Abstract
<jats:p>Uterine fibroids are among the most common benign tumors, arising from the smooth muscle cells of the uterine body or cervix. According to various authors, the prevalence of uterine fibroids varies considerably, and their incidence increases with age, reaching 20–40%. In most cases, fibroids are asymptomatic; however, depending on their size and location, they may be accompanied by complaints that significantly affect a woman’s health and quality of life. Over recent decades, numerous studies have expanded our understanding of the growth and development of fibroids, making it increasingly evident that fibroids do not exist as isolated entities independent of other body systems. Clinical observations often reveal fibroids in association with systemic disorders, particularly in the presence of signs of endothelial or vascular dysfunction. This observed interrelationship raises important fundamental questions regarding possible causal links and whether uterine fibroids may be considered a manifestation of systemic vascular disease. For many years, researchers have investigated the relationship between uterine fibroids and cardiovascular diseases; however, the results remain incompletely clarified. It has been reported that women with fibroids have higher systolic blood pressure values compared to those without fibroids, and the reduction in blood pressure following surgical removal of fibroid nodules further supports a possible pathophysiological link between fibroids and hypertension. The accumulated data also confirm that fibroids and Atheros clerosis share pathophysiological similarities. Fibroids actively interact with the vascular network, ensuring their own growth and tissue maintenance. These processes involve signaling pathways that regulate not only local but also systemic hemodynamics, which may contribute to the development of arterial hypertension, vascular dysfunction, and sclerotic changes. Summarizing the available data, uterine fibroids can be considered not only as a local hormone-dependent formation, but also as a potential marker of systemic vascular dysfunction. Parallels with atherosclerosis, associations with arterial hypertension, and involvement of the endothelial component emphasize the need for an expanded clinical approach and cardiovascular risk assessment in patients with uterine fibroids, which is of great importance for the prevention of complications and improvement of treatment outcomes․</jats:p>