Study on the relationship between polymorphism of the estrogen receptor gene and endometriosis

Objective To investigate the relationship between polymorphism of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene and endometriosis.Methods All the 40 patients, aged 37.5 years in average, were diagnosed by operative-pathological examination.Fifty-two women without gynecologic diseases, aged 39.5 years in average, were recruited in the control group.The women in both groups had never received hormone therapy.The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ER were analysed by digestion with PvuⅡand XbaⅠfollowing polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The upstream TA repeated sequence of ER gene was purified and sequenced following PCR.Results The RFLP of both groups presented no difference.The TA repeats at upstream of ER gene in endometriosis group were more than the control group.Conclusion TA repeats polymorphisms at upstream of ER gene are associated with the risk of endometriosis.