Results
| PMID | 10831551 |
| Gene Name | TNF |
| Condition | Endometriosis |
| Association |
Associated |
| Population size | 86 |
| Population details | 86 (Infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis (11 patients with red lesions, 36 patients with non-red lesions), 39 infertile normo-ovulatory patients with normal pelvic anatomy as controls) |
| Sex | Female |
| Infertility type | Female infertility |
| Associated genes | TNFalpha |
| Other associated phenotypes |
Endometriosis, Infertility |
|
Hum Reprod. 2000 Jun;15(6):1256-60. Calhaz-Jorge, C| Costa, A P| Barata, M| Santos, M C| Melo, A| Palma-Carlos, M L Human Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa Codex, Portugal. calhazjorge@mailtelepac.pt Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) of peritoneal fluid is believed to have important pro-inflammatory and angiogenic activities in the complex mechanisms of development of peritoneal endometriotic lesions. We have evaluated the concentrations of TNFalpha and macrophages in peritoneal fluid of infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis and related them to the presence of peritoneal red lesions alone (red lesions only group; n = 11) or their absence (non-red lesions group; n = 36). A group of 39 infertile normo-ovulatory patients with normal pelvic anatomy was used as controls. TNFalpha concentrations did not differ between controls and either group of patients. Patients with red lesions only had significantly lower concentrations of TNFalpha in peritoneal fluid (P < 0.05) and had a higher proportion of samples with undetectable concentrations (P < 0.05) than patients without red lesions. The significant difference in TNFalpha concentrations was present when comparing the groups of patients in the proliferative phase but not in the secretory phase. Macrophage concentrations were not different in the groups. Our findings are compatible with an impairment of macrophage function and therefore lend support to the theory that an inappropriate immunological response of the peritoneal environment to regurgitated endometrium may play a part in the initial phases of endometriotic implants. Mesh Terms: Adult| Ascitic Fluid/*metabolism| Endometriosis/complications/*pathology| Female| Humans| Infertility, Female/complications/*metabolism| Menstrual Cycle| Osmolar Concentration| Peritoneum/*pathology| Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*metabolism|DA 200 |
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