Elevated levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the concentrations of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the peripheral blood of normal women and patients with endometriosis.


METHODS
Retrospective study using ELISA to measure peripheral blood MIF.


METHODS
Gynecology clinic and human reproduction research laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-eight normal women and 55 women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were obtained a few days before laparoscopy.


METHODS
The MIF concentrations in blood serum.


RESULTS
This current study showed a 364% increase in MIF concentrations in women with endometriosis as compared to normal women. A significant increase was seen in endometriosis stages I-II, but a more marked increase was observed in the more advanced stages of the disease (III-IV). Both fertile and infertile women with endometriosis had higher levels of MIF than normal controls, but the difference was more significant in infertile women with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis with no pelvic pain had higher levels of MIF than normal controls, but a more significant increase in MIF levels was observed in women with endometriosis reporting pelvic pain.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a marked increase in MIF concentrations in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis and a relationship with disease progress, and suggests that MIF may be involved in endometriosis-related pain and infertility.
Morin
Mathieu
M
Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie de la Reproduction, Centre de Recherche, Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (CHUQ), Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, 10 rue de l'Espinay, Québec, PQ, Canada G1L 3L5.
Bellehumeur
Christian
C
Therriault
Marie-Josée
MJ
Metz
Christine
C
Maheux
Rodolphe
R
Akoum
Ali
A
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors