Abstract
Introduction We aimed to compare the presence and the amount of nerve fibers in endometrial, myometrial and leiomyoma tissues using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and neurofilament (NF) immunohistochemical staining in uterine leiomyoma patients with and without pain complaint. Methods Patients undergoing hysterectomy for uterine leiomyoma were prospectively enrolled in the study. Twenty-five uterine leiomyoma patients without pelvic pain complaint (visual analog scale (VAS) < 5) were assigned to Group 1; 23 uterine leiomyoma patients with pelvic pain complaint (VAS ≥ 5) were assigned to Group 2. Endometrial, myometrial and leiomyoma tissues obtained from hysterectomy specimens were stained immunohistochemically using PGP 9.5 and NF dyes. The presence and density of nerve fibers were compared between the two groups. Results None of the endometrial samples in either groups stained with PGP 9.5 and NF dyes. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of nerve fibers in myometrial and leiomyoma tissues between the two groups with either of the stains (PGP 9.5: p = 0.39 and p = 0.29; NF: p = 0.83 and p = 0.65, respectively). There was agreement between PGP 9.5 and NF immunohistochemical staining for nerve fiber detection in myometrial and leiomyoma tissues (p < 0.05/κ = 0.622 and p < 0.05/κ = 0.388, respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrates that the quantity and density of nerve fibers in myometrial and leiomyoma tissue in patients with pain were similar to that in patients without pain.
Highlights
We aimed to compare the presence and the amount of nerve fibers in endometrial, myometrial and leiomyoma tissues using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and neurofilament (NF) immunohistochemical staining in uterine leiomyoma patients with and without pain complaint
This study demonstrates that the quantity and density of nerve fibers in myometrial and leiomyoma tissue in patients with pain were similar to that in patients without pain
In estrogen-dependent diseases such as endometriosis, adenomyosis and uterine leiomyoma, estrogen may play a role in the increase of nerve fibers in the endometrium and myometrium by regulating neurotrophins
Summary
We aimed to compare the presence and the amount of nerve fibers in endometrial, myometrial and leiomyoma tissues using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and neurofilament (NF) immunohistochemical staining in uterine leiomyoma patients with and without pain complaint. 70 % of uterine leiomyomas are asymptomatic, they can cause dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, infertility, abortion, pelvic pressure and pain. Pelvic pain is a relatively common and important clinical symptom. Clinical studies have reported pelvic pain complaints in about 34 % of patients with uterine leiomyoma [2]. Patients rate the pain by giving it a score between 0 and 10 (i.e., from none to severe) [3]. We used this scale in the present study
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have