Determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-beta in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

Objective:To observe the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) and tumor necrosis factor-beta(TNF-β) in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.Methods: The concentrations of TNF-α and TNF-β in peritoneal fluid were measured by ELISA in 42 patients with endometriosis(22 with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and 22 with stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ) and 40 women without endometriosis.Results: The concentrations of TNF-α and TNF-β in endometriosis group were significantly higher than those in control group(P0.01).The levels of TNF-α and TNF-β in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly higher than those in stageⅠandⅡ(P0.01).Moreover,a positive correlation was found between the TNF-α and TNF-β levels.Conclusion: Levels of TNF-α and TNF-β is not only improved in endometriosis but also correlated with severity of disease,and they may be related factors inducing endometriosis.