Medicina Molecular e Genética

Endometriosis in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins: A Review of Literature

Abstract

Raimondo D, Mastronardi M, Mabrouk M, Arena A and Seracchioli R

Endometriosis is a common estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease and a major contributor to pelvic pain and subfertility in women of reproductive age. Its etiology and pathogenesis are not well known yet, but different studies had highlighted its multifactorial nature, influenced by both genetic and environmental components. This minireview analyzes the prevalence of the disease and the concordance for the presence and stage of endometriosis in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. A higher concordance for the presence of the disease in MZ twins rather than DZ twins was observed, with a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.05). Only one study had evaluated the concordance for endometriosis stage within MZ twins, observing a high rate of concordance. Genetic component seems to play a pivotal role in the development of endometriosis and its severity.