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Endometriotic lesions are able to infiltrate surrounding tissue. This is made possible partly by an altered local and systemic immune response that helps achieve neoangiogenesis, cell proliferation and immune escape. Deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) differs from other subtypes through the invasion of its lesions over 5 mm into affected tissue. Despite the invasive nature of these lesions and the wider range of symptoms they can trigger, DIE is described as a stable disease. This elicits the need for a better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis. We used the “Proseek® Multiplex Inflammation I Panel” in order to simultaneously detect 92 inflammatory proteins in plasma and peritoneal fluid (PF) of controls and patients with endometriosis, as well as in particular patients with DIE, in order to gain a better insight into the systemically and locally involved immune response. Extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced gycation end-products binding protein (EN-RAGE), C-C motif Chemokine ligand 23 (CCL23), Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4—binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and human glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) were significantly increased in plasma of endometriosis patients compared to controls, whereas Hepatocyte Growth factor (HGF) and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) were decreased. In PF of endometriosis patients, we found Interleukin 18 (IL-18) to be decreased, yet Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) to be increased. TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE) and C-C motif Chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) were significantly decreased in plasma, whereas C-C motif Chemokine ligand 23 (CCL23), Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5) were significantly increased in PF of patients with DIE compared to endometriosis patients without DIE. Although DIE lesions are characterized by increased angiogenetic and pro-inflammatory properties, our current study seems to support the theory that the systemic immune system does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of these lesions.

Endometriosis is a benign disease, characterized by a wide range of symptoms and different degrees of severity, which is why therapy should be individually adapted to the patient's needs. Over the years, a lot of research has gone into finding new therapeutic approaches for this enigmatic disease.This review presents the latest advances in pharmacological management of endometriosis and is solely focused on studies published from 2010 to 2021.Clinicians and researchers are constantly searching for new therapeutic strategies for endometriosis patients. As there are well-established treatments, however, any new medication should fulfill at least one of the three criteria: increased efficacy, comparable efficacy but a better safety profile, or treatments that have a lack of accompanying contraceptive effects that are seen in most endometriosis treatments. While some new substances show promising results, further studies are needed to demonstrate the fulfillment of one of the above-mentioned criteria.

The topics of endometriosis and pain imply far-reaching problems for women’s health. Using a qualitative research approach, this paper addresses the subjective experience and effects of pain, the methods for dealing with these issues, and the needs of affected women in Austria. Data were collected by problem-focused interviews conducted with ten women suffering from endometriosis, which were later transcribed and subjected to qualitative content analysis. Findings are therefore described using content-related categories. Results show that negative thoughts and feelings like fear, despair, and anger are associated with endometriosis and pain. Moreover, predominantly negative impacts and changes are found in various areas of life, such as the well-being and psyche of those affected, their attitude towards life in general, partnerships, social life, leisure time and work-life balance. In dealing with endometriosis and pain, both Western biomedicine and complementary medicine treatments are used. Support from one’s inner circle of friends and exchange and interaction with others affected by the disease are seen to be invaluable. Attending physicians as well as patients themselves and their private, social, and working environment should encourage open communication about endometriosis and the related pain. Resumo: O tema da endometriose e dor tem implicações relevantes para a saúde das mulheres. O artigo procura contextualizar a experiência subjetiva e os efeitos da dor, os métodos para lidar com essas questões e as necessidades das mulheres afetadas por essa condição na Áustria. Foi escolhida uma abordagem qualitativa para examinar esses temas. Foram realizadas entrevistas focadas em problemas com dez mulheres com história de endometriose. Após a transcrição do material, foi realizada a análise qualitativa do conteúdo. Assim, os achados são retratados com o uso de categorias relacionadas ao conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que pensamentos e sentimentos negativos como medo, desesperança e raiva estão associados com a endometriose e dor. Além disso, são encontrados impactos e mudanças predominantemente negativos em vários domínios da vida, tais como o bem-estar e o estado psicológicos das mulheres afetadas, a atitude geral em relação à vida, parcerias, vida social, tempo de lazer e equilíbrio entre trabalho e vida pessoal. Tanto a medicina ocidental quanto os tratamentos da medicina complementar são utilizados no manejo da endometriose e da dor. O apoio do círculo próximo de amigas e as trocas e interação com outras pessoas afetadas pela doença são vistos como extremamente úteis. Os médicos atendentes e as próprias pacientes e seus ambientes privados, sociais e laborais devem incentivar a comunicação aberta sobre a endometriose e a dor associada. Resumen: La endometriosis y su dolor asociado implican problemas profundos para la salud de las mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar la experiencia subjetiva y los efectos del dolor, los métodos para tratarlos, así como las necesidades de las mujeres afectadas en Austria. Para el examen de los temas mencionados anteriormente, se eligió un enfoque de investigación cualitativo. Las entrevistas enfocadas en los problemas se realizaron con diez mujeres que sufrían endometriosis. Tras la transcripción material de los datos, el análisis se realizó usando un análisis cualitativo de contenido. Por lo tanto, los resultados se describen usando categorías relacionadas con el contenido. Los resultados muestran que los pensamientos negativos y los sentimientos como miedo, desesperación, y enfado están conectados con la endometriosis y el dolor. Además, predominantemente se encontraron impactos negativos y cambios en varias áreas de la vida, tales como: bienestar, psique de quienes se veían afectadas, su actitud ante la vida en general, relaciones, vida social, equilibrio entre tiempo de ocio y trabajo. Para enfrentarse a la endometriosis y el dolor, se utilizan tratamientos biomédicos occidentales, así como medicina complementaria. El apoyo del círculo íntimo de los afectados, como son los amigos, así como el intercambio e interacción con otras personas afectadas por la enfermedad parecen ser muy útiles. Ir al médico, el entorno privado, social y laboral de las pacientes, así como ellas mismas, deben estar y ser animadas para una comunicación abierta sobre la endometriosis y el dolor relacionado con la misma.

Endometriosis appears to share certain cancer-related processes, such as cell attachment, invasion, proliferation and neovascularization, some of which can also be found in other healthy tissues. In order to better understand the altered milieu of the peritoneal cavity, while acknowledging the reported similarities between endometriosis and neoplastic processes, we applied a multiplex oncology panel to search for specific biomarker signatures in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, women with deep-infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), as well as controls. In total, 84 patients were included in our study, 53 women with endometriosis and 31 controls. Ninety-two proteins were measured in prospectively collected peritoneal fluid (PF) samples, using the “Proseek® Multiplex Oncology I Panel”. We first compared patients with endometriosis versus controls, and in a second step, DIE versus endometriosis patients without DIE. Out of the 92 analyzed proteins, few showed significant differences between the groups. In patients with endometriosis, ICOS ligand, Endothelial growth factor, E-selectin, Receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, Interleukin-6 receptor alpha, Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, C-X-C motif chemokine 10, Epididymal secretory protein E4 and Folate receptor-alpha were decreased, while Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 were increased compared to controls. Looking at patients with DIE, we found Chemokine ligand 19, Stem cell factor, Vascular endothelial growth factor D, Interleukin-6 receptor alpha and Melanoma inhibitory activity to be increased compared to endometriosis patients without DIE. We have shown a distinct regulation of the immune response, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, cell adhesion and inhibition of apoptosis in PF of patients with endometriosis compared to controls. The specific protein pattern in the PF of DIE patients provides new evidence that DIE represents a unique entity of extrauterine endometriosis with enhanced angiogenetic and pro-proliferative features.