title: Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in peritoneal fluids of women with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase may play a role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritoneal fluids were obtained at laparoscopy from eight fertile women without endometriosis and 12 women with mild endometriosis. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity was assayed in serum and peritoneal fluid by the release of 3H-acetate from [3H]-platelet-activating factor during a 15-minute incubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity (mean +/- standard error of the mean) was significantly lower (P < .01) in peritoneal fluids from women with mild endometriosis (29.5 +/- 2.7%) than in controls (39.9 +/- 3.4%). The platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase-cholesterol and -albumin ratios were also significantly lower in peritoneal fluids of women with endometriosis compared with controls (P < .006 and P < .012, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that mild endometriosis is associated with decreased platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in peritoneal fluid.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Médecine de la Reproduction de Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hemmings
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miron
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourque
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lepage
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langlais
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D002784:Cholesterol; D010741:Phospholipases A; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase