Endometriosis: novel etiopathogenetic concepts and clinical perspectives

Vignali M, Mario Vignali, Infantino M, M. Silva Infantino, Mirco Infantino, Matrone R, R. Matrone, Roberta Matrone, I. Chiodo, Chiodo I, Ilda Chiodo, Edgardo Somigliana, Busacca M, Mauro Busacca, Paola Viganò
Fertility and sterility · 2002 · vol. 78(4) , pp. 665–678 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(02)03233-8 · PMID:12372439 · W2140595625
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 93 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This review explores novel concepts regarding the causes and mechanisms of endometriosis and discusses their implications for clinical management.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo discuss current ideas about therapy for endometriosis derived from new observations generated by using molecular biology techniques and in vivo animal models of disease.Method(s)The MEDLINE database was reviewed for English-language articles on new drugs that affect the endocrine or immunologic system, the possibility that endometriosis has multiple forms, and the association of endometriosis with cancer. Specific attention was given to in vivo studies in animals or humans.Conclusion(s)Among the novel potential candidate drugs, aromatase inhibitors and raloxifene should be considered for treatment of postmenopausal women with endometriosis. Notable observations have emerged from studies of immunomodulators and antiinflammatory agents in animal models of disease. These findings must be confirmed in women. The histogenesis of ovarian endometriomas is still unclear, thus limiting new experimental approaches to this form of disease. Given the low but established risk for malignant transformation of endometriosis, efforts should be directed toward identification of susceptibility loci for the disease and its potential transformation into cancer.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Adjuvants, Immunologic Adjuvants, Immunologic Animals Anti-Inflammatory Agents Anti-Inflammatory Agents Aromatase Inhibitors Endometriosis Endometriosis Enzyme Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Female Humans Immunity, Cellular MEDLINE Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Diseases Ovarian Diseases

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 (100)

Cited by (50)

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