Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (May 2021)

Evaluation of vitamin D receptor expression in uterine leiomyoma and nonneoplastic myometrial tissue: a cross‐sectional controlled study

  • Maria Simone Oliveira Lima,
  • Benedito Borges da Silva,
  • Menandro Lima de Medeiros,
  • Alesse Ribeiro dos Santos,
  • Emerson Davi do Nascimento Brazil,
  • Walberto Monteiro Neiva Eulálio Filho,
  • Jerusia Oliveira Ibiapina,
  • Antônio Gilberto Albuquerque Brito,
  • Pedro Vitor Lopes Costa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-021-00752-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background Uterine myomas are the most frequent benign solid pelvic tumors in women of reproductive age. At present, uterine myomas are the most common indication for hysterectomy because of the morbidity they cause, including intense bleeding, compression of adjacent organs, pain, and infertility. Some studies show that vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression is correlated with the etiology of uterine leiomyomas. This study aimed to assess the expression of VDR in uterine leiomyoma and nonneoplastic myometrial tissue. Methods A controlled cross-sectional study involving 40 women who underwent abdominal hysterectomy the Department of Gynecology of the Getúlio Vargas Hospital of Federal University of Piauí, Brazil, was performed to compare the immunohistochemical expression of VDR in samples of uterine leiomyoma tissue with adjacent nonneoplastic myometrial tissue. The mean percetages of stained nuclei in the two groups was compared by Student’s t teste, with significance established at p < 0.05. Results The percentage of cells with nuclei stained by anti-VDR in the myometrial and leiomyoma tissue was 79.52 % (± 4.32) and 60.22 % (± 7.24), respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusions The mean percentage of nuclei expressing VDR was significantly lower in the uterine leiomyoma than in nonneoplastic myometrial tissue.

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