PAPP-A and osteoprotegerin, together with interleukin-8 and RANTES, are elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, glycodelin, osteoprotegerin, and soluble CD163 are possible peritoneal fluid markers for endometriosis and to compare them with the established chemokine markers interleukin-8 and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted.


METHODS
Determination of the concentrations of interleukin-8, regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, glycodelin, CD163, osteoprotegerin, and progesterone in the peritoneal fluid collected from women undergoing laparoscopy.


RESULTS
From a total of 132 women, 77 women were diagnosed with endometriosis, and 55 women were free of the disease and served as control subjects. Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and osteoprotegerin showed significantly (P < 0.05) elevated peritoneal fluid concentrations as a function of the severity of the disease, together with interleukin-8 and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (P < .001). Glycodelin and CD163 did not differ between cases and control subjects. Many of these marker concentrations were intercorrelated strongly.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and osteoprotegerin may play a role in the inflammation process of endometriosis, but interleukin-8 and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted are superior peritoneal fluid markers.
Bersinger
Nick A
NA
Endometriosis Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
von Roten
Stéphanie
S
Wunder
Dorothea M
DM
Raio
Luigi
L
Dreher
Ekkehard
E
Mueller
Michael D
MD
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000032:analysis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A