Keywords
Endometriosis, Immunothrombosis, Neutrophil extracellular traps, Endothelial dysfunction, Gonadotropin-
releasing hormone agonists, Oxidative stress, Cardiovascular toxicity
Graphical Abstract
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exerts potent vasoprotective effects through genomic
and non-genomic signaling pathways that enhance endo -
thelial nitric oxide synthase activity, suppress adhesion
molecule expression, and modulate platelet reactivity
and fibrinolysis [ 19, 20]. Abrupt estrogen withdrawal,
whether physiologic (menopause) or therapeutic (e.g.,
GnRH agonist–induced hypoestrogenism), impairs endo -
thelial function and shifts hemostatic balance toward
procoagulant and pro-adhesive states [ 21, 22]. In cardio -
vascular medicine, hypoestrogenic states are associated
with endothelial dysfunction, altered vascular reactivity,
and increased thrombotic susceptibility, reinforcing the
concept that sex steroids are systemic vascular regulators
rather than isolated reproductive hormones [23, 24].
Despite these converging lines of evidence, a critical
conceptual gap persists: endometriosis, endocrine sup -
pression therapy, and venous thromboembolism are typi-
cally examined in isolation, as separate clinical domains,
rather than as interconnected nodes within a dynamic
immunothrombotic network. Current thromboembolic
risk models emphasize static factors such as inherited
thrombophilias, immobilization, or malignancy, but they
insufficiently capture the contribution of chronic inflam -
matory endothelial priming and hormone-mediated vas -
cular modulation to embolic potential [ 25]. Moreover,
while case reports and pharmacovigilance data describe
thrombotic events in association with GnRH agonist
therapy, mechanistic frameworks explaining how endo -
crine perturbation interacts with pre-existing inflamma -
tory vascular conditioning remain sparse [26].
Here, we propose a unifying systems-level model in
which endometriosis establishes a chronically primed
immunovascular state characterized by iron-driven oxi -
dative stress, endothelial reprogramming, platelet–leu -
kocyte crosstalk, and low-grade coagulation activation;
subsequent endocrine perturbation, particularly abrupt
estrogen withdrawal induced by GnRH agonists such as
leuprorelin may function as a biologically significant sec -
ond hit within this proposed mechanistic model, poten -
tially destabilizing vascular homeostasis and lowering
the threshold for immunothrombotic propagation and
embolization. By synthesizing insights from reproductive
immunology, redox biology, endothelial metabolism, and
thrombus architecture, we delineate an immunothrom -
botic continuum that bridges local lesion biology to sys -
temic thromboembolic outcomes.
Our central novelty lies not in identifying individual
mechanisms, each well supported in isolation, but in
integrating them into a coherent, multi-axis paradigm
that reconceptualizes thromboembolic risk in endome -
triosis as the emergent property of interacting inflamma -
tory, metabolic, and endocrine networks. This framework
has translational implications: it supports biomarker-
guided vascular phenotyping, anticipatory surveillance
during hormonal therapy, and targeted endothelial sta -
bilization strategies that extend beyond conventional
anticoagulation. More broadly, it situates endometriosis
within a new class of chronic inflammatory diseases in
which reproductive endocrine dynamics and immu -
nothrombotic biology intersect, thereby advancing the
foundation for precision cardio-reproductive medicine.
2 Reframing endometriosis as a systemic
immunothrombotic disorder
Endometriosis has increasingly been recognized not
merely as a localized gynecological lesion but as a
chronic systemic inflammatory condition with profound
implications for vascular biology and homeostasis [ 27].
This reconceptualization is grounded in robust evidence
that ectopic endometrial tissue exists in a milieu char -
acterized by sustained immune activation, oxidative
stress, and cytokine dysregulation, a milieu that extends
beyond the pelvis and engages systemic endothelial and
hemostatic networks [ 27]. To synthesize the key mecha -
nistic themes underlying systemic vascular engagement
in endometriosis, we summarize the pathways linking
chronic inflammation, oxidative priming, and immu -
nothrombosis in Table 1.
Although the epidemiologic literature consistently
demonstrates an association between endometriosis and
adverse cardiovascular outcomes, these findings should
be interpreted cautiously because most available studies
are observational and therefore cannot establish causality
[28]. Residual confounding may arise from several factors
associated with endometriosis, including chronic pain,
reduced physical activity, obesity, depression, smoking,
surgical menopause, and exposure to hormonal thera -
pies, all of which may independently influence cardiovas -
cular risk. Furthermore, differences in diagnostic criteria,
disease severity, treatment history, and adjustment for
traditional cardiovascular risk factors contribute to het -
erogeneity across studies [ 29]. Consequently, while epi -
demiologic evidence supports a reproducible association
between endometriosis and cardiovascular disease, it
should be interpreted as complementary to, rather than
definitive proof of, the mechanistic pathways discussed
in this Review. Further prospective longitudinal studies
incorporating comprehensive adjustment for clinical and
therapeutic confounders will be required to clarify the
extent to which endometriosis itself contributes causally
to long-term cardiovascular risk.
2.1 Beyond ectopia: from pelvic inflammation to vascular
biology
Traditionally described by retrograde menstruation and
ectopic implantation, endometriosis pathogenesis is
now understood to involve persistent sterile inflamma -
tion and immune maladaptation, wherein infiltrating
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defenses in ectopic stromal cells and macrophages, which
in turn sustains oxidative stress and reinforces inflam -
matory signaling, a state that simultaneously primes the
endothelium toward dysfunction and promotes systemic
vascular perturbation [ 33]. Evidence also indicates that
iron-derived reactive oxygen species can activate redox-
sensitive transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB), further
amplifying cytokine production and endothelial activa -
tion, thereby linking local iron-driven oxidative priming
with global vascular vulnerability [34].
2.3 Platelet–leukocyte crosstalk and the architecture of
immunothrombosis
The interplay between inflammation and coagulation
is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory disorders, and in
endometriosis, activated platelets accumulate in ecto -
pic lesions, releasing pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory
mediators that not only support lesion progression but
also signify systemic activation of hemostatic pathways
[35, 36]. Activated platelets interact with neutrophils
and monocytes to induce neutrophil extracellular trap
formation (NETosis), a process increasingly recognized
as central to immunothrombosis, whereby neutrophil
DNA webs decorated with proteases and tissue factor
promote local thrombus nucleation and amplify coagu -
lation cascades [ 37– 39]. This platelet–leukocyte cross -
talk culminates in the release of extracellular vesicles and
microparticles rich in procoagulant phospholipids and
tissue factor, which can traffic systemically and interact
with vascular endothelium at distant sites, effectively
linking the chronic inflammatory state in endometrio -
sis to a prothrombotic vascular phenotype [ 40]. Indeed,
markers of coagulation activation, including soluble
macrophages, lymphocytes, and other immune effec -
tors generate a pro-inflammatory microenvironment
that influences tissues far beyond the lesion site [ 30].
