Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2025
Author Spotlight: Creating a Versatile Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model Relevant for Both Male and Female Mice
Published on: October 13, 2023
Epidemiological and Immune Profile Analysis of Italian Subjects with Endometriosis and Multiple Sclerosis
Brunella Zizolfi1, Virginia Foreste2, Simona Bonavita3
1Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Objective:
To report for the first time an Italian epidemiological analysis of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients with endometriosis (EMS), through the study of the endometriosis population of our referral center; to analyze the clinical profile and perform a laboratory analysis to examine the immune profile and the possible correlation to other autoimmune diseases of the enrolled patients.
Methods:
We evaluated 1652 women registered with EMS in the University of Naples Federico II and retrospectively searched patients with a co-diagnosis of MS. Clinical features of both conditions were recorded. Serum autoantibody and immune profiles were analyzed.
Results:
9 out of 1652 patients presented a co-diagnosis of EMS and MS (9/1652 = 0.005%). Clinically, EMS and MS presented in mild forms. Hashimoto's thyroiditis was found in two patients (2/9). Even if not statistically significant, a trend of variation in CD4- CD8 T lymphocytes and of B cells were found.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest an increased risk of MS in women with EMS. However, large-scale prospective studies are needed.
