The role of inflammatory cytokines in Meigs' syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Inflammatory cytokines are known to induce capillary leakage and third-space fluid accumulation in numerous gynecologic and nongynecologic disorders. This study aimed to assess their role in Meigs' syndrome.


METHODS
Evaluation of serum, peritoneal, and pleural fluids retrieved from a patient suffering from Meigs' syndrome revealed high interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels. After surgical removal of the ovarian tumor and with resolution of ascites and hydrothorax, serum levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 declined, whereas tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels remained high.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation between these inflammatory cytokines and the clinical course of Meigs' syndrome suggests their involvement in the formation of ascites and hydrothorax in this disorder.
Abramov
Yoram
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel. abramo@md2huji
Anteby
Shaoul O
SO
Fasouliotis
Sozos J
SJ
Barak
Vivian
V
D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008539:Meigs Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D017698:Postmenopause; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha