Total antioxidant status of peritoneal fluid in infertile women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether impairment of the antioxidant systems of peritoneal fluid might be a factor responsible for infertility.


METHODS
Total antioxidant status was measured in peritoneal fluid obtained from 18 infertile women suffering from minimal or mild endometriosis, 23 patients with unexplained infertility, 12 women with tubal infertility and 13 fertile women.


RESULTS
Total antioxidant status was significantly lower in peritoneal fluid from women with unexplained infertility (0.49+/-0.21 mmol/l) compared to both fertile patients (0.67+/-0.24 mmol/l, P=0.02) and women with tubal infertility (0.76+/-0.26 mmol/l, P=0.001). Peritoneal fluid total antioxidant status did not differ significantly between patients with endometriosis (0.61+/-0.2 mmol/l), tubal infertility and the fertile group (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that low antioxidant status in peritoneal fluid may play a role in the pathogenesis of infertility.
Polak
G
G
Department of Medical Microbiology, University School of Medicine, ul. Lubartowska 85, 20-123 Lublin, Poland. polakg@yahoo.com
Kozioł-Montewka
M
M
Gogacz
M
M
Błaszkowska
I
I
Kotarski
J
J
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants