Intrauterine nitric oxide in pelvic inflammatory disease.
OBJECTIVE
To measure nitric oxide gas directly in the uterus of healthy women and patients with suspected pelvic inflammatory disease.


METHODS
Pilot case-control study.


METHODS
The emergency department of a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty premenopausal, nonpregnant women from 18 to 48 years of age with lower abdominal pain and nine healthy women with regular menstrual cycles were included.


METHODS
We measured nitric oxide levels in air incubated for 5 minutes in a catheter balloon in the uterine cavity.


METHODS
Intrauterine nitric oxide concentration in controls and patients.


RESULTS
In patients with lower abdominal pain, nitric oxide was almost 100-fold increased in those in whom pelvic inflammatory disease had been diagnosed compared with those in whom appendicitis had been diagnosed with no individual overlap. Uterine nitric oxide levels were uniformly low in healthy women throughout the menstrual cycle, compared with those with pelvic inflammatory disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide gas can be measured directly in the uterine cavity with a fast, simple, and safe method. The levels of nitric oxide are increased in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease.
Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. angelos.sioutas@karolinska.se
Angelos
A
Sioutas
Ingrid
I
Ehrén
Jon O
JO
Lundberg
N Peter
NP
Wiklund
Kristina
K
Gemzell-Danielsson
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D005740:Gases; D009569:Nitric Oxide