title: Peritoneal cytokines and adhesion formation in endometriosis: an inverse association with vascular endothelial growth factor concentration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate inflammatory/angiogenic cytokines-interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis in relation to the occurrence and severity of pelvic adhesions and in control women without pelvic pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research institution and hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five women with laparoscopically and histopathologically confirmed endometriosis, including 40 women with pelvic adhesions, and 37 control women without pelvic pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritoneal fluid aspirated during routine diagnostic laparoscopic examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytokines evaluated in the peritoneal fluid via specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometriosis and the revised American Fertility Society score of this disease were associated with statistically significantly increased levels of peritoneal IL-6 and IL-8 whereas the incidence and score of endometriosis-related pelvic adhesions were negatively associated with increased levels of VEGF-A. Notably, the concentration of VEGF-A predicted adhesion development and severity after adjustment for endometriosis severity. The adhesion score also correlated with increased levels of IL-6; however, after adjustment for endometriosis severity, the effect of this cytokine was no longer statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased levels of VEGF-A may be associated with a decreased rate of pelvic adhesion formation in the course of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barcz
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Milewski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dziunycz
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Płoski
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malejczyk
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma