Autoreactivity in women with endometriosis.
Serum samples from 71 patients with laparoscopically staged endometriosis and from 109 age-matched non-pregnant control women were tested for antibodies to nuclear, phospholipid, smooth muscle and sperm antigens. Immunoglobulin G, M and A and complement components C3 and C4 were measured. Prevalence of the following autoantibodies was statistically significantly greater in women with endometriosis than in the control group: antinuclear antibodies, antibodies to ribonucleoproteins, smooth muscle antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody. Forty-one women with endometriosis (58%) had some type of autoantibody compared with 13 controls (12%). More women in the endometriosis group had IgG and IgM levels above the normal range. This was statistically significant for IgG in women with grade 3 and for IgM in those with grade 4 endometriosis, IgG levels were significantly higher in antibody-positive women with endometriosis than in the control group. Immunoglobulin and complement component levels tended to have a positive correlation with stage of disease.
Taylor
P V
PV
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leeds General Infirmary, University of Leeds.
Maloney
M D
MD
Campbell
J M
JM
Skerrow
S M
SM
Nip
M M
MM
Parmar
R
R
Tate
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002308:Cardiolipins / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies; D002308:Cardiolipins; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M