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Histology of the vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a literature review

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The pathophysiology of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study is to describe the current knowledge about histology of the vaginal wall and its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse.

Methods

Eligible studies were selected through a MEDLINE search covering January 1986 to December 2012. The research was limited to English-language publications.

Results

Investigations of changes in the vaginal tissue that occur in women with genital prolapse are currently still limited and produced contrary results. The heterogeneity of the patients and the control groups in terms of age, parity and hormonal status, of the localization of biopsies and the histological methods as well as the lack of validation of the quantification procedures do not allow clear and definitive conclusions to be drawn.

Conclusions

This review shows that current knowledge of the histological changes observed in women with POP are inconclusive and relatively limited. More studies are needed in this specific field to better understand the mechanisms that lead to POP.

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Abbreviations

POP:

Pelvic organ prolapse

ECM:

Extracellular matrix

MMP:

Matrix metalloproteinase

LOX:

Lysyloxidase

GSI:

Genuine stress incontinence

FBN:

Fibrillin

Latent:

TGF-β binding protein

BMP:

Bone morphogenic protein

EFW:

Elastic fiber width

PGP 9.5:

Protein gene product 9.5

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Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interests, except Michel Cosson, who is a consultant for Ethicon, AMS, Boston, Ipsen, Olympus and is a researcher for Ethicon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHR La Citadelle, Boulevard du 12e de ligne, n°1, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Laurent De Landsheere, Michelle Nisolle & Jean-Michel Foidart

  2. Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, CHU, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, Belgium

    Laurent De Landsheere, Carine Munaut, Catherine Maillard, Michelle Nisolle & Jean-Michel Foidart

  3. Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, GIGA-Cancer, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, Belgium

    Betty Nusgens

  4. Department of Gynecologic Surgery, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, Avenue Oscar Lambret, n°2, 59037, Lille Cedex, France

    Chrystèle Rubod & Michel Cosson

Authors
  1. Laurent De Landsheere
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  2. Carine Munaut
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  3. Betty Nusgens
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  4. Catherine Maillard
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  5. Chrystèle Rubod
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  6. Michelle Nisolle
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  7. Michel Cosson
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  8. Jean-Michel Foidart
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Correspondence to Laurent De Landsheere.

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De Landsheere, L., Munaut, C., Nusgens, B. et al. Histology of the vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a literature review. Int Urogynecol J 24, 2011–2020 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2111-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2111-1

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