title: Intrafollicular iron and ferritin in women with ovarian endometriomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether iron contained in ovarian endometriomas can diffuse through the cyst wall and negatively affect ovarian function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility unit in an academic setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine infertile women with unilateral endometriomas who underwent in vitro fertilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iron and ferritin assessments in pools of follicular fluids obtained from affected and contralateral intact gonads.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iron and ferritin concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular fluid iron content did not differ between the two gonads. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] follicular concentrations in the affected and unaffected ovaries were 59 (IQR 44-74) and 59 (IQR 47-73) μg/dL, respectively (p = 0.77). Conversely, ferritin concentration was significantly higher in affected gonads. The median (IQR) concentrations of ferritin in the affected and unaffected ovaries were 57 (IQR 31-146) and 33 (IQR 23-67) μg/mL, respectively (p = 0.026). When considering together the 78 studied ovaries, no significant correlations emerged between follicular iron and ferritin and variables reflecting ovarian responsiveness and oocyte developmental competence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron may diffuse from ovarian endometriomas into the adjacent ovarian tissue. However, this phenomenon does not appear to markedly affect ovarian function. Some effective biological mechanisms such as ferritin storage may effectively sequester free iron, so limiting its detrimental effects.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benaglia
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paffoni
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangiarini
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.affiliation: Analysis Laboratory, Ca' Granda Foundation, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bettinardi
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somigliana
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.|University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vercellini
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics-Gynecology Department, Policlinic Maggiore Hospital (Ospedale Maggiore), Milan, Italy.|University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007558:Italy; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: Endometriosis; endometrioma; ferritin; follicular fluid; iron