Measurement Of Cytokine RANTES In Peritoneal Fluid Of Patients With Endometriosis

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of cytokine RANTES levels in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis and the role of the cytokine in pathophysiology of endometriosis.MethodsPeritoneal fluid concentrations of RANTES in 12 cases without evidence of endometriosis (controls), 12 cases with mild (stage I ^ II ), and 16 cases with moderate to severe endometriosis (stage III IV) were detected by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation analyses between RANTES concentrations in peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients and the severity of endometriosis or dysmenorrheal score were performed. The RANTES levels in the proliferative phase were compared with the counterparts in the secretive phase among all the study groups.ResultsPeritoneal fluid concentrations of RANTES in patients with moderate to severe endometriosis were significantly greater than those in controls (P<0.01) . There were statistically significant difference between the levels of RANTES in patients with mild endometriosis and those in patients with moderate to severe endometriosis as well as between the levels of RANTES in patients with mild endometriosis and those in patients without endometriosis (P<0.05) . The levels significantly correlated with the severityof disease (P<0. 01 )but there was no significant correlation between the levels and dysmenorrheal score(P>0.05). No statistically significant difference between peritoneal fluid levels of RANTES in the proliferative phase and the counterparts in secretive phase was found among all the study groups.ConclusionRANTES with unusually elevated levels in peritoneal fluid of endometriosis may play an important role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.