Chronic inflammation in endometriotic lesions drives
tissue remodeling and angiogenic signaling, manifested
by elevated levels of cytokines, chemokines, and growth
factors such as TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF that not
only sustain local lesion survival but also perturb endo -
thelial function and vascular integrity systemically [ 31].
Reflecting this systemic engagement, epidemiological
and mechanistic studies now link endometriosis with
increased markers of endothelial dysfunction, altered
vascular reactivity, and elevated risk of cardiovascular
events, consistent with a broader inflammatory-vascular
interface rather than a localized gynecological pathology
[32].
2.2 Iron-driven oxidative priming and endothelial
vulnerability
Repeated shedding, hemorrhage, and reflux of endome -
trial tissue into the peritoneal cavity expose macrophages
and local tissues to high levels of catalytic iron derived
from erythrocyte breakdown, leading to an iron-over -
loaded microenvironment [33]. This iron excess catalyzes
Fenton chemistry, generating reactive oxygen species that
induce sustained oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and
redox imbalance, processes mechanistically implicated in
ferroptosis and other regulated cell death programs but
more importantly capable of compromising endothelial
barrier integrity and enhancing procoagulant signal -
ing [33]. The paradox in endometriotic tissue is its abil -
ity to resist ferroptosis despite persistent iron overload, a
resistance that is mirrored by upregulation of antioxidant
Table 1 Mechanistic landscape of endometriosis as a systemic immunothrombotic disorder
Pathway Key Mechanisms Molecular/Cellular Mediators Systemic Vascular Consequences
1. Chronic Sterile
Inflammation
Persistent immune activation from retrograde
menstruation and ectopic implantation;
immune maladaptation amplifies local and
systemic inflammation
Macrophages (M2 skewing); lympho-
cytes; pro-inflammatory cytokines
(TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8); chemokines; growth
factors (VEGF)
Sustained inflammatory milieu
extends beyond pelvis → endothelial
activation, vascular remodeling, and
chronic systemic inflammation
2. Iron-Driven Oxi-
dative Priming
Peritoneal hemorrhage and erythrocyte break-
down lead to iron accumulation; iron catalyzes
ROS (Fenton chemistry) → redox imbalance
and lipid peroxidation
Free iron, ferrous/ferric iron pools;
ROS (hydroxyl radicals); lipid peroxida-
tion markers; redox-sensitive TFs (e.g.,
NF-κB)
Oxidative stress damages endothe-
lium, disrupts barrier integrity, primes
vascular cells toward pro-inflammato-
ry responses
3. Immune-Meta-
bolic Dysregulation
Chronic inflammation fosters metabolic rewir-
ing and antioxidant depletion in local and
systemic compartments
Reduced antioxidant enzymes (SOD,
GPx); increased oxidative damage
(MDA, 8-HdG); metabolic stress signals
Endothelial dysfunction, redox imbal-
ance, and altered immune responses
facilitate vascular priming
4. Platelet–Leuko-
cyte Crosstalk &
NETosis
Activated platelets in lesions interact with
neutrophils and monocytes → NET formation;
procoagulant scaffold generation
Platelets (activated); neutrophil extra-
cellular traps (NETs); proteases; tissue
factor; microparticles
Pro-coagulant networks promote
local thrombus nucleation and sys-
temic hemostatic activation
5. Microparticle-
Mediated Systemic
Activation
Release of extracellular vesicles enriched in
tissue factor/phospholipids from activated
immune cells
Procoagulant microparticles; soluble
clotting markers (P-selectin, D-dimer,
prothrombin fragments)
Hemostatic factors circulate and inter-
act with distant vascular endothelium,
increasing thrombotic vulnerability
6. Epidemiologic
Evidence for Vascu-
lar Involvement
Observational studies link endometriosis with
increased cardiovascular risk and endothelial
dysfunction
Epidemiologic risk ratios; endothelial
dysfunction measures (e.g., AGEs, RHI)
Higher incidence of cardiovascular
disease, hypertension, and vascular
events in endometriosis cohorts
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P-selectin, D-dimer, and prothrombin fragments, are
elevated in patients with endometriosis, aligning with the
concept that chronic inflammation, immune activation,
and hemostatic dysregulation are integrated components
of the disease’s systemic footprint [35].
Beyond NET formation, immunothrombosis in endo -
metriosis is orchestrated through several interconnected
hemostatic pathways. Activated platelets provide a cata -
lytic phospholipid surface that accelerates thrombin
generation while releasing P-selectin, CD40L, and pro-
inflammatory mediators that amplify leukocyte recruit -
ment and endothelial activation [ 41– 43]. Tissue factor
expressed by activated monocytes, endothelial cells, and
tissue factor-bearing extracellular vesicles initiates the
extrinsic coagulation cascade, whereas thrombin fur -
ther reinforces platelet activation and fibrin formation
through positive feedback loops [ 44]. Concurrently,
impairment of endogenous fibrinolysis, mediated by
increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
activity and stabilization of fibrin networks, may favor
thrombus persistence [45]. Emerging evidence also impli-
cates complement activation as an important amplifier
of thromboinflammation through reciprocal interactions
with platelets, neutrophils, endothelial cells, and coagula-
tion pathways, further illustrating that thromboembolic
risk arises from a coordinated immunovascular network
rather than a single effector mechanism [46].
3 Endothelial reprogramming as the central
integrator
Endothelial cells, long considered passive barriers
to blood flow, are now recognized as highly plastic,
immune-responsive effectors whose phenotype and func-
tion can be durably reshaped by chronic inflammatory
conditioning and metabolic stress [ 47]. Under sustained
pathogenic cues, the vascular endothelium undergoes
a dynamic shift from a quiescent, anticoagulant state
toward a pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant pheno -
type, fundamentally altering its role in vascular homeo -
stasis and disease susceptibility [ 48]. This adaptive yet
maladaptive reprogramming orchestrates a systemic
immunovascular response that integrates inflammatory,
metabolic, and redox signals into a unified axis of throm -
bogenic risk (see Fig. 1).
3.1 Chronic inflammatory conditioning and procoagulant
drift
Chronic exposure of endothelial cells to inflammatory
cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ induces
persistent transcriptional and epigenetic changes that
encode a “memory-like” inflammatory imprint, predis -
posing endothelium to exaggerated immune activation
and leukocyte adhesion even after the initial stimulus
wanes [ 49]. Such cytokine-driven memory responses in
endothelial cells have been shown to alter expression
of adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and
immune signaling pathways, linking historical inflamma -
tory exposures to future vascular dysfunction and disease
risk [ 49]. Concomitantly, chronic inflammatory stimuli
cause a progressive loss of the endothelium’s anticoagu -
lant phenotype, typified by reduced nitric oxide (NO)
bioavailability, diminished thrombomodulin expression,
and disrupted regulation of anti-thrombin pathways,
thereby facilitating a drift toward procoagulant signal -
ing and enhancing susceptibility to thrombosis [ 50]. This
shift is mechanistically tied to sustained NF-κB activation
and inflammasome signaling within endothelial cells,
which not only amplify pro-inflammatory transcriptional
programs but also directly promote coagulation cascade
engagement [51].
