title: Analysis of follicular fluid and serum markers of oxidative stress in women with infertility related to endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the levels of four markers of oxidative stress in follicular fluid (FF) and plasma of patients with infertility related to endometriosis and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital and infertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one infertile women were included in the study (23 infertile women with endometriosis and 68 controls including infertile women due to tubal factor, male factor, or healthy egg donors).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was obtained at the time of egg retrieval, and FF from the mature follicles of each ovary was centrifuged and frozen until analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vitamin C and E, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase concentrations in plasma and follicular fluid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with endometriosis showed a lower vitamin C concentration in FF (12.7 ± 5.9 vs. 9.7 ± 6.9 μg/mL) and lower superoxide dismutase concentration in plasma (0.9 ± 1.4 vs. 0.5 ± 0.7 U/mL) compared with controls. Vitamin E plasma levels were significantly higher in women with endometriosis (8.1 ± 3.8 vs. 5.2 ± 3.2 μg/mL). A nonsignificant trend toward a lower plasma concentration of malondialdehyde was found in women with endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a lower antioxidant capacity in infertile women with endometriosis. Although a certain level of reactive oxygen species is required under physiological conditions, an altered balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant activities may have an impact on folliculogenesis and adequate embryo development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cambero
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pellicer
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Codoceo
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Velasco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D001205:Ascorbic Acid