A study of nerve fibers and histopathology of postsurgical, postinfectious, and endometriosis-related adhesions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the presence of nerve fibers and histopathology of endometriosis-related adhesions, postsurgical adhesions, and postinfectious adhesions in women with and without pelvic pain.

METHODS

We evaluated the presence of nerve fibers and histopathology of endometriosis-related adhesions, postsurgical adhesions, and postinfectious adhesions in 50 women. The nerve fibers were identified by immunocytochemistry staining with an antibody to neurofilament.

RESULTS

Nerve fibers were found in the intraabdominal adhesions in 39 of the total 50 patients with such adhesions (78%). There was no significant difference in the proportion and the mean nerve score in adhesions due to previous intra-abdominal infection, endometriosis, and previous uninfected intra-abdominal surgery. The degree of lymphocytes and edema in endometriosis-related adhesions was significantly higher than in postsurgical adhesions and postinfectious adhesions (P < .05). No difference was found in the amount of nerve fibers and the mean nerve score in adhesions from women with pelvic pain and from those without pelvic pain.

CONCLUSION

Nerve fibers are found commonly in intraabdominal adhesions, and their presence are not related to the underlying pathology or pelvic pain. Endometriosis-related adhesions contain more inflammatory cells and tissue edema than postsurgical or postinfectious adhesions.