title: Elevated levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellehumeur
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Therriault
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: Rodolphe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maheux
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akoum
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors