Leptin is not involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis-related infertility.
OBJECTIVE
Changes in peritoneal fluid (PF) composition may affect fertilization as well as early embryonic development. Leptin, an adipocyte hormone, has been shown to act as a link between adipose tissue and the reproductive system. Therefore, we decided to assess peritoneal and serum leptin levels in infertile endometriotic patients.


METHODS
Seventy-two women were studied, including 30 fertile and 18 infertile women with ovarian endometriotic cysts and, as a reference group, 24 patients with unexplained infertility.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the peritoneal and leptin levels was found between the studied groups. Significantly higher PF leptin concentration was observed in patients with stages III and IV of endometriosis as compared to those with minimal stage of the disease. In fertile patients with endometriosis a positive correlation has been found between PF and serum leptin concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
No differences in peritoneal or serum leptin levels between infertile and fertile women with endometriosis suggest that this cytokine is not involved in pathophysiology of endometriosis-related infertility.
Wertel
Iwona
I
1st Department of Gynecology, University School of Medicine, ul. Staszica 16, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
Gogacz
Marek
M
Polak
Grzegorz
G
Jakowicki
Jerzy
J
Kotarski
Jan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
D020738:Leptin