title: Serum IL-6 level may have role in the pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 of women with unexplained infertility with fertile subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels of 45 infertile and 44 fertile women on day 3 of menstrual cycle were assessed and compared for this prospective controlled study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in women with unexplained infertility, compared with fertile women (5.71 +/- 1.81 and 4.31 +/- 1.79, P < 0.001, Student's t-test). There was no significant difference in TNF-alpha level among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant difference in serum IL-6 levels between unexplained infertile and fertile women suggests that this cytokine may be involved in pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Health Ministry Ergani Goverment Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey. bulentdemirmd@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Emine Seda Guvendag
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atamer
authors.forename: Talip
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha