Elastogenesis in the vaginal wall and pelvic-organ prolapse.

Pelvic-organ prolapse is a debilitating condition that affects millions of women and is associated with costs of more than $1 billion annually in the United States alone.1 The recurrence of pelvic-organ prolapse after the various surgical treatment options is nearly 30%, with declining success with subsequent procedures.2 Although alterations in collagen, elastin, and proteoglycan proteins of the extracellular matrix within the pelvic-support ligaments and vaginal tissue have been associated with pelvic-organ prolapse, our understanding of the underlying causative mechanisms are lacking, which limits approaches to treatment. A recent study by Budatha and colleagues3 sheds light on the mechanistic role of . . .