Endometriosis = Autoimmune ?

[cahill]

I saw my Primary care doc today.

We were discussing how many autoimmune diseases  I have  and possible  new ones    .  ( With humor intended )She calls me her " little autoimmune nightmare " .

During our conversation endometriosis came up. I had endometriosis ( then  a total hysterectomy ) 30+ years ago.

. She says to me " They( that mystical they  ) " They now believe that endometriosis may be autoimmune ". 

Really

Has any one been told this or does anyone have any research  , studys that support this concept ?

 

For me personally  it is a non issue( other than adding a number to an ever growing list )  but I have 2 daughters that have dealt with endometriosis and I have 2 granddaughters ( they are my concern)  

[pricklypear1971]

I've been hearing it the other way...that they used to say its AI and now it's not. I always thought it was - all of the earlier reading I'd done at the time (10 years ago) said it was AI.

I don't know...but they do say many with endo are AI, regardless.

[cahill]

I have found some studys that say endometriosis is AI and has a clear link to other AI diseases . They are a bit dated( 2008 or so) as you said. I have not been able to find anything more  recent .

 

One study found the presence of antibodies to endometrial stroma in 60 percent of patients with endometriosis. Researchers propose that these anti-endometrial antibodies might be partially responsible for failure of implantation leading to infertility.

The observations made by researchers at National Jewish Hospital along with the demonstration of endometrial antibodies in patients with endometriosis confirm the autoimmune nature of endometriosis.( this study was done in 2008 )

 

I am still looking for something more recent .