibody. Results : Endometrial polyps were found in 53 of 92 (57.6%) women with endometriosis but only in 15 of 90 (16.7%) women without endometriosis. High expression of Ki-67 was shown in eutopic endometrium with endometriosis. The expression of NF-B and COX-2 was increased in eutopic endometrium with endometriosis, but normal endometrium showed lower expression. Conclusion : The increase of endometrial polyps and hyperexpression of NF-B, COX-2, Ki-67 could explain that proliferation activity of eutopic endometrium with endometriosis is increased.