Importance of reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis or idiopathic infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether reactive oxygen species in peritoneal fluid might be a factor in infertility.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Andrology laboratory and gynecology clinic at a tertiary care facility.


METHODS
Women with endometriosis (n = 15) or idiopathic infertility (n = 11) who underwent laparoscopy for infertility. Patients undergoing tubal ligation served as controls (n = 13).


METHODS
Aspiration of peritoneal fluid.


METHODS
Reactive oxygen species levels, presence of polymorphonuclear granulocytes, and leukocyte distribution in peritoneal fluid.


RESULTS
Reactive oxygen species were present in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis, idiopathic infertility, and tubal ligation. Levels of reactive oxygen species did not show a statistically significant difference between patients with endometriosis and the control group in either unprocessed or processed (cell-free) peritoneal fluid, but did differ significantly between patients with idiopathic infertility and controls in processed peritoneal fluid. Polymorphonuclear granulocytes (> 1 x 10(6)/mL) were not present in the peritoneal fluid of any patient. Macrophage concentrations of peritoneal fluid did not differ significantly between controls and patients with endometriosis or idiopathic infertility.


CONCLUSIONS
Reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal fluid may not affect fertility directly in women with endometriosis; however, they may have a role in patients with idiopathic infertility.
Wang
Y
Y
Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Sharma
R K
RK
Falcone
T
T
Goldberg
J
J
Agarwal
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages; D009504:Neutrophils; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species