3.2 Metabolic and redox rewiring of the endothelium
Endothelial metabolic reprogramming is a central feature
of dysfunctional endothelium under chronic stress, inte -
grating altered glycolytic flux, mitochondrial perturba -
tions, and redox imbalance into pathogenic phenotypes
that favor inflammation and thrombosis [ 52]. Chronic
oxidative stress, driven by excess reactive oxygen species
(ROS) from inflammatory, metabolic, and iron-mediated
pathways, disrupts cellular redox networks, impairing
mitochondrial function and depleting antioxidant sys -
tems such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dis -
mutase [ 53]. This redox disturbance not only promotes
endothelial cell activation but also increases susceptibility
to regulated cell death pathways like ferroptosis, which is
characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and
further exacerbates endothelial injury and inflammatory
signaling [ 54]. Mechanistically, the integration of oxida -
tive stress with metabolic shifts skews endothelial behav -
ior toward reduced barrier function, impaired nitric
oxide signaling, and enhanced expression of pro-coagu -
lant mediators, creating a milieu in which redox imbal -
ance and metabolic rewiring synergistically promote an
immunothrombotic endothelial phenotype [55].
3.3 Microvascular instability and systemic spillover
As endothelial reprogramming progresses, microvascu -
lar networks lose their ability to maintain homeostatic
vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant func -
tions, transitioning instead to a state of heightened per -
meability, leukocyte recruitment, and thrombogenic
potential [ 56]. This microvascular instability facilitates
systemic spillover of inflammatory and pro-coagulant
signals, amplifying vascular priming beyond local pel -
vic or organ-specific environments and predisposing
distant vascular beds, including pulmonary and sys -
temic circuits, to immune-driven thrombotic events
[57]. Endotheliitis, basement membrane disruption, and
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widespread microthrombus deposition observed in set -
tings of dysregulated endothelial activation reinforce the
concept that local inflammatory and metabolic stress -
ors can reshape the endothelium into a systemic driver
of thromboinflammation [ 58]. Together, these processes
underscore endothelial reprogramming as a central inte -
grator of chronic inflammation, metabolic and redox
imbalance, and thrombogenic signaling, thereby posi -
tioning the endothelium as the mechanistic fulcrum
linking local immune perturbations to systemic vascu -
lar pathology and thrombotic risk in complex diseases.
This primed endothelial state is not static but sensitive
to systemic hormonal milieus, particularly the neuro -
endocrine regulation of sex steroids, which profoundly
modulate endothelial function and vascular homeostasis.
Indeed, physiological estrogen signaling engages endo -
thelial estrogen receptors to enhance nitric oxide produc-
tion, vasodilation, and anti-inflammatory gene programs,
while hypoestrogenic conditions, such as those induced
by prolonged GnRH agonist therapy, can attenuate these
protective pathways and alter endothelial responses at
the genomic and non-genomic level.
Fig. 1 Systemic Immunothrombotic Remodeling in Endometriosis. Schematic representation of the mechanistic pathways through which endometrio-
sis transitions from a localized pelvic disorder to a systemic immunothrombotic condition Left panel (Local pelvic pathology): Retrograde menstrua-
tion delivers endometrial fragments into the peritoneal cavity, where persistent sterile inflammation and immune maladaptation establish a chronic
pro-inflammatory microenvironment with elevated cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, VEGF) and sustained macrophage and lymphocyte activation that
extend beyond the lesion site. This local inflammatory niche is compounded by repeated hemorrhage and iron deposition from erythrocyte break -
down, creating an iron-overloaded microenvironment that catalyzes Fenton chemistry and the generation of reactive oxygen species, driving oxidative
stress, lipid peroxidation, and redox imbalance (panel annotations reflect elevated inflammatory and oxidative markers). These processes contribute
to endothelial perturbation and angiogenic remodeling within and beyond pelvic tissues. Middle panel (Immunothrombotic conversion): Chronic
inflammation recruits and activates platelets within endometriotic niches. Activated platelets interact with neutrophils and monocytes to induce neu -
trophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis), which is a key effector of immunothrombosis and provides a scaffold of DNA, histones, and proteases
that amplifies coagulation signaling and promotes localized thrombus formation. Platelet–leukocyte crosstalk also releases pro-coagulant extracellular
vesicles and microparticles bearing tissue factor and phospholipids, which enter the circulation and propagate systemic coagulation activation. This
interplay between innate immune cells and coagulation pathways evidences the integration of inflammation and thrombosis pathways characteristic
of immunothrombosis. Right panel (Systemic vascular engagement and priming): Circulating pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant signals from
activated immune cells and platelets interact with vascular endothelium at distant sites. Primed endothelium undergoes functional reprogramming from
an anticoagulant, vasodilatory phenotype toward a pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant state, characterized by increased leukocyte adhesion, impaired
barrier integrity, and heightened thrombogenic potential. These systemic vascular alterations predispose distant vascular beds, including pulmonary
and systemic circulations, to immune-driven thrombotic events. The figure highlights this transition from local pelvic inflammation to systemic vascular
priming, emphasizing the interconnected immunothrombotic architecture underlying endometriosis-associated vascular risk (designed using Power
Point and Adobe Illustrator software)
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The mechanistic observations summarized above pro -
vide a biologically plausible basis for considering endo -
crine therapy as a potential modifier of thrombotic risk.
However, mechanistic plausibility should not be inter -
preted as proof of clinical causality. Although isolated
case reports, observational studies, and pharmacovigi -
lance analyses have raised concern regarding venous
thromboembolic events during GnRH agonist therapy,
direct clinical evidence remains heterogeneous and sub -
stantially less robust than the underlying mechanistic
literature. Moreover, interpretation of available studies is
complicated by differences in underlying disease states,
particularly between oncology populations, in whom
cancer itself markedly increases thrombotic risk, and
women receiving GnRH agonists for benign conditions
such as endometriosis. Therefore, before presenting the
proposed mechanistic framework, the current clinical
evidence linking GnRH therapies with venous thrombo -
embolism should be considered in its appropriate context
[59].
4 The endocrine-vascular axis: a proposed
mechanistic framework
Chronic inflammatory priming sensitizes vascular net -
works to additional perturbations, among which systemic
hormonal shifts, particularly those induced by gonado -
tropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy, rep -
resent a potent modifier of endothelial and hemostatic
homeostasis [ 60, 61]. Continuous exposure to GnRH
agonists such as leuprorelin desensitizes pituitary GnRH
receptors, leading to profound suppression of lutein -
izing hormone (LH) and follicle- stimulating hormone
(FSH) secretion and consequent hypoestrogenism, a
state functionally analogous to medical menopause [ 62].
