title: Increased levels of polychlorobiphenyls in Italian women with endometriosis.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Sciences, Perinatology and Child Health, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Porpora
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ingelido
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Domenico
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crobu
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pallante
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardelli
authors.forename: Ermelando V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cosmi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Felip
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls