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Ginekologia Polska 2020Chronic pelvic pain is a common health problem that afflicts 39% of women at some time in their life. It is a common challenge for gynecologists, internists, surgeons,... (Review)
Review
Chronic pelvic pain is a common health problem that afflicts 39% of women at some time in their life. It is a common challenge for gynecologists, internists, surgeons, gastroenterologists, and pain management physicians. Pelvic venous insufficiency (PVI) accounts for 16-31% of cases of chronic pain but it seems to be often overlooked in differential diagnosis. The aim of this article was to summarize current data concerning PVI. The embolization of insufficient ovarian veins remains the gold standard of therapy but the optimal procedure is yet to be determined. Well-designed randomized trials are required to establish the best treatment modalities.
Topics: Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Humans; Leg; Ovary; Pelvic Pain; Venous Insufficiency
PubMed: 33301167
DOI: 10.5603/GP.a2020.0093 -
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England) Aug 2023What are the similarities and differences in the systemic proteomic profiles by endometriosis-associated pain subtypes among adolescents and young adults with...
STUDY QUESTION
What are the similarities and differences in the systemic proteomic profiles by endometriosis-associated pain subtypes among adolescents and young adults with endometriosis?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Endometriosis-associated pain subtypes exhibited distinct plasma proteomic profiles.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
Endometriosis patients, especially those diagnosed in adolescents and young adults, are often plagued by various pain symptoms. However, it is not clear what biological processes underlie this heterogeneity.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data and plasma samples from 142 adolescent or young adult participants of the Women's Health Study: From Adolescence to Adulthood cohort with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS
We measured 1305 plasma protein levels by SomaScan. We classified self-reported endometriosis-associated pain into subtypes of dysmenorrhea, acyclic pelvic pain, life impacting pelvic pain, bladder pain, bowel pain, and widespread pain phenotype. We used logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for differentially expressed proteins, adjusting for age, BMI, fasting status, and hormone use at blood draw. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified enriched biological pathways.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
Our study population consisted mainly of adolescents and young adults (mean age at blood draw = 18 years), with nearly all (97%) scored as rASRM stage I/II at laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis, which is a common clinical presentation of endometriosis diagnosed at a younger age. Pain subtypes exhibited distinct plasma proteomic profiles. Multiple cell movement pathways were downregulated in cases with severe dysmenorrhea and life impacting pelvic pain compared to those without (P < 7.5×10-15). Endometriosis cases with acyclic pelvic pain had upregulation of immune cell adhesion pathways (P < 9.0×10-9), while those with bladder pain had upregulation of immune cell migration (P < 3.7×10-8) and those with bowel pain had downregulation (P < 6.5×10-7) of the immune cell migration pathways compared to those without. Having a wide-spread pain phenotype involved downregulation of multiple immune pathways (P < 8.0×10-10).
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION
Our study was limited by the lack of an independent validation cohort. We were also only able to explore any presence of a pain subtype and could not evaluate multiple combinations by pain subtypes. Further mechanistic studies are warranted to elucidate the differences in pathophysiology by endometriosis-pain subtype.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
The observed variation in plasma protein profiles by pain subtypes suggests different underlying molecular mechanisms, highlighting the need for potential consideration of pain subtypes for effectively treating endometriosis patients presenting with various pain symptoms.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)
This study was supported by the Department of Defense W81XWH1910318 and the 2017 Boston Center for Endometriosis Trainee Award. Financial support for establishment of and data collection within the A2A cohort were provided by the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. N.S., A.F.V., S.A.M., and K.L.T. have received funding from the Marriott Family Foundation. C.B.S. is funded by an R35 MIRA Award from NIGMS (5R35GM142676). S.A.M. and K.L.T. are supported by NICHD R01HD094842. S.A.M. reports serving as an advisory board member for AbbVie and Roche, Field Chief Editor for Frontiers in Reproductive Health, personal fees from Abbott for roundtable participation; none of these are related to this study. Other authors report no conflict of interest.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
N/A.
Topics: Female; Humans; Endometriosis; Dysmenorrhea; Cross-Sectional Studies; Proteomics; Pelvic Pain; Abdominal Pain
PubMed: 37196326
DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead099 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Dec 2023Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is one of the main problems of endometriosis, leading to a significant impairment of quality of life. Understanding the pain mechanisms and the...
PURPOSE
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is one of the main problems of endometriosis, leading to a significant impairment of quality of life. Understanding the pain mechanisms and the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) changes in these patients is essential to integrate additional therapeutic strategies. We hypothesize that endometriosis patients have changes in PFM and that targeted vaginal electrostimulation can be a treatment option for CPP in this disease.
METHODS
Fifteen patients with endometriosis and chronic acyclical pelvic pain were included. PFM electromyography with the Multiple Array Probe Leiden (MAPLe) was performed. Mapping of PFM was utilized and targeted electrostimulation of the hypertensive muscles was conducted. Control electromyography was performed afterward to evaluate the electrostimulation therapeutic effect.
