Endometrial fibrinolytic enzymes in women with normal menstruation and dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
OBJECTIVE
To study fibrinolysis in the endometrium in women with normal menstruation and dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB).


METHODS
Tissue plasminogen activator activity (t-PA) and antigen (t-PAAg) and plasminogen activator inhibitor Type 1 antigen (PAI-1) were measured in homogenates of endometrium sampled between 24 and 36 h after the onset of menstruation.


METHODS
Women complaining of menorrhagia who had negative findings at clinical examination and curettage had their menstrual blood loss (MBL) measured from the third cycle after D&C. Those with MBL greater than 80 ml per cycle formed the DUB group.


METHODS
Fibrinolytic enzyme antigen levels were measured with ELISAs. Tissue plasminogen activator activity was assayed by measuring the rate of conversion of Glu-plasminogen to plasmin, using a chromogenic plasmin substrate.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a strong positive correlation between endometrial t-PA activity on the second day of menstruation and measured menstrual loss (P < 0.05). Concentrations of endometrial t-PAAg and PAI-1 antigen are higher in women with DUB compared with normal women during menstruation.
Trinity College Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St James's Hospital, Dublin.
N
N
Gleeson
M
M
Devitt
B L
BL
Sheppard
J
J
Bonnar
D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000201:enzymology*; D008598:Menstruation / Q000378:metabolism*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator