ecreased levels of interleukin-18 in eritoneal fluid but not in serum of atients with endometriosis

bjective: To determine the concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in peritoneal fluid and serum in patients ith endometriosis in comparison with the control group. esign: A prospective analytical study. etting: The obstetrics and gynecology department of an academic training hospital. atient(s): Forty-four patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic diseases. ntervention(s): Specimens of peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were obtained before and during aparoscopic procedures, and the levels of IL-18 were analyzed. ain Outcome Measure(s): The concentrations of IL-18 in peritoneal fluid and serum were correlated with he presence of endometriosis, disease stage, and the phase of the menstrual cycle. esult(s): Interleukin-18 was detectable in 98% of the peritoneal specimens and 84% of the serum specimens f the patients tested. Peritoneal fluid IL-18 concentrations were statistically significantly lower in patients ith endometriosis than in patients without endometriosis; the difference in serum IL-18 levels showed no tatistically significant difference between the patients with and without endometriosis. The concentrations of L-18 in peritoneal fluid and serum were not correlated with the stage of endometriosis or the phase of the enstrual cycle. onclusion(s): Our results suggest that the decreased levels of IL-18 in peritoneal fluid in patients with ndometriosis as compared with the control group may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this isease. (Fertil Steril 2004;81:1229 34. ©2004 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)