Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

Results


PMID 17765237
Gene Name KDR
Condition Endometriosis
Association Associated
Population size 62
Population details 62 (30 women with endometriosis (10 ovarian, 10 bladder, 10 rectal), 32 control women (10 proliferative endometrium, 10 secretory endometrium, 4 normal ovary, 4 normal bladder, 4 normal rectum))
Sex Female
Associated genes VEGF, Flk-1
Other associated phenotypes Deeply infiltrating endometriosis
Vascular density and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) are significantly higher in patients with deeply infiltrating endometriosis affecting the rectum.

Fertil Steril. 2008 Jul;90(1):148-55. Epub 2007 Sep 4.

Machado, Daniel Escorsim| Abrao, Mauricio Simoes| Berardo, Plinio Tostes| Takiya, Christina Maeda| Nasciutti, Luiz Eurico

Department of Histology and Embryology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze vascular density and immunolocalization of angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor Flk-1 in the proliferative and secretory eutopic human endometrium and in three different sites of endometriosis: the ovary, bladder, and rectum. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty women with endometriosis (10 ovarian, 10 bladder, 10 rectal) and 32 control women (10 proliferative endometrium, 10 secretory endometrium, 4 normal ovary, 4 normal bladder, 4 normal rectum). INTERVENTION(S): Normal endometrial samples were obtained from women during laparoscopic ablation of subserous myoma, and biopsy specimens of endometriosis were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Normal tissues of ovary, bladder, and rectum were obtained from these organs beside the lesions of endometriosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Blood vessels were quantified according to the number of von Willebrand factor-positive endothelial cells. The VEGF and Flk-1 distribution were evaluated semiquantitatively by immunohistochemical staining. RESULT(S): More blood vessels were found in cases of endometriosis, particularly rectal endometriosis, compared with the respective control samples and with the eutopic endometrium, and they were localized in endometrial stroma around the glands. The VEGF and Flk-1 expression levels were also higher in cases of endometriosis, especially rectal endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): Vascularization and VEGF and Flk-1 expression are significantly higher in deeply infiltrating endometriosis affecting the rectum, reinforcing the hypothesis that antiangiogenesis therapy may constitute a new modality of treatment, especially in cases of deep endometriosis involving the rectum.

Mesh Terms: Adult| Capillaries/chemistry| Case-Control Studies| Endometriosis/*metabolism/pathology| Female| Humans| Immunohistochemistry| Neovascularization, Pathologic/*metabolism/pathology| Ovarian Diseases/*metabolism/pathology| Ovary/chemistry| Prospec