Pelvic organ prolapse and connective tissue abnormalities in Korean women

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between pelvic organ prolapse in Korean women and joint hypermobility, which suggests a metabolic collagen fiber abnormality. STUDY DESIGN: Between March 1998 and March 2000, we investigated 55 patients with prolapse. The prevalence of joint hypermobility, by measuring finger extension angle, and the proportion of patients with joint hypermobility were measured in patients with pelvic organ prolapse and benign gynecologic patients (control group). RESULTS: In middle-aged women (40-59 years), the average finger extension angles were higher in the POP group than in the control group (50.04+/-70degrees vs. 39.50+/-12.19degrees, respectively; P<.05), but in older women there was no significant difference between the two groups (42.84+/-13.05° vs. 43.00+/-13.34°, respectively; P>.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of joint hypermobility was higher in the POP group and with advanced POP stage (III, IV) than in the control group and early POP stage (I, II). Our results suggest that intrinsic connective tissue abnormality is related to the development of pelvic organ prolapse. Further study involving more patients with pelvic organ prolapse is warranted, anti molecular studies to determine the genetic basis of pelvic organ prolapse are also required to further elucidate this abnormality.