h

Leptin, the product of the ob/ob gene [1] is an adipocyte-derived protein that regulates food intake and energy ex-penditure. Accumulating evidence shows that it is also a crucial factor in the endocrine regulation of several physiologic processes, including inflammation, angio-genesis and reproductive functions [2]. Endometriosis is a chronic and progressive disease associated with abnormal peritoneal and endometrial production of proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors and angiogenic factors [3], which may interfere with the function of the reproductive system. Due to its inflammatory and angiogenic properties, as well as its possible involvement in reproductive abnor-malities at both the central and the gonadal levels [4], leptin has been extensively studied in patients with