title: In vitro lymphocyte activity in women with endometriosis--an altered immune response?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the possible role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of autologous endometrial cells was assayed by tritiated thymidine incorporation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited from a university outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the lymphocyte proliferative response to endometrium in controls and patients with endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with endometriosis and 26 control women were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of autologous endometrium was significantly lower in women with endometriosis when compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that an altered lymphocyte/endometrial cell relationship is operational in women with endometriosis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Alabama, Mobile.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology