title: Non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometriosis, a gynecologic disorder affecting 8-10% of reproductive-age women in the United States, is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and is linked to pelvic pain and infertility. Environmental contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are hypothesized to contribute to endometriosis risk through effects on steroid hormones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated serum concentrations of certain noncoplanar PCBs, which have no or only weak dioxin-like properties, as risk factors for endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a case-control study of Group Health enrollees in western Washington State, 20 PCB congeners were measured in serum from surgically confirmed endometriosis cases that were newly diagnosed between 1996 and 2001 (n = 251) and from female controls matched for age and reference year (n = 538).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Summed and estrogenic PCB concentrations were not associated with endometriosis risk [summed: odds ratio (OR) = 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8-2.2; estrogenic: OR = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.4]. Although several congener-specific ORs were statistically above or below the null (PCB 170: third quartile vs. lowest: OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; PCB 196: third quartile vs. lowest: OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; PCB 201: second vs. lowest: OR = 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8; third quartile vs. lowest: OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7), there were no overall consistent patterns of endometriosis risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken in context with other North American studies, our findings suggest that noncoplanar PCB concentrations consistent within the range of exposure currently observed in western Washington State do not contribute meaningfully to endometriosis risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. britton.trabert@nih.gov
authors.forename: Britton
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trabert
authors.forename: Anneclaire J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: De Roos
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scholes
authors.forename: Dana B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls