Elastogenesis in the Vaginal Wall and Pelvic-Organ Prolapse — NEJM

Clinical Implications of Basic Research

Elastogenesis in the Vaginal Wall and Pelvic-Organ Prolapse
Kathleen A. Connell, M.D.

N Engl J Med 2011; 364:2356-2358June 16, 2011


Article
Pelvic-organ prolapse is a debilitating condition that affects millions of women and is associated with costs of more than $1 billion annually in the United States alone.1 The recurrence of pelvic-organ prolapse after the various surgical treatment options is nearly 30%, with declining success with subsequent procedures.2 Although alterations in collagen, elastin, and proteoglycan proteins of the extracellular matrix within the pelvic-support ligaments and vaginal tissue have been associated with pelvic-organ prolapse, our understanding of the underlying causative mechanisms are lacking, which limits approaches to treatment. A recent study by Budatha and colleagues3 sheds light on the mechanistic role of elastic fibers in the development of pelvic-organ prolapse.

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Elastogenesis in the Vaginal Wall and Pelvic-Organ Prolapse — NEJM