[Uterine leiomyomas--risk factors].

Uterine leiomyomas are benign tumours that arise from the smooth-muscle cells of the human uterus. They are clinically apparent in up to 20% of women and cause significant morbidity, including prolonged and heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure or pain and reproductive dysfunction. Surgery has been the mainstay of fibroid treatment and various minimally invasive procedures have been developed in addition to hysterectomy and abdominal myomectomy, but formation of new leiomyomas after these conservatives therapies remains a substantial problem. The pathophysiology of myomas is not well understood. We present some views of epidemiological, reproductive and environmental factors, which may stimulate myomas formation. We also present a brief survey of the literature about genetic predisposition, mutations, steroid hormone and growth factors concentration, which seems to pay an important role in fibrotic processes and angiogenesis observed during formation and growth of these tumours. New research into the basic biology of these neoplasms may add new treatment options for the future as the role of growth factors and genetic mutations in these tumours are better understood.