Peritoneal environment, cytokines and angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

R Gazvani
In: Reproduction · 2002 · vol. 123(2) , pp. 217–226 · doi:10.1530/reprod/123.2.217 · W4250996611
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 28 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Endometriosis pathophysiology involves endometrial tissue outside the uterus, supported by retrograde menstruation and peritoneal factors, with altered immune cell function and peritoneal fluid growth factors/inflammatory mediators significantly contributing to the disease.

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Abstract

Endometriosis, defined by the presence of viable endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is a common condition affecting 2-3% of women of reproductive age. Today, a composite theory of retrograde menstruation with implantation of endometrial fragments in conjunction with peritoneal factors to stimulate cell growth is the most widely accepted explanation. There is substantial evidence that immunological factors and angiogenesis play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In women with endometriosis, there appears to be an alteration in the function of peritoneal macrophages, natural killer cells and lymphocytes. Furthermore, growth factors and inflammatory mediators in the peritoneal fluid, produced mainly by peritoneal macrophages, are altered in endometriosis, indicating a role for these immune cells and mediators in the pathogenesis of this disease.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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