This induced hypogonadotropic state disrupts the tightly
regulated endocrine control of vascular function and
exposes the primed endothelium to vulnerability, altering
its vasoregulatory, anticoagulant, and barrier integrity
mechanisms.
4.1 Estrogen withdrawal and loss of vascular homeostasis
Endogenous estrogen is a fundamental regulator of vas -
cular homeostasis, acting through both genomic and
non-genomic mechanisms to enhance endothelial nitric
oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and bioavailability of
nitric oxide (NO), a critical mediator of vasodilation,
anti-inflammatory signaling, and inhibition of plate -
let adhesion [ 20, 63]. Estrogen receptors expressed on
endothelial cells engage signaling pathways, including
PI3K/Akt-mediated eNOS phosphorylation, to sus -
tain NO production and maintain vasodilatory capacity
[64]. The abrupt withdrawal of estrogen under GnRH
agonist-induced hypoestrogenic conditions results
in a marked reduction of NO bioavailability, thereby
impairing endothelium-dependent vasodilation and
diminishing the vasoprotective “anti-inflammatory” phe-
notype of the vascular lining [ 65]. This diminishment is
accompanied by upregulated expression of vasoconstric -
tive and pro-adhesive factors such as endothelin-1 and
adhesion molecules, which further destabilize endothelial
barrier integrity and promote leukocyte tethering [ 22].
These alterations converge to produce an endothelial
milieu characterized by reduced adaptability to hemody -
namic stress, increased oxidative burden, and enhanced
potential for thrombogenic adhesion events.
4.2 Leuprorelin-induced hemostatic rebalancing
Beyond its effects on vasomotor tone, estrogen exerts
modulatory influences on hemostatic balance by regu -
lating both platelet reactivity and the fibrinolytic sys -
tem [ 66]. Estrogen generally promotes a vasoprotective
phenotype that suppresses platelet aggregation through
enhanced NO and prostacyclin signaling, and modulates
fibrinolytic activity by reducing plasminogen activator
inhibitor-1 expression while enhancing tissue plasmino -
gen activator activity, which collectively favor clot resolu-
tion pathways [22, 67].
In contrast, estrogen deprivation induced by sus -
tained GnRH agonist therapy can shift platelet reactivity
toward a more activated state and attenuate fibrinolytic
capacity, manifesting as increased expression of adhe -
sion receptors and pro-coagulant profiles on platelets
and endothelial surfaces [ 68]. This rebalancing accentu -
ates coagulation amplification and platelet–endothelium
interactions, particularly in a vascular system already
primed by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress,
thereby lowering the threshold for thrombus formation.
Although direct human data for leuprorelin’s effects on
coagulation profiles remain limited, analogous findings
from estrogen withdrawal models demonstrate impaired
anticoagulant and fibrinolytic mechanisms with reduced
estrogenic support [69].
4.3 Current clinical evidence linking GnRH agonists to
venous thromboembolism
Despite increasing mechanistic evidence suggesting that
hypoestrogenism may promote endothelial dysfunction
and immunothrombotic activation, clinical evidence
directly linking GnRH agonist therapy to venous throm -
boembolism (VTE) remains limited. Unlike the extensive
literature describing cardiovascular effects of andro -
gen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer, prospective
studies specifically evaluating VTE incidence in women
receiving GnRH agonists for endometriosis are scarce,
and thromboembolic events have generally not been
primary outcomes in randomized trials [ 70– 72]. Con -
sequently, current knowledge is derived predominantly
from case reports, retrospective observational studies,
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pharmacovigilance databases, and indirect evidence from
other disease settings. Notably, randomized controlled
trials evaluating GnRH agonists for endometriosis have
consistently been designed to assess treatment efficacy
and general safety, with primary endpoints focused on
pelvic pain, symptom improvement, quality of life, bone
mineral density, and treatment-related adverse effects
rather than vascular safety or venous thromboembolism.
Accordingly, these studies were neither powered nor spe-
cifically designed to detect uncommon thromboembolic
events, precluding reliable estimation of the absolute
incidence of VTE during therapy [73].
Pharmacovigilance databases provide an additional
source of post-marketing safety surveillance and have
identified sporadic reports of deep vein thrombosis and
pulmonary embolism following GnRH agonist ther -
apy [ 74]. However, spontaneous reporting systems are
inherently subject to underreporting, reporting bias,
incomplete clinical information, and the absence of
denominator data, precluding reliable estimation of inci -
dence or definitive assessment of causality. Consequently,
pharmacovigilance findings should be interpreted pri -
marily as hypothesis-generating safety signals that war -
rant further pharmacoepidemiologic investigation rather
than confirmation of a causal association.
Interpretation of clinical evidence requires careful
distinction between oncology and benign gynecologic
populations. In prostate cancer, several large observa -
tional studies have reported modest increases in VTE
among patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy
with GnRH agonists [75, 76]. However, these findings are
intrinsically confounded by advanced age, malignancy-
associated hypercoagulability, concomitant chemother -
apy or radiotherapy, reduced mobility, and competing
cardiovascular comorbidities. Accordingly, the throm -
botic risk observed in oncology populations cannot be
directly extrapolated to younger women receiving GnRH
agonists for endometriosis, whose baseline cardiovascu -
lar risk profile differs substantially.
Another unresolved question concerns whether differ -
ent methods of pituitary suppression carry similar vas -
cular consequences. Emerging pharmacovigilance and
observational evidence suggests that GnRH antagonists
may exhibit a more favorable cardiovascular safety pro -
file than GnRH agonists, particularly in oncology popula-
tions, although comparative data remain limited and are
derived primarily from studies evaluating major cardio -
vascular outcomes rather than VTE specifically. At pres -
ent, comparable evidence in women with endometriosis
is lacking, precluding definitive conclusions regarding
differential thrombotic risk between these therapeutic
classes [77].
Taken together, the available clinical evidence neither
conclusively establishes nor excludes a causal association
between GnRH agonist therapy and VTE. Rather, it sup -
ports biological plausibility while highlighting substantial
evidence gaps. These uncertainties provide the rationale
for the proposed mechanistic framework presented in the
following sections, which seeks to explain how chronic
endothelial priming in endometriosis might interact with
endocrine perturbation to increase thrombotic suscepti -
bility in a subset of vulnerable patients.
4.4 Hormonal suppression as a second hit in a primed
system
Integrating these lines of evidence allows us to propose a
“two-hit” mechanistic model in which chronic inflamma-
tory and iron-driven endothelial priming constitutes the
first hit, whereas endocrine withdrawal-mediated vascu -
lar perturbation induced by leuprorelin may represent a
biologically meaningful second hit. Although biologi -
cally plausible and supported by converging mechanistic
evidence, this model remains conceptual because direct
prospective clinical evidence demonstrating this sequen -
tial causal relationship is currently limited. In this frame -
work, the first hit establishes a baseline state of low-grade
endothelial dysfunction characterized by inflammatory
memory responses, redox imbalance, and pro-coagulant
drift [ 78]. The second hit, an abrupt systemic hormone
withdrawal, exacerbates this vulnerability by suppress -
ing vasoprotective signaling, perturbing hemostatic bal -
ance, and amplifying platelet–endothelium interactions
[68]. Table 2 captures the combined first- and second-hit
effects in a clear mechanistic framework.
