Changes of Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-2 levels in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-2(IL-2) in peritoneal fluid on pathogenesis of endometriosis(EM) and EM-related infertility. Methods IL-1β and IL-2 contents in peritoneal fluid of 30 cases with EM were detected with radioimmunoassay and compared with the counterparts of 18 cases without EM(controls). Results The peritoneal fluid from patients with EM contained significantly greater amounts of IL-1β[(0.99±0.46)μg/L] and IL-2 [(1.52±0.93)μg/L] than those in controls[(0.73±0.30)μg/L and (0.99±0.49)μg/L respectively,P0.05]. Conclusion Unusual levels of IL-1β and IL-2 in peritoneal fluid of EM patients partly account for EM and EM-related infertility.