Autoimmunity in infertile patients with endometriosis

S. Meek, S C Meek, Meek SC, David Hodge, D D Hodge, Hodge DD, Musich JR, J R Musich, John R. Musich
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 1988 · vol. 158(6) , pp. 1365–1373 · doi:10.1016/0002-9378(88)90369-9 · PMID:3132855 · W2074302692
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 45 in-corpus citations
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This paper investigated the role of autoimmunity in infertile patients diagnosed with endometriosis.

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Abstract

General and specific immune function was studied in infertile patients with endometriosis and in controls with proved fertility and absence of pelvic pathology. General nonspecific parameters studied included serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, C4, and total complement levels. Immunofluorescence and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion techniques were used to study specific immune function by assaying for endometrial antibodies in serum and peritoneal fluid. Peritoneal fluid volume was also assessed. IgA levels were decreased in infertile patients with endometriosis. IgG, C3, and C4 levels were also decreased in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in these patients. The volume of peritoneal fluid was increased in these patients and a significant number of these had low C4 levels. The immunodiffusion studies identified antiendometrial antibodies in the serum and peritoneal fluid in infertile patients with endometriosis. This study has shown that the immune system is altered in infertile patients with endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Autoimmune Diseases Endometriosis Infertility, Female Pelvic Neoplasms Adult Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Autoantibodies Autoantibodies Autoimmune Diseases Complement C3 Complement C3 Complement C4 Complement C4 Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Fluorescent Antibody Technique Humans

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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Cited by (46)

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