Correlation between Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 in Human Adenomyosis and Dysmenorrhea

Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in human adenomyosis and explore its correlation with dysmenorrheal. Methods Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of MMP-7 in 40 specimens of ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis and 40 specimens of normal endometrium. Results The expression of MMP-7 in ectopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis was significantly higher than that in eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis and normal endometrium (P0.05). There was no significant difference of MMP-7 expression between proliferative stage and secretory stage in eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis (P0.05). There was significant difference of MMP-7 expression in ectopic endometrium between the patients with and without dysmenorrheal (P=0.010). Conclusion The abnormal expression of MMP-7 might be correlated with pathogenesis of human adenomyosis and dysmenorrhea.