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Increased chemotactic activity of peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis
M C Leiva1, L A Hasty, S Pfeifer
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104.
Objective:
Our purpose was to investigate the ability of the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to induce chemotaxis of neutrophils and macrophages.
Study Design:
Peritoneal fluid samples of patients with endometriosis (n = 20), normal fertile controls (n = 12), or patients with medical suppression (n = 8) were evaluated for chemotactic activity. Results of chemotactic activity were analyzed by analysis of variance.
Results:
Peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis demonstrated a significantly higher chemotactic activity than that of patients without endometriosis or with medical suppression. Patients who had received medical treatment had the lowest chemotactic activity. (p < 0.001 for endometriosis vs control or treatment patients, p = 0.005 for control group vs treatment group).
Conclusions:
Patients with endometriosis have a higher chemotactic activity in their peritoneal fluid; prior medical treatment significantly reduces this activity. This chemotactic factor has an estimated weight of 20 kd. The nature and source of this chemotactic factor remains to be determined.