Importantly, this framework should be regarded as a
hypothesis-generating model intended to integrate exist -
ing mechanistic evidence and guide future experimental
and clinical investigation rather than as confirmation
of an established causal pathway. The combination of
these insults produces a compounded immunothrom -
botic predisposition that extends beyond traditional risk
frameworks, underscoring the critical interplay between
endocrine and vascular systems in modulating throm -
botic risk under therapeutic hormonal perturbation (see
Fig. 2).
5 Toward a proposed pulmonary embolism-prone
phenotype
The transition from localized venous thrombosis to
clinically significant pulmonary embolism (PE) reflects
more than simple hemodynamic obstruction; it embod -
ies a systemic immunothrombotic evolution in which
pre-existing vascular priming from chronic inflammation
and endothelial dysfunction synergizes with dynamic
thrombus propagation processes to generate embolic
potential [79]. Unlike isolated clot formation, which may
remain confined within a venous segment, a PE- prone
phenotype arises when thrombi acquire structural and
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biochemical features that favor stability, resistance to
endogenous fibrinolysis, and dislodgement into the pul -
monary circulation, a process underpinned by complex
interactions among endothelial cells, neutrophils, plate -
lets, and circulating biomolecular mediators.
5.1 From venous stasis to immunothrombotic propagation
Venous thrombosis traditionally initiates at sites of blood
flow stagnation, endothelial activation, and hemostatic
imbalance, where turbulent or low -shear conditions
facilitate deposition of fibrin and recruitment of plate -
lets and leukocytes [ 80]. However, clot initiation (forma -
tion) and clot propagation (growth and stabilization) are
mediated by distinct mechanistic pathways, particularly
in a vascular milieu primed by chronic inflammation and
endothelial dysfunction [ 81]. Neutrophil extracellular
traps (NETs) provide a scaffold that incorporates plate -
lets, red blood cells, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and
coagulation factors, effectively bridging innate immune
responses and the coagulation cascade [ 82]. NETs not
only enhance the local assembly of intrinsic coagulation
factors such as FXII but also bind TF and fibrinogen, aug-
menting both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and fuel -
ing further thrombin generation and fibrin deposition
[82]. Collectively, this immunothrombotic propagation
shifts venous clots from unstable, fibrin-rich formations
toward more complex, stabilized structures with greater
potential for embolization.
5.2 NET-driven thrombus stabilization and embolic
potential
NETs play a central structural role in thrombus architec -
ture that directly influences embolic risk. Upon activa -
tion, neutrophils release decondensed chromatin fibers
decorated with histones, myeloperoxidase, and pro -
teolytic enzymes that form an extracellular meshwork
capable of capturing cellular and acellular blood ele -
ments [82]. This NET scaffold, by binding platelets, vWF,
and fibrin, increases thrombus mechanical integrity and
resistance to fibrinolysis, rendering clots more stable and
less susceptible to endogenous degradation. In vitro and
in vivo models have shown that the presence of NETs
within thrombi is associated with delayed clot resolution
and increased structural resilience, effects that directly
enhance the potential for larger portions of clot to detach
and traverse the venous-to-pulmonary circulation [83].
Mechanistically, NET -associated histones and DNA
interact with coagulation factors to amplify thrombin
production and inhibit anticoagulant pathways, while
proteases such as neutrophil elastase degrade endoge -
nous anticoagulant proteins like TFPI and thrombomod -
ulin, further fostering prothrombotic conditions and clot
persistence [ 79]. The resultant thrombus is not merely
a fibrin deposit but a biochemically fortified immu -
nothrombotic entity with enhanced embolic potential.
Table 2 Endocrine-vascular perturbations and the emergence of a pulmonary embolism–prone phenotype in endometriosis under
GnRH agonist therapy
Axis Mechanistic Feature /
Perturbation
Downstream Endothelial & Hemostatic
Consequences
PE-Prone Biomolecular /
Cellular Signatures
Translational Implications
Endocrine Hit GnRH agonist therapy
(e.g., leuprorelin) →
pituitary desensitization
→ hypoestrogenism
↓ Endothelial NO bioavailability, impaired
vasodilation, ↑ endothelin-1, ↑ adhesion
molecule expression; shifts endothelium
toward pro-adhesive, pro-thrombotic
state
Functional hypoestrogenic
readouts (e.g., reduced
eNOS activity, impaired
flow-mediated dilation)
Candidate for hormone add-
back or therapy modification;
endocrine status informs
personalized thrombotic risk
stratification
Inflammatory
Priming
Chronic lesion-level in-
flammation → cytokines
(TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β)
Endothelial “memory” → persistent
adhesion molecule expression, NF-κB
activation, inflammasome engagement;
enhanced leukocyte tethering
Elevated CRP , IL-6, NLR;
heightened leukocyte-
endothelial interactions
Identify high-risk vascular phe-
notypes prior to therapy; guide
intensity of surveillance
Oxidative /
Redox Stress
Iron overload from
ectopic hemorrhage →
lipid peroxidation, ROS
accumulation
Endothelial metabolic rewiring →
mitochondrial dysfunction, ferroptosis
susceptibility; barrier disruption; impaired
NO signaling
Lipid peroxides, catalytic
iron, glutathione depletion
Targetable with antioxidants,
NAC, or redox-modulating
co-therapies
Hemostatic
Rebalancing
Estrogen deprivation →
platelet hyperreactivity;
impaired fibrinolysis
↑ Platelet adhesion, ↑ PAI-1, ↓ tPA; proco-
agulant endothelial shift
Platelet–leukocyte aggre-
gates, elevated P-selectin,
vWF, TF exposure
Mechanism-guided antiplatelet
prophylaxis (low-dose aspirin)
in biomarker-selected patients
Immu-
nothrombotic
Propagation
NET formation & stabili-
zation of thrombi
NET scaffolds recruit platelets, RBCs, and
coagulation factors → amplify thrombin
generation; resist fibrinolysis
MPO-DNA complexes,
citrullinated histone
H3, stabilized thrombus
architecture
Predictive biomarker for early
thromboembolic risk; candi-
date for NET-targeted therapies
Clinical
Phenotype
Emergence
Cumulative two-hit
insult: chronic endo-
thelial priming + abrupt
hypoestrogenism
Formation of systemic PE-prone pheno-
type with enhanced embolic potential
Convergent biomarker pro-
file: PNAs, EMPs, NET mark-
ers, inflammatory indices,
iron/lipid peroxidation
Supports dynamic risk-adapted
monitoring, therapy modifica-
tion, and personalized prophy-
lactic interventions
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Lesani et al. Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2026) 15:119
5.3 Defining the PE-prone phenotype: biomolecular
signature
Emergence of a PE- prone phenotype can be concep -
tualized as the convergence of multiple measurable
biomarkers reflecting immune, endothelial, and hema -
tologic contributions to thrombus evolution and sys -
temic vulnerability [ 84]. Prominent among these are:
Platelet–leukocyte aggregates (PNAs): Complexes of
activated platelets and neutrophils or monocytes that
signal heightened immunothrombotic engagement and
predict propagation of thrombotic processes [ 85, 86].
