Endometriosis and adenomyosis Flashcards
What is the prevalence of endometriosis?
11.4% or 1/9 women have a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis by the age of 44 in Australia (RANZCOG Australian Endometriosis Guideline DRAFT 2020)
What is the definition of endometriosis and adenomyosis?
An inflammatory condition with endometrial-like glands and stroma deposited at sites outside of the endometrial cavity.
Endometrial-like glands and stroma within the myometrium of the uterus.
What is the pathophysiology of endometriosis and endometriomas?
Retrograde menstruation leads to deposits of endometrial-like tissue within the abdominopelvic cavity. An abnormality in immune response stops the body from clearing these deposits. >55% cases demonstrate heritability and there is likely underlying epigenetic causes for endometriosis.
Endometriomas form when endometrial depositors become invaginated in the ovarian cortex, possibly due to cortex disruption during routine ovulation.
How does endometriosis affect fertility?
The answer is not certain. Theories include:
- disruption of tubal/peritoneal anatomy
- Chronic low grade inflammation (Peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis has been found to contain increased numbers of immune cells, including macrophages, and mast, natural killer and T cells, as well as elevated levels of growth factors, chemokines and cytokines.)
- Reduced receptivity of the endometrium
- reduction in ovarian reserve, particularly with endometriomas, reduces effectiveness of gnRH analogues during assisted reproductive techniques (ART)
What is the cost of endometriosis on a national level?
Endometriosis cost $9.3 billion in Australia in 2017; mostly due to its impact on women’s function and productivity.
Endometriosis is associated with significant psychological and socioeconomic issues.
What are the medical options for treating endometriosis?
- Analgesics (NSAIDs, paracetamol, neuromodulatory meds; try to avoid opiates)
- COCP
- Progesterone oral/implant (but can have significant premenstual sx)
- Mirena levonorgestrel IUS
- Danazol (complex action: weak androgen and progesterone, with anti-estogenic effects: it is an anabolic steroid)
- Gestrinone (complex action: weak androgen and progesterone with anti-progestognenic and ant-estrogenic effects; it is an anabolic steroid)
- GnRH analogues (for 3 months prior to surgery for DIE) or off-license can be taken for up to 6 months with add-back HRT
What are the surgical options for endometriosis?
- Ablation or excision of endometriosis (similarly effective at reducing pain)
- There is no evidence that hysterectomy reduces pain related endometriosis
- Endometrioma excision with removal of cyst wall is preferable to I&D due to better success for reduction in recurrence
- If family is complete counsel about hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Add back HRT should be considered until age of menopause; this should be a continuous combined regime to suppress any residual endometriosis.
Counsel a woman on the effects of endometriosis/endometrioma surgery on fertility?
Benefits:
- Improving sx of pain
- Can assess tubal patency at same time
- Can confirm diagnosis of endometriosis
- Excision of endometrioma can exclude malignancy diagnosis
- Excision of endometrioma (particularly if >3cm) can improve spontaneous pregnancy rates
- Removal of endometriomas >3cm can improve ovarian responsiveness to IVF and number of oocytes retrieved; though no significant difference in pregnancy, live birth rate, miscarriage has been noted
Risks:
- Surgery can cause further adhesions
- Ovarian surgery can compromise ovarian reserve
- Risks of surgery can be significant, especially if has DIE
What is the prevalence of endometriosis in
- the aussie population
- patients attending pain clinic
- patients attending fertility clinic
- the general population = 11.4%
- patients attending pain clinic = 65%
- patients attending fertility clinic = 50-70%
What are the three “types” of endometriosis?
- Superficial endometriosis or peritoneal disease <5mm
- Ovarian endometriosis / endometriomas (superficial)
- Deep endometriosis - Foci of endometrial tissue >5mm in depth, affecting retrocervix, parametric, Rectovaginal septum, digestive tract, ureter, extra-abdominal
What is Sampson’s Theory? Explain the pathogenesis.
Retrograde menstruation
Flow of endometrial content in pelvis allowing implantation of endometrial lesions
Menstrual blood contains endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs). As a result of retrograde menstruation, epithelial progenitor cells may make their way outside of the uterus to attach to the mesothelium. As clonogenic cells, they may initiate ectopic lesion growth. A similar process has been found in retrograde neonatal uterine bleeding where these cells remain dormant in the mesothelium until estrogen levels increase at menarche.
What is the theory of coelomic metaplasia?
Transformation of peritoneal tissue / cells into endometrial tissue through hormonal and/or immunological factors
What is the hormone theory of endometriosis?
Estrogen-driven proliferation of endometrial lesions.
Resistance to progesterone-mediated control of endometrial proliferation
What is the theory of immune dysfunction in endometriosis?
Failure of immune mechanism to destroy ectopic tissue and abnormal differentiation of endometriotic tissue
What is the sensitivity and specificity of laparoscopic histological diagnosis of endometriosis?
Sensitivity = 94% Specificity = 97%
In the absence of histology, the false-positive rate with laparoscopic visualisation alone may approach 50% especially in the mild-moderate endometriosis
How is the inflammatory state of endometriosis thought to impact fertility?
