The aim of the present study was to investigate whether women with endometriosis displayed a decreased lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity. In 15 women with and 7 women without endometriosis the cytotoxicity against four different tu…
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a clinical examination during menstruation and plasma CA-125 concentrations to diagnose deep endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective study in 61 women scheduled for a laparoscopy, a retrospective study in 140 women with …
In women with endometriosis, changes in peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid white blood cell (WBC) populations have been reported, but it is known whether these alterations are casually related to or a consequence of endometriosis. The pu…
OBJECTIVE: We recently described a decreased lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity to autologous endometrium and to natural killer-sensitive targets in women with endometriosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the def…
PROBLEM: We investigated the lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis to evaluate if the decreased natural killer (NK)-mediated cytotoxicity in women with endometri…
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of transforming growth factor-beta in peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis. METHODS: Fifty-two peritoneal fluid samples, obtained during laparoscopies performed for tubal ligation …
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of angiogenic factors in peritoneal fluid (PF) and follicular fluid (FF). DESIGN: The PF samples of 48 women with (n = 24) or without (n = 24) endometriosis were investigated. Angiogenesis was assayed…
Leucocyte subpopulations localized in endometriotic lesions were analysed using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique on 15 biopsies obtained by CO2 laser excision. Qualitative assessment of the leucocyte subpopulations was performed…
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunosuppressive effect of peritoneal fluid and follicular fluid on both natural killer-mediated cytotoxicity and phytohemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte proliferation. METHODS: The peritoneal fluid of women wi…
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the local natural killer (NK) activity of the peritoneal fluid mononuclear cells (PFMC). DESIGN PATIENTS: In a prospective way, the NK activity (K562-assay) was measured in peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal flui…
OBJECTIVE: The role of natural killer (NK) cells in the decreased cellular immunity of women with endometriosis was investigated. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS: Thirty-four women were investigated prospectively before a CO2-laser laparoscopy f…