PNAs facilitate NETosis and represent a mechanistic
bridge between innate immunity and coagulation ampli -
fication. Endothelial microparticles (EMPs): Vesicles shed
from activated or apoptotic endothelial cells that carry
pro-coagulant phospholipids, tissue factor, and adhesion
molecules [ 87]. EMP levels correlate with endothelial
dysfunction and have been linked to elevated risk of
thrombotic events including deep vein thrombosis and
PE. Inflammatory indices (NLR, CRP , IL-6): Systemic
inflammatory markers such as neutrophil- to-lymphocyte
ratio (NLR), C -reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6
(IL-6) reflect the systemic immune activation that pre -
disposes to immunothrombotic propagation and have
been associated with PE severity and prognosis [ 88, 89].
Iron/lipid peroxidation indices: Biomarkers of oxidative
stress such as lipid peroxides and catalytic iron reflect
redox imbalance that can drive endothelial injury, neu -
trophil activation, and NET formation, all of which con -
tribute to thrombus stability and resistance to fibrinolysis
[90]. Together, these biomolecular signatures delineate a
pathophysiologically distinct PE- prone phenotype, char -
acterized by enhanced immunothrombotic activity, clot
stabilization mechanisms, and systemic inflammatory
Fig. 2 Endothelial reprogramming as the central integrator of immunothrombotic risk. Chronic inflammatory conditioning and iron-driven oxidative
stress induce durable endothelial reprogramming that integrates immune, metabolic, and redox signals into a unified axis of thrombogenic suscep -
tibility. Persistent exposure to cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ) establishes transcriptional and epigenetic “memory-like” imprints within endothelial
cells, sustaining adhesion molecule expression (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and sensitizing the vasculature to exaggerated inflammatory responses. Concomitant
suppression of anticoagulant pathways—including reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, diminished nitric oxide bioavailability, and de -
creased thrombomodulin expression—promotes procoagulant drift through sustained NF-κB and inflammasome signaling. Metabolic rewiring toward
enhanced glycolytic flux and mitochondrial dysfunction, coupled with iron-mediated reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation, destabi-
lizes endothelial redox homeostasis and increases susceptibility to ferroptotic injury. These integrated alterations compromise barrier integrity, enhance
platelet–leukocyte adhesion, and facilitate microparticle and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)–associated thrombus stabilization. The reprogrammed
microvasculature thus transitions from a quiescent anticoagulant interface to a pro-inflammatory, pro-thrombotic effector, enabling systemic spillover of
thromboinflammatory signals to distant vascular beds. Inset: Estrogen signaling maintains endothelial vasoprotective tone via PI3K/Akt-mediated eNOS
activation and anti-inflammatory gene programs; hypoestrogenic states (e.g., GnRH agonist–induced suppression) attenuate these protective pathways,
lowering the threshold for immunothrombotic propagation in a primed endothelium (designed using Power Point and Adobe Illustrator software)
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Lesani et al. Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2026) 15:119
engagement that collectively extend traditional views of
venous thromboembolism into a broader systemic dis -
ease framework. Recognizing this phenotype’s complex
molecular and cellular underpinnings not only refines
risk stratification for thromboembolic events in women
with endometriosis, a group already demonstrably at
higher risk of broader cardiovascular pathology, but
also highlights the pressing need for translation of these
insights into personalized clinical strategies. Indeed,
women with endometriosis exhibit elevated risks of
adverse cardiovascular outcomes such as ischemic heart
disease and cerebrovascular events, reflecting the inter -
play between chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunc -
tion, and systemic vascular perturbation, which standard
diagnostic paradigms alone fail to capture.
This evolving understanding sets the stage for preci -
sion cardio-reproductive medicine, an integrative clinical
discipline that seeks to tailor risk assessment, prediction,
prevention, and therapeutic approaches to the unique
pathobiological profiles of individuals, bridging repro -
ductive endocrinology with cardiovascular systems sci -
ence to improve outcomes across health trajectories.
The concept of precision medicine, which has already
reshaped fields such as oncology and cardiology by lever -
aging detailed molecular, imaging, and computational
phenotyping to optimize individualized risk prediction
and therapy, provides a compelling framework for this
integration.
Just as precision cardiology is moving from generalized
treatment paradigms toward risk stratification based on
genomic and multi-omic signatures and advanced analyt-
ics, the integration of reproductive hormonal dynamics,
immune–vascular phenotypes, and molecular biomark -
ers offers an analogous opportunity in women’s cardio -
vascular health. Together, these advances underscore the
need to translate mechanistic insights from endometrio -
sis-associated immunothrombosis into clinically action -
able strategies, forming the basis for the next section on
translational implications and precision cardio-reproduc-
tive medicine.
6 Future research directions toward precision
cardio-reproductive medicine
Translating the mechanistic insights above requires a
deliberate shift from population-level pharmacovigilance
to individualized, mechanism-driven clinical care that
integrates reproductive endocrinology with cardiovas -
cular systems science, a precision cardio-reproductive
medicine paradigm that combines biomarkers, multi-
omic phenotyping, and dynamic surveillance to predict,
prevent, and mitigate vascular complications of therapies
such as GnRH agonists [91].
6.1 Risk stratification before GnRH agonist initiation
Although not part of current routine clinical practice,
future precision cardio-reproductive medicine may
incorporate pre-treatment vascular phenotyping to iden -
tify women at increased thrombotic susceptibility. Such
approaches require prospective validation before clini -
cal implementation [ 92]. First-line stratification should
include careful clinical cardiovascular risk appraisal
(personal and family history of VTE/PE, prior arterial
events, and traditional risk factors) combined with tar -
geted laboratory screening for high-yield thrombophil -
ias or hypercoagulable states when indicated by history;
this combined strategy improves detection of patients at
materially elevated thrombotic risk [ 93]. Baseline mea -
surement of mechanistically relevant circulating bio -
markers, for example, D-dimer and soluble P-selectin
(coagulation/hemostatic activity), endothelial micropar -
ticles (endothelial activation), and platelet–leukocyte
aggregates (cellular immunothrombosis), provides a
biologically anchored risk snapshot that augments clini -
cal assessment [ 94]. Where available, integration of
molecular phenotyping (e.g., targeted proteomics, tran -
scriptomic endothelial signatures, or single-cell immune
profiling) can further resolve subphenotypes of vascular
vulnerability and identify patients for intensified surveil -
lance or alternative therapies [95].
