Leukotrienes in gynaecology: the hypothetical value of anti-leukotriene therapy in dysmenorrhoea and endometriosis

J I Abu, J C Konje
Human reproduction update · 2000 · vol. 6(2) , pp. 200–205 · doi:10.1093/humupd/6.2.200 · PMID:10782578 · W2106927561
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Leukotrienes are present in the endometrium of women with dysmenorrhoea and elevated cytokines are found in endometriosis, suggesting a potential role for anti-leukotriene therapy.

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Abstract

The lipoxygenase products (leukotrienes) have been demonstrated in many mammalian tissues including humans. They are widely distributed in the lungs, gut, uterus, kidneys, skin, heart and the liver. Their roles as mediators of inflammation have made them therapeutic targets. Significant amounts of leukotrienes have been demonstrated in the endometrium of women with primary dysmenorrhoea who do not respond to treatment with anti-prostaglandins. Also, in endometriosis, cytokines, which can initiate the cascade for the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, have been shown to be elevated. It is estimated that 10-30% of patients with painful periods fail to respond to prostaglandin (PG) synthetase inhibitors. Of adult females approximately 40% have painful menstruation and 10% of these are incapacitated for 1-3 days per month, and approximately 10% of women aged between 15-45 years suffer from endometriosis, which is a significant cause of infertility. Leukotriene receptor antagonists have recently been licensed for the treatment of asthma in the UK. In this review, we present the case for the potential use of these products in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea (especially in patients who are not responding to the traditional treatment using PG synthetase inhibitors) and possibly also in cases of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

dysmenorrheaendometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis Leukotriene Antagonists Leukotriene Antagonists Leukotrienes Adolescent Adult Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis Female Humans Leukotrienes Leukotrienes Leukotrienes Tissue Distribution

Citation neighborhood

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.

References (74)

Cited by (18)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK