Enodthelin 1 is elevated in plasma and explants from patients having uterine leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVE

To determine a role for endothelin (ET) in progression of uterine fibroids.

DESIGN

An in vitro model of fibroid and myometrium cultivation.

PATIENTS: A total of 32 women undergoing hysterectomies for uterine fibroids and 11 women undergoing hysterectomies for abnormal uterine bleeding (control population).

RESULTS

Women with uterine fibroids were hypertensive and displayed significantly greater circulating ET-1 compared to control patients. Secretion of ET-1 was greater from the fibroids compared to myometrium explants. Endothelin 1 secretion was attenuated with blockade of the angiotensin II type 1 or endothelinA receptors. Hypoxia stimulated ET-1 secretion from both myometrium and fibroid explants. Preproendothelin messenger RNA expression increased with hypoxia from fibroid explants compared to normoxic controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the hypothesis that uterine fibroids are associated with hypertension and increased ET-1, which is exacerbated with hypoxia. These data suggest a possible link between mechanisms of blood pressure regulation and development of uterine leiomyoma.