6.2 Biomarker-guided surveillance during therapy
Rather than applying binary contraindications, we advo -
cate dynamic, biomarker-guided monitoring during
GnRH agonist exposure to detect early signals of vascu -
lar destabilization and enable timely intervention [ 96].
Future biomarker-guided surveillance strategies could
incorporate serial assessment of coagulation, endothe -
lial, platelet, and NET-related biomarkers to detect early
vascular perturbation. However, none of these biomark -
ers has yet been prospectively validated for routine moni-
toring of women receiving GnRH agonists, and their
clinical utility remains investigational [ 92]. Point-of-care
technologies that quantify platelet–leukocyte aggregates
or cell-aggregate signatures may permit near-real-time
risk detection in outpatient settings and facilitate rapid
decisions about therapy continuation, intensification
of prophylaxis, or alternative strategies [ 97]. Crucially,
surveillance must be adaptive: biomarker trends (trajec -
tory, not single value) should trigger predefined clinical
actions (e.g., intensified monitoring, short-term throm -
boprophylaxis, endocrine therapy modification), thereby
converting mechanistic signals into actionable clinical
workflows.
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Lesani et al. Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2026) 15:119
6.3 Preventive co-therapies and vascular stabilization
strategies
Mechanism-driven prevention focuses on stabilizing
endothelium, reducing platelet hyperreactivity, and buff -
ering redox stress, interventions selected to counter the
specific axes identified during phenotyping [98].
6.3.1 Endothelial protectants
Statins, antiplatelet agents, antioxidant therapies, and
individualized hormone-management strategies repre -
sent biologically plausible approaches deserving future
prospective evaluation rather than established preven -
tive strategies for GnRH-associated thrombotic risk.
Randomized clinical studies will be required before such
interventions can be recommended in routine practice
[98]
6.3.2 Antiplatelet modulation
Low-dose aspirin and other antiplatelet agents reduce
VTE risk in select high-risk settings and may be con -
sidered where platelet-driven immunothrombosis pre -
dominates, recognizing that the absolute benefit must be
balanced against bleeding risk and that randomized data
in the GnRH-treated endometriosis population are lack -
ing [99]
6.3.3 Redox buffering and mitochondrial support
Interventions such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and other
antioxidant strategies can attenuate oxidative stress and
have preliminary evidence for improving endothelial
function in metabolic and inflammatory settings, sug -
gesting potential adjunctive roles to reduce NETosis and
ferroptotic vulnerability in iron-primed phenotypes [100]
6.3.4 Therapeutic hormone management:
Where vasculoprotective estrogenic signaling is essen -
tial (and reproductive goals allow), add-back estrogen
or dose/schedule modifications may mitigate abrupt
endothelial deconditioning during GnRH therapy and
have been shown to restore endothelium-dependent
relaxation in controlled studies [ 101] Finally, the choice
between GnRH agonists versus antagonists may itself
be an actionable decision point in patients with elevated
cardiovascular vulnerability, since emerging compara -
tive data suggest differential cardiovascular risk profiles
across these drug classes and thus inform personalized
therapeutic selection (Fig. 3).
6.4 Redefining safety: from adverse event to mechanistic
predictability
Looking ahead, future integration of longitudinal bio -
markers, multi-omic profiling, and machine-learning
models may enable individualized prediction of ther -
apy-associated vascular complications. However, these
approaches remain investigational and require analyti -
cal validation, external validation, prospective clinical
evaluation, and demonstration of clinical utility before
implementation into routine care [ 102]. Achieving this
requires harmonizing longitudinal biomarker data with
deeper molecular and imaging phenotypes, and apply -
ing machine-learning and multi-omic integration to
generate predictive risk models and decision tools that
are interpretable and clinically actionable [ 103]. Pilot
implementation should follow an iterative translational
pathway: [1] cohort discovery and multi-omic phenotyp -
ing [2], prospective biomarker validation with predefined
intervention thresholds [ 3], randomized evaluation of
biomarker-guided risk-reduction strategies (e.g., statin/
antiplatelet/add-back approaches), and [ 4] deployment
of validated clinical decision support into routine care,
a pathway that parallels successful precision approaches
in other cardiovascular domains [95]. Ultimately, embed-
ding mechanistic assays and predictive models into the
standard workflow will convert ad hoc safety signals into
predictable, preventable events and will allow clinicians
to tailor reproductive therapies to minimize vascular
harm while preserving reproductive and symptomatic
benefits.
7 Conceptual synthesis: the immunothrombotic
continuum
The mechanistic threads developed above, chronic pel -
vic inflammation, iron-driven oxidative priming, plate -
let–leukocyte crosstalk, endothelial reprogramming,
and hormonal perturbation, are not discrete phenom -
ena but elements of a continuous immunothrombotic
spectrum in which immune activation and coagulation
are reciprocally reinforcing and progressively remodel
vascular biology toward thrombotic vulnerability. This
immunothrombotic continuum reframes endometriosis
from a localized gynecologic disorder into a systemic,
multi-axis disease in which local lesion biology can prop -
agate to distant vascular beds through defined cellular
and molecular pathways.
7.1 Endometriosis as a model of reproductive
immunovascular crosstalk
Endometriosis offers a uniquely informative human
model to study reproductive-immune-vascular interac -
tions because it couples repetitive, hormone-driven tis -
sue injury and repair with sustained local iron overload
and chronic sterile inflammation, providing a natural
experiment in how cyclical reproductive physiology can
entrain persistent vascular perturbations [ 104]. At the
cellular level, the lesion microenvironment, rich in acti -
vated macrophages, cytokines, and oxidative products,
conditions neighboring endothelium and releases cir -
culating mediators (microparticles, NET remnants) that
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Lesani et al. Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2026) 15:119
convey inflammatory and procoagulant signals systemi -
cally, thereby mechanistically linking pelvic biology to
remote vascular dysfunction [ 105]. Because endometrio -
sis commonly affects women in their reproductive years
and is managed with hormonal therapies that themselves
modulate vascular biology, it serves as a tractable context
for testing how reproductive endocrine shifts interact
with immunothrombotic mechanisms to modulate short-
and long-term vascular risk.
7.2 Hormonal therapies as systemic vascular modulators
Sex steroids exert powerful, pleiotropic effects on vas -
cular cells: estrogen promotes endothelial nitric oxide
synthase activity, accelerates endothelial repair, and sup -
presses pro-inflammatory gene programs, while estro -
gen withdrawal impairs these protective pathways and
unmasks endothelial vulnerability [ 106]. Therapeutic
manipulations of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal
axis, for example, continuous GnRH agonists, therefore
act as systemic biological perturbations that can tip a
primed endothelium into overt dysfunction by abruptly
removing vasoprotective signaling, altering platelet and
fibrinolytic balance, and modifying metabolic state. Com-
parative clinical and mechanistic data indicate that differ-
ent classes of gonadotropin-suppressing agents (agonists
vs. antagonists) and add-back strategies produce distinct
cardiovascular and metabolic footprints, supporting the
concept that endocrine therapies should be considered
vascular modulators rather than organ-restricted treat -
ments [107].
