[Obesity as a risk factor in patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma]

In 19 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma and in 17 healthy women, of approximate age and body weight, concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PRG) and cortisol were determined by means of the RIA method. Gonadotropins show significantly lower values in the examined patients (FSH = 22.7 +/- 20.5; LH = 13.7 +/- 8.4) in relation to the control group (FSH = 41 +/- 28.3; LH = 23.5 +/- 13.9; P less than 0.001) and significantly elevated values of PRL (383.7 +/- 270) in relation to the control group (268.1 +/- 165.7; P less than 0.005). The correlation of the E2/PRG and Relative Body Mass (RBM) ratio in the examined patients, shows a significant positive correlation indicating an excess of E2, towards which PRG is not opposed to in obese persons. A significant correlation of PRL and E2 elevated values in the patients affected, in contrast to the control group, was also found. These findings confirm the assertion that subtile changes which exist in the hormone relations of affected persons, are linked to obesity.