Endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage and implantation failure: is there an immunological link?

C Tomassetti, Carla Tomassetti, C Meuleman, Meuleman C, Pexsters A, A. Pexsters, Attila Mihalyi, A Mihalyi, Mihalyi A, C Kyama, Cleophas Kyama, P Simsa, Péter Simsa, Simsa P, TM D'Hooghe, D'Hooghe TM, T M D'Hooghe
Reproductive BioMedicine Online · 2006 · vol. 13(1) , pp. 58–64 · doi:10.1016/s1472-6483(10)62016-0 · PMID:16820110 · W2085072288
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This review explores the potential immunological connections between endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage, and implantation failure, considering shared underlying mechanisms.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is more frequently diagnosed in patients with infertility than in a normal population. The goal of this paper is to give an overview of the clinical and fundamental evidence for a possible link between endometriosis and (recurrent) miscarriage or implantation failure after treatment with assisted reproductive technology. According to the literature, there is insufficient evidence for an association between endometriosis and (recurrent) miscarriage, but there is, however, epidemiological evidence to support the link between endometriosis and recurrent implantation failure after assisted reproduction. This can possibly be explained by alterations in humoral and cell-mediated immunity in women with endometriosis. Humoral immunological changes include increased formation of antibodies against endometrial antigens, anti-laminin-1 auto-antibodies and other auto-immune antibodies (e.g. antiphospholipid). Cell-mediated immunological changes include alterations in peritoneal and follicular fluid immune cells and cytokines. The possible negative effect of these immunological changes on folliculogenesis, ovulation, oocyte quality, early embryonic development and implantation in women with endometriosis suggests that infertility in endometriosis patients may be related to alterations within the follicle or oocyte, resulting in embryos with decreased ability to implant.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Abortion, Habitual Embryo Implantation Endometriosis Abortion, Habitual Abortion, Habitual Abortion, Habitual Autoantibodies Autoantibodies Cytokines Cytokines Embryo Implantation Embryonic Development Embryonic Development Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female

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.

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Cited by (50)

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