Clinical characteristics and outcomes of women with adenomyosis pain
during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Objective To clarify the clinical characteristics of pain developing in
adenomyosis lesions during pregnancy and the perinatal outcomes
associated with this phenomenon. Study Design Retrospective cohort
study. Setting A tertiary hospital in Japan. Patients and methods Ninety
one singleton pregnancies with adenomyosis who delivered between 2011
and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Pain during pregnancy was
defined as persistent pain at the adenomyosis site with analgesics
administration, and its association with perinatal outcomes was
analyzed. Main outcome measures Pain at the adenomyosis lesion and its
onset and duration, maximum C-reactive protein level during pain, and
perinatal outcomes such as preterm delivery, preeclampsia, and blood
loss. Results Among 91 singleton pregnancies with adenomyosis, 12
pregnancies (13.2%) presented with pain at the adenomyosis site. In
total, 5 of the 12 pregnancies (41.7%) developed preeclampsia, which
resulted in preterm delivery. The incidence of preeclampsia and preterm
delivery was higher in those who experienced pain than in those without
(41.7% vs. 13.9%; p<0.05, and 66.7% vs. 31.7%;
p<0.05, respectively). Among women with pain during pregnancy,
the maximum C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in women
who developed preeclampsia than in those without (5.45 vs. 0.12 mg/dL,
p<0.05). Conclusion Adenomyosis can cause pain in over one of
eight pregnancies with adenomyosis, which may be associated with the
increased incidence of preeclampsia resulting in preterm delivery. Women
with pain at the adenomyosis lesion, especially those with high
C-reactive protein levels, may be at high risk for the future
development of preeclampsia.