- Toxic effect on gametes, embryos
- Impaired tubal cilia motility
Describe the changes in the eutopic endometrial receptivity
- Increased formation of antibodies to endometrial antigens
- Resistance to progesterone
- Decreased expression of integrity and genes regulating implantation
What ovarian cancers is ovarian endometriosis associated with?
Clear cell - 3 fold increase
Low-grade serous and Endometrioid - 2 fold increase
How do progestins help in the management of endometriosis?
Inhibit growth of lesions by inducing decidualisation followed by atrophy of uterine-type tissues.
Best hormonal tx for halting disease progression.
No effect on endometrioma recurrence.
What are the adverse effects of progestins?
Weight gain
Fluid retention
Depression
Breakthrough bleeding
How does the COCP help to manage endometriosis?
Relieves dysmenorrhea through ovulation suppression and continuous progestin administration suppressing endometrial growth.
How do GnRH agonists help manage endometriosis?
Produces hypogonadotrophic hypogonadal state through down regulation of hypothalamus, causing anovulation and suppression of endometrial like deposits.
Use for 6 months max, due to effect on BMD
What are the disadvantages of GnRH agonist use in endometriosis?
Cost
Implant
BMD loss
Hypo-oestrogenic side effects
Can minimise side-effects with add back HRT which does not affect efficacy of GnRH agonist
What is the definition of Adenomyosis?
Presence of endometrial like glands and stroma in the myometrium
Associated with heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and/or infertility
What is the aetiology of Adenomyosis?
1.Direct invasion of endometrial basalis layer into myometrium –weakness secondary to prior pregnancy or surgery
2.De Novo from embryologic -misplaced Mullerian Remnants (rests)
– Rectovaginal septum
What USS features are consistent with adenomyosis?
What is the sensitivity and specificity of USS diagnosis of adenomyosis?
- Bulky, globular uterus
- Heterogeneous myometrium
- Venetian blind effect: linear striations radiating from endometrium.
- Asymmetrical wall thickness (posterior wall thicker).
- Myometrial cysts
- Loss of clear endomyometrial border
- Sensitivity 50-90%
- Specificity 50-99%
What was the finding of the Cochrane Review Overview regarding Endometriosis
- options effective at alleviating pain?
2014
- GnRH analogues
- LNG-IUD
- Danazol
- Progestagens
- Anti-progestagens
- Laparoscopic surgical interventions
What was the finding of the Cochrane Review Overview regarding Endometriosis
- for women undergoing ART?
2014
- 3 months GnRH agonist improved pregnancy rates
- excisional surgery improved spontaneous pregnancy rates in the 9-12 months after surgery compared to ablative surgery
- laparoscopic surgery improved live birth and pregnancy rates compared to diagnostic laparoscopy alone
- no evidence that medical treatment improved clinical pregnancy rates
What is the definition of chronic pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain on most days lasting 3 months or longer.
Used interchangeably with persistent pelvic pain.
What is the aetiology of chronic pain?
Major changes in both afferent and efferent nerve pathways in the central and peripheral nervous system.
Local factors such as TNF-alpha and chemokines may change peripheral nerve function and/or stimulate normally quiescent fibres, resulting in altered sensation over a wider area than originally affected.
- Persistent barrage of pain –> CNS changes –> magnifies signal.
- Visceral hyperalgesia: pain perception and visceral function modified by previous experience and current circumstances.
- Neuropathic pain
Frequently more than one factor contributing to chronic pelvic pain
What is the embolisation theory of endometriosis development?
Endometrial cells may spread via lymph of blood vessels to ectopic sites.
What are the most common sites of endometriosis (from most to least common)?
Ovaries, anterior and posterior cul-de-sac, posterior broad ligaments, uterosacral ligaments, uterus, fallopian tubes, sigmoid colon and appendix, and round ligaments.
How do endometriomas cause infertility?
- Inflammatory
- Distorted anatomy
- Destruction of ovarian cortex
What are risk factors for endometriosis?
– A first-degree female relative (mother or sister) with endometriosis
– Shorter-than-normal menstrual cycle (< 27 days) Longer-than-normal menstruaaon (>
five days) Low body-mass index
– Early menarche
– Nulliparity
– Müllerian anomalies – anomalies that arise during the formaaon of parts of the
female reproducave organs
– Outflow obstructions, e.g. cervical stenosis, a transverse vaginal septum or an imperforate hymen
What factors decrease risk of endometriosis?
- Multiple births
- Extended periods of lactation
- Late menarche
- Increased consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids
What non-hormonal medication options are available for endometriosis treatment?
- Analgesics: paracetamol, NSAIDs, others.
Neuromodulators:
- TCA, SNRI
- Gabapentin, pregabalin
What are the indications for laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis?
- Pain persistent despite medical therapy.
- Severe symptoms limiting function
- To restore distorted anatomy
- Infertility
Note: NOT for diagnostic purposes only - should be done with aim of treatment at same time, therefore should only done if you have skills to excise/ablate endometriosis.
What is recommended following all endometriosis surgery (except for fertility)?
Hormonal treatment e.g. Mirena, COCP for secondary prevention of endometriosis-related pain and endometriomas
What negative outcomes/effects does endometriosis have on pregnancy?
Increased risk of:
- Miscarriage
- Ectopics
- APH
- Placenta praevia
- Abruption
- Preeclampsia
- CS
- MROP
- NND