title: Increased dioxin-like compounds in the serum of women with peritoneal endometriosis and deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible association between the body burden of dioxin-like compounds and endometriotic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gynecology ward in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one women with peritoneal endometriosis (n = 25) or deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules (n = 25) and controls (n = 21).
  
  
  METHODS
  Collection of 200 mL of blood (fasted) and face-to-face interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment of dioxin (PCDD), furan (PCDF), and dioxin-like PCB serum concentrations (picograms toxic equivalent [TEQ]/g lipids).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and body mass index were traced by linear multiple regression as determinants of total TEQ levels. After standardization for these variables (30 years and 22.5 kg/m2), the mean TEQ levels were 24.21 (controls), 30.62 (peritoneal endometriosis), and 37.60 (deep endometriotic [adenomyotic] nodules) pg TEQ/g lipids. Logistic regression analysis indicated a significantly increased risk of deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-7.6) for an increment of 10 pg in total TEQ levels/g lipids. An increased risk was also found for peritoneal endometriosis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9-3.8) for total TEQ levels and for dioxins alone (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.0-9.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide the first epidemiological evidence of an association between increased PCDD/PCDF and PCB body burden and endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Toxicology and Occupational Medicine Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Heilier
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nackers
authors.forename: Violaine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verougstraete
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tonglet
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lison
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins