title: Increased plasma levels of phthalate esters in women with advanced-stage endometriosis: a prospective case-control study.
abstract: We performed the present prospective case-control study to evaluate whether the plasma concentrations of phthalate esters are elevated in women with advanced-stage endometriosis in a Korean population. Measuring plasma levels of monoethylhexyl phthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in 97 women with advanced-stage endometriosis and 169 control women by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we found that the concentrations of monoethylhexyl phthalate, as well as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, are significantly higher in those with advanced-stage endometriosis, which supports the hypothesis that exposure to phthalate might play a role in the establishment of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. kimsung@amc.seoul.kr
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Jin Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hee Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Chung-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Moon
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004952:Esters / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C016599:mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate