Differences in menstrual cytokine profiles of women with and without symptomatic uterine fibroids

Differential expression of cytokines, specifically those involved in the inflammatory immune system, has been documented in fibroid tissue and plasma of women with and without fibroids (1, 2). It is thought that these cytokines may contribute to the formation and/or maintenance of fibroids. We hypothesized that these cytokines moderate fibroid-associated symptoms, such as pelvic discomfort, pain, and abnormal menstrual bleeding, and that they may be detected in menstrual blood. A recent study analyzed the menstrual blood cytokine profile of healthy women (3); however, no such studies have been conducted on patients with fibroids.