7.3 A new paradigm for thromboembolic risk in chronic
inflammatory disease
Beyond endometriosis, a broader body of evidence
shows that chronic inflammatory and autoimmune
diseases reconfigure thrombotic risk through shared
immunothrombotic mechanisms, NETosis, endothelial
activation, procoagulant microparticles, and dysregulated
anticoagulant pathways, arguing for a paradigm shift
from risk estimation based on classical hemodynamic or
Fig. 3 Translational pipeline for precision cardio-reproductive medicine in endometriosis. Legend: This figure illustrates a systems-level, translational
framework for preventing immunothrombotic complications during GnRH agonist therapy in women with endometriosis. Panel A — Pre-treatment
Phenotyping & Risk Stratification: Clinical history, conventional cardiovascular risk factors, and mechanistic biomarkers (e.g., D-dimer, platelet–neutro-
phil aggregates [PNAs], endothelial microparticles [EMPs], iron/lipid-peroxidation indices, endothelial transcriptomic signatures) stratify patients into low-,
intermediate-, and high-risk vascular phenotypes. Panel B — Adaptive Biomarker-Guided Surveillance : Serial, trajectory-based monitoring of coagu-
lation, platelet activation, endothelial injury, NETosis, and redox markers informs real-time decision nodes. Upward trends trigger graded clinical actions,
from intensified monitoring to prophylactic intervention, enabling dynamic management of immunothrombotic risk. Panel C — Mechanism-Targeted
Interventions: Phenotype-driven preventive strategies include endothelial stabilizers (e.g., statins), antiplatelet agents (low-dose aspirin), redox/mito -
chondrial support (N-acetylcysteine, antioxidants), anti-NET therapies, and tailored hormonal regimens (GnRH agonist vs antagonist, add-back estrogen).
Iterative monitoring ensures therapy is adapted to evolving vascular states. Panel D — Predictive Modeling & Clinical Decision Support : Multi-omic
and biomarker data integrate into predictive algorithms, validated through prospective trials and embedded in clinical decision support systems, en -
abling mechanistic forecasting of thromboembolic events and personalized intervention (designed using Power Point and Adobe Illustrator software)
Page 14 of 17
Lesani et al. Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (2026) 15:119
thrombophilia models toward integrated immunovascu -
lar phenotyping [ 108]. This new paradigm emphasizes
(i) dynamic network-level drivers of thrombosis rather
than single biomarkers, (ii) the importance of host-state
(immune, metabolic, endocrine) in determining whether
a clot will form, propagate, or embolize, and (iii) the ther-
apeutic consequences, namely, that targeting immuno -
logic and endothelial nodes (for example, NET inhibitors,
endothelial stabilizers, redox modulators) may comple -
ment anticoagulation to prevent clinically meaningful
embolic events [109].
7.4 Limitations of the proposed mechanistic model
The framework presented in this Review is intended as a
hypothesis-generating mechanistic model rather than an
established causal sequence. While substantial experi -
mental and epidemiologic evidence supports individual
components of the model, including endothelial dysfunc-
tion in endometriosis, the vascular effects of hypoestro -
genism, and immunothrombotic mechanisms, direct
prospective clinical evidence demonstrating that endo -
metriosis-induced endothelial priming is sequentially
followed by GnRH agonist-mediated vascular destabiliza-
tion culminating in thromboembolism remains limited.
Consequently, the proposed “two-hit” paradigm should
be interpreted as a conceptual framework that integrates
current knowledge, identifies testable biological hypoth -
eses, and provides a foundation for future mechanistic
studies and prospective clinical validation. Similarly, the
precision cardio-reproductive medicine framework pro -
posed in this Review, including biomarker-guided sur -
veillance, NET and endothelial microparticle monitoring,
and machine-learning-assisted risk prediction, should be
regarded as future research priorities rather than com -
ponents of current standard clinical care. These concepts
are intended to stimulate prospective translational inves -
tigation aimed at determining their analytical validity,
clinical utility, cost-effectiveness, and impact on patient
outcomes before routine implementation can be consid -
ered [92].
8 Conclusion
We propose reframing endometriosis not as an isolated
gynecologic lesion but as a systemic immunothrombotic
disorder whose local biology (iron-rich hemorrhage, ster-
ile inflammation, platelet–leukocyte crosstalk) durably
primes the endothelium and hemostatic systems. This
reframing dissolves the artificial barrier between repro -
ductive pathology and vascular medicine: the lesion is
the signal, and the vasculature is the transducer that con-
verts cyclical reproductive injury into persistent throm -
boinflammatory risk.
Mechanistically, the evidence converges on an inte -
grated cascade, iron-driven oxidative priming → immune
amplification → endothelial reprogramming → immu -
nothrombotic propagation, in which therapeutic endo -
crine perturbations (for example, GnRH-agonist-induced
hypoestrogenism) can act as a biologically meaningful
second hit that unmasks embolic vulnerability. Thinking
in these terms shifts emphasis away from isolated risk
factors toward network states and dynamic transitions:
it is less whether a patient “has” a risk factor and more
which vascular state the patient occupies and how close
that state is to a tipping point for thrombus propagation
and embolization.
The clinical implication is equally transformative. Pre -
venting thromboembolic harm in reproductive-aged
women requires prediction, prevention, and personal -
ization rather than retrospective pharmacovigilance. We
must [1] phenotype patients before therapy using clinical,
cellular, and molecular assays that capture endothelial,
immune, and redox axes; [ 2] monitor trajectories during
therapy with mechanistically informative biomarkers and
point-of-care tools; and [ 3] deploy targeted co-therapies
(endothelial stabilizers, selective antiplatelet strategies,
redox modulators, tailored endocrine regimens) tested
in biomarker-selected cohorts. In short, safety becomes
a function of mechanistic anticipation rather than event
counting.
Research priorities to realize this agenda are clear
and urgent: validate compact, clinically deployable
biomarker panels that predict an immunothrombotic
phenotype; perform mechanistic human and transla -
tional studies that link lesion biology to systemic vas -
cular readouts; compare endocrine regimens for their
vascular footprints; and ethically design randomized,
biomarker-guided prevention trials of vascular stabiliz -
ers in high-risk patients. Parallel efforts should develop
interpretable predictive models that integrate multi-
omic, imaging, and clinical time-series data and that can
be prospectively validated in diverse populations.
If realized, this program will accomplish more than
prevent rare adverse events: it will generate a replicable
template for how reproductive biology informs sys -
temic vascular health, create a new subspecialty ethos,
precision cardio-reproductive medicine, and provide
mechanistically grounded interventions that preserve
reproductive choices while minimizing vascular harm.
The path forward is translational and collective: rigorous
mechanistic inquiry, prospective phenotyping, and prag -
matic trials conducted in concert between reproductive
endocrinology and vascular medicine will convert the
immunothrombotic insight from concept to clinical care.
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