ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION OF PATIENTS WITH EXTERNAL GENITAL ENDOMETRIOSIS DEPENDING ON ITS SPREAD DEGREE

External genital endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological proliferative diseases. The disease development is based on molecular and genetic disorders that occur in women and are the result of the cell response to oxidative stress. In endometriosis the polymorphism of genes of detoxification systems, depletion of antioxidant defense mechanisms due to hormonal imbalance and activity of pro−inflammatory processes are called the causes of oxidative stress. Currently, much attention is paid to aspects of the immune system and local peritoneal factors. To develop diagnostic criteria for the stages of external genital endometriosis by determining the activity of enzymes of the antioxidant system and catalase in serum and peritoneal fluid, a study was performed in 86 patients. The research results showed that in external genital endometriosis of stages I−II in the serum of women the catalase activity increased, and that of superoxide dismutase remained at the physiological level. Determination of the studied enzymes in peritoneal fluid indicates that their parameters correspond to the control values in women without endometriosis. Thus, the study showed that the patients experience multidirectional changes in antioxidant system, which are manifested in increased catalase activity at the systemic level at the disease stages I−II and local one at stages III−IV. At the same time, the activity of superoxide dismutases at all stages of the disease in both serum and peritoneal fluid is normal. The state of the antioxidant system is concluded to depend on the peculiarities of micronutrient metabolism. Further study and correction of its possible disorders may positively affect in preventing and treatment of external genital endometriosis in women. Key words: external genital endometriosis, antioxidant system, diagnostics.