Endometriosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Endometriosis, including details on causes, treatment, symptoms, infertility.

Decreased levels of peritoneal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in patients with endometriosis and disease-related dysmenorrhea.

Zhang X, Wen J, Deng L, Lin J

Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in peritoneal fluid (PF) and serum in patients with endometriosis. DESIGN: A prospective analytical study. SETTING: University-affiliated obstetrics and gynecology academic training hospital. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighteen patients underwent laparoscopy for benign gynecologic diseases. INTERVENTION(S): Peripheral blood and PF were obtained before and during surgical procedures, and the levels of IL-1ra were measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The concentrations of IL-1ra in PF and serum were correlated with the presence of endometriosis, disease stage, and the phase of menstrual cycle. RESULT(S): Peritoneal fluid IL-1ra concentrations were significantly lower in patients with endometriosis than in patients without endometriosis. Peritoneal fluid IL-1ra concentrations decreased with the increased severity of endometriosis and also decreased in disease-related dysmenorrhea; serum IL-1ra levels showed no significant difference between the patients with and without endometriosis. The concentrations of IL-1ra in PF and serum were not correlated with the phase of menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION(S): Our results suggested that decreased levels of PF IL-1ra in patients with endometriosis and disease-related dysmenorrhea may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Published 11 September 2007 in Fertil Steril, 88(3): 594-9.
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