title: Measurement of luminal nitric oxide in the uterine cavity using a silicon balloon catheter.
abstract: The aim of this pilot case-control study was to measure nitric oxide (NO) gas in air incubated in a catheter balloon in the uterus of healthy women and patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, to determine the optimal time of incubation and to find whether NO level rises after manipulation in the uterine cavity. We measured nitric oxide levels in air incubated for 2-10 min in a catheter balloon in the uterine cavity in 6 non pregnant women from 22 to 50 years of age with lower abdominal pain and 10 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles. After an incubation time of just 2 min, intrauterine nitric oxide levels were significantly increased in patients with diagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease compared to healthy women. Uterine nitric oxide levels did not rise after manipulation in the uterine cavity. In conclusion, NO gas can be measured directly in the uterine cavity with a fast, simple, well-tolerated and safe method. The levels of nitric oxide are increased in women diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease already after an incubation time of 2 min.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman and Child Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. angelos.sioutas@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Angelos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sioutas
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gemzell-Danielsson
authors.forename: Jon O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ehrén
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D057785:Catheters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012825:Silicon; D014599:Uterus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012825:Silicon