Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share some epidemiological, clinical and pathogenetic features. A differential diagnosis between pelvic endometriosis and IBD may be challenging, even for expert clinicians. In the present review, we aimed t...

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Main Authors: Mariasofia Fiorillo, Benedetto Neri, Roberto Mancone, Consuelo Russo, Federica Iacobini, Sara Concetta Schiavone, Elena De Cristofaro, Stefano Migliozzi, Caterina Exacoustos, Livia Biancone
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2521
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author Mariasofia Fiorillo
Benedetto Neri
Roberto Mancone
Consuelo Russo
Federica Iacobini
Sara Concetta Schiavone
Elena De Cristofaro
Stefano Migliozzi
Caterina Exacoustos
Livia Biancone
author_facet Mariasofia Fiorillo
Benedetto Neri
Roberto Mancone
Consuelo Russo
Federica Iacobini
Sara Concetta Schiavone
Elena De Cristofaro
Stefano Migliozzi
Caterina Exacoustos
Livia Biancone
author_sort Mariasofia Fiorillo
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share some epidemiological, clinical and pathogenetic features. A differential diagnosis between pelvic endometriosis and IBD may be challenging, even for expert clinicians. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the currently available data regarding the relationship between endometriosis and IBD and their possible association. <b>Methods:</b> The PubMed and Scopus database were considered, by searching the following terms: “Crohn’s Disease”, “Ulcerative Colitis”, “Endometriosis”, “Adenomyosis”, and “Inflammatory Bowel Disease”, individually or combined. Full-text papers published in English with no date restriction were considered. <b>Results:</b> Few studies have researched the possible association between endometriosis and IBD. Both conditions are characterized by chronic recurrent symptoms, which may be shared (abdominal pain, fatigue, infertility, menstrual irregularities, diarrhea, constipation). Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can cause bowel symptoms. In a large Danish study, a 50% increased risk of IBD was observed in women with endometriosis. A missed diagnosis of endometriosis and an increased risk of endometriosis has been reported in IBD. Current evidence does not support an association between endometriosis and IBD characteristics. However, IBD may be associated with DIE, characterized by pelvic symptoms (dyschezia, dyspareunia). Preliminary observations suggest an increased IBD risk in patients with endometriosis treated with hormonal therapy. <b>Conclusions:</b> Current findings suggest that a careful search is needed for concomitant endometriosis in subgroups of patients with IBD showing compatible symptoms and vice versa. A multidisciplinary approach including dedicated gastroenterologists and gynecologists is required for a proper search for IBD and endometriosis in subgroups of patients. This approach may avoid diagnostic delays or overtreatments for these conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-cae0c1924cd44434b196ab1a7643ac9d2025-08-20T02:28:11ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-11-011211252110.3390/biomedicines12112521Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical CharacteristicsMariasofia Fiorillo0Benedetto Neri1Roberto Mancone2Consuelo Russo3Federica Iacobini4Sara Concetta Schiavone5Elena De Cristofaro6Stefano Migliozzi7Caterina Exacoustos8Livia Biancone9Gastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Rome, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Rome, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Rome, ItalyGastroenterological Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University “Tor Vergata” of Rome, 00133 Roma, Italy<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share some epidemiological, clinical and pathogenetic features. A differential diagnosis between pelvic endometriosis and IBD may be challenging, even for expert clinicians. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the currently available data regarding the relationship between endometriosis and IBD and their possible association. <b>Methods:</b> The PubMed and Scopus database were considered, by searching the following terms: “Crohn’s Disease”, “Ulcerative Colitis”, “Endometriosis”, “Adenomyosis”, and “Inflammatory Bowel Disease”, individually or combined. Full-text papers published in English with no date restriction were considered. <b>Results:</b> Few studies have researched the possible association between endometriosis and IBD. Both conditions are characterized by chronic recurrent symptoms, which may be shared (abdominal pain, fatigue, infertility, menstrual irregularities, diarrhea, constipation). Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can cause bowel symptoms. In a large Danish study, a 50% increased risk of IBD was observed in women with endometriosis. A missed diagnosis of endometriosis and an increased risk of endometriosis has been reported in IBD. Current evidence does not support an association between endometriosis and IBD characteristics. However, IBD may be associated with DIE, characterized by pelvic symptoms (dyschezia, dyspareunia). Preliminary observations suggest an increased IBD risk in patients with endometriosis treated with hormonal therapy. <b>Conclusions:</b> Current findings suggest that a careful search is needed for concomitant endometriosis in subgroups of patients with IBD showing compatible symptoms and vice versa. A multidisciplinary approach including dedicated gastroenterologists and gynecologists is required for a proper search for IBD and endometriosis in subgroups of patients. This approach may avoid diagnostic delays or overtreatments for these conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2521inflammatory bowel diseaseCrohn’s diseaseulcerative colitisendometriosisdeep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)
spellingShingle Mariasofia Fiorillo
Benedetto Neri
Roberto Mancone
Consuelo Russo
Federica Iacobini
Sara Concetta Schiavone
Elena De Cristofaro
Stefano Migliozzi
Caterina Exacoustos
Livia Biancone
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
Biomedicines
inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis
endometriosis
deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)
title Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
title_full Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
title_fullStr Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
title_short Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Clinical Characteristics
title_sort inflammatory bowel disease and endometriosis diagnosis and clinical characteristics
topic inflammatory bowel disease
Crohn’s disease
ulcerative colitis
endometriosis
deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2521
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