[Adenomyosis pathophysiology: An unresolved enigma]
M Bourdon1, P Santulli1, L Marcellin1
1Université de Paris, faculté de santé, faculté de médecine Paris Centre, Paris, France; Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), hôpital universitaire Paris Centre (HUPC), centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Cochin, département de gynécologie obstétrique II et médecine de la reproduction, Paris, France; Département 3I « infection, immunité et inflammation », Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Adenomyosis is a chronic benign uterine disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within the myometrium. It is a heterogeneous disease, presenting various clinical forms, depending on the location of the ectopic lesions within the myometrium. Adenomyosis can be responsible for several symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding and/or infertility. Its pathophysiology is a real conundrum and several theories have been proposed: development of adenomyosis lesion could initiate de novo from Mullerian rests or from stem cells. Moreover, multiple factors could be involved in initiating lesions, including specific hormonal, immune and/or genetic changes. The objective of this review is to provide an update on adenomyosis pathophysiology, in particular on the various theories proposed concerning the invasion of the myometrium by endometrial cells and the inducing mechanisms, and to study the link between the physiopathology, the symptoms and the medical treatments.
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