Endometriosis and Lipid Concentration

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis affects 5–10% of reproductive-aged women. The exact etiology is poorly understood. Oxidative stress and intrinsic inflammatory status are associated with the development and progression of endometriosis. Atherosclerotic disease is a chronic and degenerative process that starts slowly during infancy. The inflammatory process and the oxidative phenomena contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. The question is whether women with endometriosis have unfavorable lipid profiles triggered by the inflammatory process and oxidative stress noted in both conditions. Our objective was to determine whether endometriosis promotes changes in plasma lipid profiles in reproductive-aged women. METHODS: Prospective cohort study at a tertiary care center. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Twenty-five reproductive-aged women were enrolled. Fifteen participants were diagnosed with endometriosis at the time of laparoscopy. Ten participants composed the control group with no endometriosis. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, obesity, smoking, alcohol or drug intake, use of hormones, and history of familial dyslipidemia. Serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were measured in both groups. RESULTS: The total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol levels were statistically higher in the endometriosis group compared with the control group. High-density lipoprotein was higher in the control group compared with the endometriosis group (P<.001). CONCLUSION: The lipid profile of the endometriosis patients is unfavorable with higher LDL, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels and a lower HDL compared with control women. Patients with endometriosis may benefit from earlier screening for dyslipidemia as a preventive measure.