Fibrinolytic factors in endometriotic tissue, endometrium, peritoneal fluid, and plasma from women with endometriosis and in endometrium and peritoneal fluid from healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a difference in fibrinolytic compounds in endometriotic tissue, endometrium, peritoneal fluid (PF), and plasma from women with endometriosis and in endometrium and PF from healthy women.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Two university clinics.


METHODS
Regularly menstruating women with and without endometriosis.


METHODS
Tissue samples, PF, and blood were collected at surgery performed for clinical reasons.


METHODS
The antigen concentrations of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAls) in tissue homogenates, PF, and plasma were assayed by ELISA.


RESULTS
The concentrations of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) and PAI-1 were higher in endometrium from women with endometriosis than in endometrium from controls and even higher in endometriotic tissue than in endometrium from both groups. In PF, the concentration of PAI-2 was higher in women with endometriosis than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The high concentrations of u-PA and PAI-1 in endometrium from women with endometriosis might facilitate implantation of endometrial cells and the high concentration in endometriotic tissue might contribute to their invasive growth. The inflammatory reaction may contribute to the high concentration of PAI-2.
Bruse
C
C
Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
Bergqvist
A
A
Carlström
K
K
Fianu-Jonasson
A
A
Lecander
I
I
Astedt
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values