RESULTS
In 12/15 (80%) patients, the myofascial trigger point could be localized by digital examination. The most frequently affected muscle was the puborectalis (10/15-66.7%). Most of the patients showed serious changes in the average resting tone (aRT) of PFM. aRT was significantly increased in all patients and decreased after stimulation, whereby the difference prior to and after stimulation was not significant (p = 0.064). The detailed separated analysis of the hypertensive muscles showed a significant (p = 0.026) reduction in their resting tone (hRT), after targeted stimulation.
CONCLUSION
Vaginal electrostimulation is a promising and feasible complementary treatment option for CPP in endometriosis patients. Targeted treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction should be included in clinical trials.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pelvic Floor; Pilot Projects; Endometriosis; Quality of Life; Muscle Contraction; Electromyography; Pelvic Floor Disorders; Pelvic Pain
PubMed: 37672087
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07192-5 -
Women's Health (London, England) Aug 2015Several lines of recent evidence suggest that pelvic innervation is altered in endometriosis-affected women, and there is a strong presumption that nerve fibers... (Review)
Review
Several lines of recent evidence suggest that pelvic innervation is altered in endometriosis-affected women, and there is a strong presumption that nerve fibers demonstrated in eutopic endometrium (of women with endometriosis) and in endometriotic lesions play roles in the generation of chronic pelvic pain. The recent observation of sensory C, sensory A-delta, sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers in the functional layer of endometrium of most women affected by endometriosis, but not demonstrated in most women who do not have endometriosis, was a surprise. Nerve fiber densities were also greatly increased in myometrium of women with endometriosis and in endometriotic lesions compared with normal peritoneum. Chronic pelvic pain is complex, and endometriosis is only one condition which contributes to this pain. The relationship between the presence of certain nerve fibers and the potential for local pain generation requires much future research. This paper reviews current knowledge concerning nerve fibers in endometrium, myometrium and endometriotic lesions, and discusses avenues of research that may improve our knowledge and lead to enriched understanding and management of endometriotic pain symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Myometrium; Nerve Fibers; Pelvic Pain; Women's Health
PubMed: 26314611
DOI: 10.2217/whe.15.47 -
Scandinavian Journal of Pain Jan 2018Individuals with non-acute pain are challenged with variable pain responses following surgery as well as psychological challenges, particularly depression and...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Individuals with non-acute pain are challenged with variable pain responses following surgery as well as psychological challenges, particularly depression and catastrophizing. The purpose of this study was to compare pre- and postoperative psychosocial tests and the associated presence of sensitization on a cohort of women undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery for non-acute pain defined as pain sufficient for surgical investigation without persistent of chronic pain.
METHODS
The study was a secondary analysis of a previous report (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014 Oct;211(4):360-8.). The study was a prospective cohort trial of 77 women; 61 with non-acute pain and 16 women for a tubal ligation. The women had the following tests: Pain Disability Index, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) depression scale and the McGill Pain Scale (short form) as well as their average pain score and the presence of pain sensitization. All test scores were correlated together and comparisons were done using paired t-test.
RESULTS
There were reductions in pain and psychosocial test scores that were significantly correlated. Pre-operative sensitization indicated greater changes in psychosocial tests.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a close association of tests of psychosocial status with average pain among women having surgery on visceral tissues. Incorporation of these tests in the pre- and postoperative evaluation of women having laparoscopic surgery appears to provide a means to a broader understanding of the woman's pain experience.
Topics: Adult; Catastrophization; Dysmenorrhea; Elective Surgical Procedures; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy; Middle Aged; Pain Threshold; Pain, Postoperative; Pelvic Pain; Pelvis; Prospective Studies; Sterilization, Tubal; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 29794284
DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2017-0127 -
Women's Health (London, England) Nov 2015Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is common in women of reproductive age and has a significant impact on quality of life, work efficiency and healthcare utilization. CPP can be... (Review)
Review
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is common in women of reproductive age and has a significant impact on quality of life, work efficiency and healthcare utilization. CPP can be a manifestation of many different, often multifactorial conditions, and in the absence of an identified cause, the management can be particularly challenging. High quality epidemiological studies would improve the understanding of CPP and identify risk factors which may be targeted for the development of appropriate management strategies. This review focuses on what is known about the prevalence, risk factors, individual and societal burden of CPP and outlines important management strategies.
Topics: Chronic Pain; Female; Humans; Pelvic Pain; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26450216
DOI: 10.2217/whe.15.30 -
The Journal of Urology Jun 2023Symptom heterogeneity in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, collectively termed urological chronic pelvic...
PURPOSE
Symptom heterogeneity in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, collectively termed urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome, has resulted in difficulty in defining appropriate clinical trial endpoints. We determine clinically important differences for 2 primary symptom measures, pelvic pain severity and urinary symptom severity, and evaluate subgroup differences.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain Symptom Patterns Study enrolled individuals with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome. We defined clinically important differences by associating changes in pelvic pain severity and urinary symptom severity over 3 to 6 months with marked improvement on a global response assessment using regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. We evaluated clinically important differences for absolute and percent change and examined differences in clinically important differences by sex-diagnosis, presence of Hunner lesions, pain type, pain widespreadness, and baseline symptom severity.
RESULTS
An absolute change of -4 was clinically important in pelvic pain severity among all patients, but clinically important difference estimates differed by pain type, presence of Hunner lesions, and baseline severity. Pelvic pain severity clinically important difference estimates for percent change were more consistent across subgroups and ranged from 30% to 57%. The absolute change urinary symptom severity clinically important difference was -3 for female participants and -2 for male participants with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome only. Patients with greater baseline severity required larger decreases in symptoms to feel improved. Estimated clinically important differences had lower accuracy among participants with low baseline symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
A reduction of 30%-50% in pelvic pain severity is a clinically meaningful endpoint for future therapeutic trials in urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Urinary symptom severity clinically important differences are more appropriately defined separately for male and female participants.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Prostatitis; Pelvic Pain; Chronic Pain; Cystitis, Interstitial; Depression
PubMed: 36848118
DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000003394 -
Pain Research & Management 2023Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex male dysfunction, mostly seen in young and middle-aged men with a history of more than... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a complex male dysfunction, mostly seen in young and middle-aged men with a history of more than 3 months. As a traditional therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture has been proven an effective method to treat CP/CPPS in recent years. Though some meta-analyses on acupuncture for chronic prostatitis were published in 2018 and 2019, most of the included studies were low in quality according to the JADAD score (JADAD < 4). The conclusions of acupuncture for CP/CPPS remain indefinite.
PURPOSE
This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for CP/CPPS by including high-quality literature only (JADAD ≥ 4) to provide a reliable basis for clinical applications and research.
METHOD
Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to March 1, 2022, and only randomized controlled trials (RCT) with high-quality (JADAD ≥ 4) were included. Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. and was verified through trial sequential analysis (TSA). We carried out a sensitivity analysis for the heterogeneity ( ≥ 50%). Publication bias was explored using a funnel plot.
RESULT
Ten RCTs (11 trials) of high-quality methodology involving 798 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that compared to sham acupuncture (SAT) and western medicine (WM), acupuncture (AT) played superior roles for CP/CPPS patients in pain score, NIH-CPSI score, quality of life score, urinary symptom, and efficacy rate. As for the adverse effects, 4 RCTs described mild hematoma and pain in AT and SAT groups, while specific symptoms including nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and low blood pressure were reported in WM groups.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture has measurable benefits on CP/CPPS, and security has also been ensured. However, this meta-analysis only included 10 RCTs; thus, RCTs with a larger sample size and longer-term observation are required to verify the effectiveness of acupuncture further in the future.
Topics: Male; Middle Aged; Humans; Chronic Pain; Prostatitis; Chronic Disease; Acupuncture Therapy; Pelvic Pain
PubMed: 36960418
DOI: 10.1155/2023/7754876 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Oct 2023The aim of this NMA is to comprehensively analyze evidence of oral GnRH antagonist in the treatment of moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
The aim of this NMA is to comprehensively analyze evidence of oral GnRH antagonist in the treatment of moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain.
METHODS
Literature searching was performed to select eligible studies published prior to April 2022 in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials involving patients who suffered from moderate-to-severe endometriosis-associated pain and treated with oral nonpeptide GnRH antagonists or placebo were included.
RESULTS
Elagolix 400 mg and ASP1707 15 mg were most efficient in reducing pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. Relugolix 40 mg was best in reducing the analgesics use. The rates of any TEAEs and TEAEs-related discontinuation were highest in relugolix 40 mg and elagolix 250 mg, respectively, while rates of hot flush and headache were highest in relugolix 40 mg and elagolix 150 mg. Significantly decreased spinal BMD was observed in elagolix 250 mg.
CONCLUSION
Oral GnRH antagonists were effective in endometriosis-associated pain in 12w, and most of the efficiency and safety outcomes were expressed in a dose-dependent manner, but linzagolix 75 mg was an exception.
Topics: Female; Humans; Endometriosis; Network Meta-Analysis; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Hormone Antagonists; Pelvic Pain
PubMed: 36656435
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06862-0 -
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Apr 2022Endometriosis is a chronic pain disorder that affects young women, impairing their physical, mental and social well-being. Apart from personal suffering, it imposes a... (Review)
Review
Endometriosis is a chronic pain disorder that affects young women, impairing their physical, mental and social well-being. Apart from personal suffering, it imposes a significant economic burden on the healthcare system. We analyzed studies reporting comorbid mental disorders in endometriosis based on the ICD/DSM criteria, discussing them in the context of available neuroimaging studies. We postulate that at least one-third of endometriosis patients suffer from mental disorders (mostly depression or anxiety) and require psychiatric or psychotherapeutic support. According to three neuroimaging studies involving patients with endometriosis, brain regions related not only to pain processing but also to emotion, cognition, self-regulation and reward likely constitute the so-called "endometriosis brain". It is not clear, however, whether the neurobiological changes seen in these patients are caused by chronic pain, mental comorbidities or endometriosis itself. Given the paucity of high-quality data on mental comorbidities and neurobiological correlates in endometriosis, further research is needed.
Topics: Anxiety; Brain; Chronic Pain; Endometriosis; Female; Humans; Pelvic Pain
PubMed: 35202605
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.100988