Salivary microRNA in Endometriosis: Correlation With Response to Progestin Therapy

Salivary MicroRNA in Endometriosis: Correlation With Progestin Treatment Response: A Prospective Observational Study

This study aims to analyze the salivary miRNA specific for patients diagnosed with endometriosis, specifically evaluating the miRNA profile of patients who respond versus those who do not respond to progestin therapy. Ninety patients attending the Chronic Pelvic Pain Clinic will be recruited, and they will be asked to provide a saliva sample before starting medical therapy. The response to the therapy will be evaluated after 4 months from the beginning of the therapy itself.

In recent years, scientific literature has focused on the search for new non-invasive diagnostic tools that can identify patients with endometriosis early and easily, thereby reducing diagnostic delay and enabling the immediate initiation of appropriate treatment. Among these, microRNA (miRNA) is emerging as a promising option. Despite recent progress in this field, a predictive biomarker of response to medical therapy or vice versa, resistance to progesterone in endometriosis, has not yet been identified, including among miRNAs. This study aims, therefore, to identify salivary miRNA signatures specific to endometriosis and differentially expressed between responder and non-responder patients to 2 mg dienogest medical therapy. 90 patients diagnosed with endometriosis attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Udine will be enrolled. The investigators will ask them for a salivary sample before starting the progestin therapy. After 4 months from the beginning, the response will be evaluated. The researchers will evaluate the differences between salivary miRNA of the responders vs non-responders.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

• Age > 18 years
• Fertile age
• Clinical-ultrasound diagnosis or histological diagnosis of endometriosis
• Informed consent

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

• Pregnancy
• Pre-menarcheal or post-menopausal status
• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome with or without central sensitization assessed with the Central Sensitization Inventory Test (CSI)
• Neoplasia, diabetes, BMI > 30 kg/m2, coagulopathies, autoimmune diseases, or other conditions that may affect salivary miRNA measurement
• Currently undergoing progestin therapy