Oxidative stress may be a piece in the endometriosis puzzle.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the total antioxidant potential of women with endometriosis-associated infertility, women with idiopathic infertility, and fertile controls.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University medical hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-five women admitted for diagnostic laparoscopy.


METHODS
Peritoneal fluid samples were analyzed for superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant status on spectrophotometry, glutathione peroxidase activity on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and lipid peroxides levels on colorimetry.


RESULTS
Mean activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant status was lowest and lipid peroxide level was highest among infertile patients with endometriosis. Women with idiopathic infertility, in contrast, had the highest superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant status activity and the lowest lipid peroxide level.


CONCLUSIONS
High antioxidant potential is not a contributing factor in women with idiopathic infertility. Low total antioxidant status and low activity of antioxidant enzymes in the peritoneal fluid of infertile women with endometriosis probably do not influence fertility in these women, but these factors may play a role in the development of the disease.
Szczepańska
Małgorzata
M
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproduction, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. matmikol@gpsk.am.poznan.pl
Koźlik
Jacek
J
Skrzypczak
Jana
J
Mikołajczyk
Mateusz
M
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000378:metabolism; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase