Müllerian agenesis: Difference between revisions
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==Treatment== |
==Treatment== |
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Although there are treatments to increase the comfort in sexual intercourse, there are none that can make pregnancy possible. There are plans by United Kingdom and Swedish doctors for a [[uterine transplant]] that would allow these women to carry their own child, but no transplant has yet been successful in producing a child. Since [[ovaries]] are present, people with this condition can have genetic children through [[IVF]] with [[embryo transfer]] to a [[gestational carrier]]. Some also choose to adopt. |
Although there are treatments to increase the comfort in sexual intercourse, there are none that can make pregnancy possible. However recent development of engineered vaginas using the patient's own cells has resulted in a fully functioning vagina capable of menstruation and orgasm showing promise of fully correcting this condition in some of the sufferers <ref>{{cite journal |title=Engineered vaginas grown in women for the first time |author=Catherine de Lange |journal=New Scientist |year=2014 |url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25399-engineered-vaginas-grown-in-women-for-the-first-time.html }}</ref> . There are plans by United Kingdom and Swedish doctors for a [[uterine transplant]] that would allow these women to carry their own child, but no transplant has yet been successful in producing a child. Since [[ovaries]] are present, people with this condition can have genetic children through [[IVF]] with [[embryo transfer]] to a [[gestational carrier]]. Some also choose to adopt. |
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It may be necessary to use vaginal dilators or surgery to develop a functioning [[vagina]] to allow for penetrative sexual intercourse. A number of surgical approaches have been used. In the McIndoe procedure<ref>,{{cite journal |
It may be necessary to use vaginal dilators or surgery to develop a functioning [[vagina]] to allow for penetrative sexual intercourse. A number of surgical approaches have been used. In the McIndoe procedure<ref>,{{cite journal |
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*[http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/askaboutMRKH MRKH Support at askaboutMRKH] |
*[http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/askaboutMRKH MRKH Support at askaboutMRKH] |
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*[http://children.webmd.com/murcs-association Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome] on WebMD |
*[http://children.webmd.com/murcs-association Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome] on WebMD |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullerian Agenesis}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullerian Agenesis}} |
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Revision as of 01:01, 11 April 2014
| Müllerian agenesis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Medical genetics  |
Müllerian agenesis is a congenital malformation characterized by a failure of the Müllerian duct to develop, resulting in a missing uterus and variable malformations of the upper portion of the vagina. It is the third most common cause of primary amenorrhoea after pregnancy and gonadal failure (such as from Turner syndrome). The condition is also called Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome or MRKH, named after August Franz Joseph Karl Mayer, Carl Freiherr von Rokitansky, Hermann Kuster, and G. A. Hauser. A review of the literature can be found in the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases [1]
Signs and symptoms
An individual with this condition is hormonally normal; that is, they will enter puberty with development of secondary sexual characteristics including thelarche and adrenarche (pubic hair). Their chromosome constellation will be 46,XX. Ovaries are intact and ovulation usually occurs. Typically, the vagina is shortened and intercourse may, in some cases, be difficult and painful. Medical examination supported by gynecologic ultrasonography demonstrates a complete or partial absence of the cervix, uterus, and vagina.
If there is no uterus, people with MRKH cannot carry a pregnancy. However, it is possible for them to have genetic offspring by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy. Treatment by uterine transplantation is still in its infancy.[2]
People with MRKH typically discover the condition when, during puberty years, the menstrual cycle does not start (primary amenorrhoea). Some find out earlier through surgeries for other conditions, such as a hernia.
Classification
- Typical MRKH – Isolated uterovaginal aplasia/hypoplasia
- Prevalence – 64 percent
- Atypical MRKH – Uterovaginal aplasia/hypoplasia with renal malformation or uterovaginal aplasia/hypoplasia with ovarian dysfunction
- Prevalence – 24 percent
- MURCS syndrome – Uterovaginal aplasia/hypoplasia with renal malformation, skeletal malformation, and cardiac malformation
- Prevalence – 12 percent[3]
Causes
WNT4 has been clearly implicated in the atypical version of this disorder. A genetic mutation causes a leucine to proline residue substitution at amino acid position 12.[3] This occurrence reduces the intranuclear levels of β catenin. In addition, it removes the inhibition of steroidogenic enzymes like 3β-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase and 17α-hydroxylase. Patients therefore have androgen excess.[3] Furthermore, without WNT4, the Müllerian duct is either deformed or absent. Female reproductive organs, such as the cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and much of the vagina, are hence affected.[4]
An association with a deletion mutation in chromosome 17 (17q12) has been reported. The gene LHX1 is located in this region and may be the cause of a number of these cases.[5]
Prevalence
The estimated prevalence is 1 in 4000-5000 females with XX chromosomes.[6] Queen Amalia of Greece was found post mortem to have had the syndrome.[7] Her inability to provide an heir contributed to the overthrow of her husband, King Otto.[7]
Treatment
Although there are treatments to increase the comfort in sexual intercourse, there are none that can make pregnancy possible. However recent development of engineered vaginas using the patient's own cells has resulted in a fully functioning vagina capable of menstruation and orgasm showing promise of fully correcting this condition in some of the sufferers [8] . There are plans by United Kingdom and Swedish doctors for a uterine transplant that would allow these women to carry their own child, but no transplant has yet been successful in producing a child. Since ovaries are present, people with this condition can have genetic children through IVF with embryo transfer to a gestational carrier. Some also choose to adopt.
It may be necessary to use vaginal dilators or surgery to develop a functioning vagina to allow for penetrative sexual intercourse. A number of surgical approaches have been used. In the McIndoe procedure[9] a skin graft is applied to form an artificial vagina. After the surgery, dilators are still necessary to prevent vaginal stenosis. The Vecchietti procedure has been shown to result in a vagina that is comparable to a normal vagina in patients.[10][11] In the Vecchietti procedure, a small plastic “olive” is threaded against the vaginal area, and the threads are drawn through the vaginal skin, up through the abdomen and through the navel using laparoscopic surgery. There the threads are attached to a traction device. The operation takes about 45 minutes. The traction device is then tightened daily so the olive is pulled inwards and stretches the vagina by approximately 1 cm per day, creating a vagina approximately 7 cm deep in 7 days, although it can be more than this.[12]
Uterine transplantation has been performed in a number of women with MRKH, but the surgery is still in the experimental stage.[13] To date, there have been some pregnancies in transplanted uteruses, but all these pregnancies resulted in miscarriages. Emotional help is available in various support groups across the internet.
See also
References
- ^ Morcel, Karine (2007). "Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome". Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2 (13): 13. doi:10.1186/1750-1172-2-13. PMC 1832178. PMID 17359527.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ "Woman 'to receive mother's womb'". 13 June 2011. Retrieved date=13 June 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Missing pipe in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 19165657, please use {{cite journal}} with
|pmid=19165657instead. - ^ "WNT4 Müllerian aplasia and ovarian dysfunction". Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
- ^ Ledig S, Brucker S, Barresi G, Schomburg J, Rall K, Wieacker P (2012) Frame shift mutation of LHX1 is associated with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Hum Reprod
- ^ Pittock, Siobhán T. (15 June 2005). "Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser anomaly and its associated malformations". American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 135A (3): 314–316. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.30721. PMID 15887261.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Poulakou-Rebelakou, E (2011). "The lack of a child, the loss of a throne: the infertility of the first royal couple of Greece (1833–62)" (PDF). J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 41 (1): 73–33. doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2011.115. PMID 21365071.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Catherine de Lange (2014). "Engineered vaginas grown in women for the first time". New Scientist.
- ^ ,S. Saraf (2007). "McIndoe Vaginoplasty: Revisited". The Internet Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 6 (2). Internet Scientific Publications. ISSN 1528-8439. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Vecchietti G (1965). "[Creation of an artificial vagina in Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome]". Attual Ostet Ginecol (in Italian). 11 (2): 131–47. PMID 5319813.
- ^ Fedele L, Bianchi S, Tozzi L, Borruto F, Vignali M (1996). "A new laparoscopic procedure for creation of a neovagina in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome". Fertil. Steril. 66 (5): 854–7. PMID 8893702.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ University College University Hospitals > Vecchietti Procedure Retrieved on April 3, 2010
- ^ Ozkan, Omer (February 2013). "Preliminary results of the first human uterus transplantation from a multiorgan donor". Fertility and Sterility. 99 (2): 470–476.e5. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.035. PMID 23084266.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
- Further reading
- Varner, RE (1985 Jun). "Müllerian dysgenesis". The Journal of reproductive medicine. 30 (6): 443–50. PMID 4020785.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)