Relationship between Glutathione S Transferase M1 Gene Polymorphism and Endometriosis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) gene polymorphism and endometriosis in Korean women. Methods: The GSTM1 gene polymorphism was analyzed by GSTM1-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR in 62 patients with endometriosis and 99 normal control women. Results: There was no significant difference in the frequency of the GSTM1 gene deletion between patients with endometriosis (64.5%) and normal control women (60.6%). Also, this frequency in early stage endometriosis was similiar to that in late stage endometriosis. The distribution of active GSTM1 genotype in patients with endometriosis was not different from that in normal control women. No significant difference in the distribution of active genotype was noted between early stage endometriosis and late stage endometriosis. Conclusion: The GSTM1 gene polymorpjhism is not related with endometriosis in Korean women.