title: Decreased levels of interleukin-18 in peritoneal fluid but not in serum of patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the concentrations of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in peritoneal fluid and serum in patients with endometriosis in comparison with the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The obstetrics and gynecology department of an academic training hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were obtained before and during laparoscopic procedures, and the levels of IL-18 were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concentrations of IL-18 in peritoneal fluid and serum were correlated with the presence of endometriosis, disease stage, and the phase of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin-18 was detectable in 98% of the peritoneal specimens and 84% of the serum specimens of the patients tested. Peritoneal fluid IL-18 concentrations were statistically significantly lower in patients with endometriosis than in patients without endometriosis; the difference in serum IL-18 levels showed no statistically significant difference between the patients with and without endometriosis. The concentrations of IL-18 in peritoneal fluid and serum were not correlated with the stage of endometriosis or the phase of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the decreased levels of IL-18 in peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis as compared with the control group may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinmei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yuli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D007371:Interferon-gamma