CO2‐laser excision of endometriosis does not improve the decreased natural killer activity

D J Oosterlynck, Christel Meuleman, C Meuleman, Mark Waer, M Waer, Philippe R. Koninckx, P R Koninckx
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 1994 · vol. 73(4) , pp. 333–337 · doi:10.3109/00016349409015774 · PMID:8160542 · W2152264523
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CO2-laser excision of endometriosis did not restore decreased natural killer activity or lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity to autologous endometrium.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We recently described a decreased lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity to autologous endometrium and to natural killer-sensitive targets in women with endometriosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the defect remained after CO2-laser excision of the endometriotic lesions. DESIGN: In 15 women with endometriosis the cytotoxicity assays were performed before and three to four months after complete removal of the endometriotic lesions with CO2-laser excision. CA-125 serum levels were measured before and after laser laparoscopy, in order to confirm that endometriosis had been treated properly. RESULTS: After removal of the endometriotic lesions the decreased natural killer activity (K562-assay) and the impaired cytotoxicity of autologous and even heterologous lymphocytes to the endometrium remained unchanged, and those cytotoxicity assays were still significantly decreased compared to the women without endometriosis. CA-125 serum concentrations, however, were still significantly decreased three to four months after CO2-laser excision of the endometriosis. (paired Student's t-test p < 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a primary deficiency in natural killer activity in women with endometriosis and are in accordance with our clinical experience as endometriosis is relapsing frequently after treatment.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Infertility, Female Killer Cells, Natural Laser Therapy Uterine Diseases Carbon Dioxide Cytotoxicity, Immunologic Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Killer Cells, Natural Laser Therapy Prospective Studies Uterine Diseases Uterine Diseases

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (17)

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