The plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 are elevated in patients with endometriosis

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AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08

This study found that plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 are elevated in patients with endometriosis and correlate with disease severity.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, which is critical to normal tissue remodelling during embryogenesis and wound healing. In patients with endometriosis, increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 have been observed in ectopic endometrium, but the plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with endometriosis and their relation to disease severity have not been clear. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in plasma and peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis. METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted in Jinan Military General Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013. Fifty patients with proven endometriosis and 26 endometriosis-free controls were enrolled in this study. Patients with endometriosis were evaluated and divided into moderate/severe endometriosis group (stage I-II, n = 26) and minimal/mild endometriosis group (stage III-IV, n = 24) according to the revised criteria of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Blood samples and peritoneal fluid were obtained from both patients and controls. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma and peritoneal fluid. The concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 between different groups was compared and its correlation to disease severity was analysed. RESULTS: Plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with endometriosis were higher than that in controls. In addition, those patients with moderate/severe endometriosis had significantly higher plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 compared to those with minimal/mild endometriosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in plasma and peritoneal fluid were both positively correlated with severity of endometriosis and plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations had a positive correlation with peritoneal fluid matrix metalloproteinase-9 concentrations in patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased concentrations of plasma and peritoneal fluid concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 appear to be associated with disease severity of endometriosis and may serve as an alternative biomarker to determine disease severity of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Ascitic Fluid Endometriosis Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Adult Ascitic Fluid Biomarkers Biomarkers Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Young Adult

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