Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of nerve fiber density (NFD) in endometrial biopsy as a diagnostic method for endometriosis and to detect its relationship to pain intensity and endometriosis staging by revised American Fertility Society (r-AFS, 1985) criteria.
Methods
Endometrial biopsies were taken from 50 women (25 women with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis compared with 25 women laparoscopically excluded endometriosis), and then detection of NFD in endometrial biopsies was attempted using immunohistochemical test protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5).
Results
In women with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis (n = 25), the median NFD in the functional layer in the endometrial biopsy was 5 nerve fibers/mm2 (range 2-13 nerve fibers/mm2). No nerve fibers were detected in endometrial biopsies in any of the woman in group 2 (control group; n = 25). There was a significant positive correlation between NFD in endometrial biopsy and endometriosis r-AFS staging (p = 0.005). No significant correlation was found between NFD and pain intensity (p = 0.381).
Conclusions
NFD in endometrial biopsy can be used as a less invasive method for diagnosis and staging of endometriosis.
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