Mechanisms and Interventions Addressing Accelerated Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Endometriosis
Penn State University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to better understand the underlying mechanisms associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk in women with endometriosis, and to measure the effectiveness of emerging endometriosis treatments on outcomes specific to cardiovascular dysfunction. Epidemiologic data demonstrate a clear association between endometriosis, reproductive risk factors, inflammation and cardiovascular (CV) risk. Circulating factors, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL (oxLDL), are two of many biomarkers of cardiovascular and inflammatory disease of endometriosis. An important signaling mechanism through which circulating LDL and oxLDL act is the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor (LOX-1). LOX-1 signal transduction functionally results in pronounced endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of CV. The investigators hypothesis that one factor mediating the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in endometriosis is systemic inflammation and activation of LOX-1 receptor mechanisms.
Description
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder associated with considerable chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and is a major cause of infertility. This disorder affects 6% - 10% of reproductive age women and can be as high as 35-50% in women experiencing pain or infertility. Endometriosis derives from the presence of endometrium-like tissue in sites outside the uterine cavity. While endometriosis is a local inflammatory syndrome, the inflammatory process is systemic. Endometriosis is associated with higher risk of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension 8. Epidemiolog…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–45 years
- Sex
- Female
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy women between the ages of 18 and 45 years (Controls), taking oral contraceptive or with regular menses every 26-34 days * Women between the ages of 18 and 45 years with endometriosis (diagnosis by prior laparoscopy by subject's own physician \<5 years prior, and reported by the subject to the researchers) * Tylenol if the subject has acute pain is allowed * Contraceptive use is allowed Exclusion Criteria: * Use of nicotine-containing products (e.g. smoking, chewing tobacco, etc.) * Diabetes (HbA1C 6.5%) * BP\>140/90 * Taking pharmacotherapy that could alter per…
Interventions
- DrugSalsalate Pill
Salsalate acts as an NFkB inhibitor to reduce systemic inflammation
- DrugPlacebo
Placebo for the salsalate intervention
Location
- The Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, Pennsylvania