Women with endometriosis have increased levels of placental growth factor in the peritoneal fluid compared with women with cystadenomas.
BACKGROUND
To assess the release of placental growth factor (PlGF) into peritoneal fluid in women with and without endometriosis, we measured its concentration with reference to disease stage, the presence of red endometriotic lesions and the phase of menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Surgery was scheduled in the proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle for 59 women with (n = 35) or without (n = 24) endometriosis. The latter group comprised women undergoing surgery for ovarian cystadenomas. PlGF concentrations in the peritoneal fluid were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
PlGF concentration in the peritoneal fluid was markedly elevated in the endometriosis patients (median 189 pg/ml, interquartile range 84-475 pg/ml) as compared with the controls (88 pg/ml, 41-213 pg/ml; P < 0.001), especially in women with red lesions. Significantly greater values during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle as compared with the proliferative phase were observed in both the control (cystadenoma) group (P < 0.05) and the endometriosis group (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that production of PlGF is sensitive to the cyclic changes in ovarian steroids and may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, especially that of red lesions, by promoting neovascularization.
Suzumori
Nobuhiro
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University, Graduate School of Medicine, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-ku, Mizuho-cho, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. og.n.suz@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Sugiura-Ogasawara
Mayumi
M
Katano
Kinue
K
Suzumori
Kaoru
K
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003537:Cystadenoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor