Increased levels of polychlorobiphenyls in Italian women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis has been hypothesised to be linked to persistent and toxic organochlorinated chemicals. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds have in particular been associated with the disease, mainly on the basis of experimental studies. Data in women are conflicting. A case-control study on 80 Italian nulliparous women of reproductive age was carried out to assess whether there is a correlation between the presence of endometriosis and blood levels of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), a family of ubiquitary environmental pollutants which comprises congeners with dioxin-like activity. Higher levels of PCBs were found in women with endometriosis. A mean cumulative value of 410 ng g(-1), lipid base, was found in cases versus the value of 250 ng g(-1) observed in the control group (odds ratio for upper tertile 4.0, CI 95% 1.3-13; p = 0.0003). PCB increase involved both dioxin-like (PCBs 105, 118, 156, and 167) and non-dioxin-like congeners (PCBs 101, 138, 153, 170, 180).
Porpora
Maria Grazia
MG
Department of Gynecological Sciences, Perinatology and Child Health, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Ingelido
Anna Maria
AM
di Domenico
Alessandro
A
Ferro
Annamaria
A
Crobu
Manuela
M
Pallante
Debora
D
Cardelli
Massimo
M
Cosmi
Ermelando V
EV
De Felip
Elena
E
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls