title: Leptin is not involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis-related infertility.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Gynecology, University School of Medicine, ul. Staszica 16, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wertel
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gogacz
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakowicki
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotarski
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin