Endometriosis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Gynecology and Immunology
• Reproductive Health
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Endometriosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) share inflammatory and immune abnormalities.
• Both conditions disproportionately affect women of reproductive age.
• Investigating the co-occurrence of endometriosis and SLE is crucial for understanding women's health.

Approach:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted.
• Searched Medline and Web of Science databases for relevant studies.
• Included five studies assessing 152,355 women, with meta-analysis of pooled risk ratio.

Key Points:

• A significant association was observed between endometriosis and SLE (RR = 2.47).
• The association remained significant across different study designs, including cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies.
• Included studies were rated as poor or fair quality, indicating a need for further high-quality research.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a potential link between endometriosis and SLE.
• This association may inform medical assessments for patients with endometriosis.
• Understanding this relationship can enhance knowledge of gynecological and autoimmune disorders.