Endometriosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Comparative Evaluation of Clinical Manifestations and Serological Autoimmune Phenomena

Sandra G Pasoto, Sandra Gofinet Pasoto, Mauricio S Abrao, Maurício Simões Abrão, Vilma S T Viana, Víctor Viana, Cleonice Bueno, Elaine P Leon, Elaine Pires Leon, Eloisa Bonfa, Eloísa Bonfá
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2005 · vol. 53(2) , pp. 85–93 · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.2005.00252.x · PMID:15790342 · W2142058652
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Endometriosis patients showed higher frequencies of arthralgia, myalgia, and antinuclear antibodies compared to controls, but differed from lupus patients in antibody specificity and complement levels.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: In view of evidences suggesting association between endometriosis (EM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we have performed a comparative evaluation of clinical and humoral immunologic abnormalities in both diseases. METHOD OF STUDY: Forty-five women (18-40 years) with histologically confirmed pelvic EM, 21 healthy-women and 15 female SLE-patients (18-40 years) without surgically confirmed EM were prospectively evaluated. Immunologic investigations were performed by blinded researchers. RESULTS: None of the EM-patients fulfilled criteria for SLE. However, EM-patients presented higher frequencies of arthralgia (62%) and generalized myalgia (18%) superior than normal-controls (24%, P = 0.004/0%, P = 0.048) but comparable with SLE-patients (33%, P = 0.052/27%, P = 0.5). Similarly to SLE (7%), 9% of EM-patients presented fibromyalgia. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were detected in 18% of EM-sera, as compared with healthy-women (0%, P = 0.014) and SLE-patients (93%, P = 0.0005). In contrast with SLE, antibodies to dsDNA, Sm and U1RNP were negative in EM-sera. Anti-Ro and anticardiolipin antibodies were more often in SLE (40%, 33%) than in EM-patients (2%, P < 0.001/9%, P = 0.04). Elevated immune-complexes and low total complement were more frequent in SLE (40%, 13%) compared with EM-sera (7%, P = 0.005/0%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate differences of ANA antigenic specificity and complement consumption between EM and SLE. The high prevalence of generalized musculoskeletal complaints in EM justifies a multidisciplinary approach.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Adolescent Adult Antibodies, Anticardiolipin Antibodies, Anticardiolipin Antibodies, Antinuclear Antibodies, Antinuclear Arthritis Arthritis Arthritis Carbonic Anhydrase II Carbonic Anhydrase II Complement System Proteins Complement System Proteins Demography Double-Blind Method Endometriosis Endometriosis Epitopes

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