title: Pro-inflammatory cytokines for evaluation of inflammatory status in endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate the serum pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with diagnosed endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 160 women, who were divided in two study groups (Group I - endometriosis; Group 2 - healthy). We evaluated the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-12, and of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) with the use of Human Multiplex Cytokine Panels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α is significantly higher in women with endometriosis compared to women free of disease, from the control group (mean 10.777, 183.027, and 131.326, respectively, compared to 3.039, 70.043, and 75.285, respectively; p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p = 0.015, respectively). No significant differences in the serum levels of IL-5 and IL-12 were observed between the studied groups, and IL-7 had a very low detection rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with endometriosis have elevated levels of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. At the same time, IL-1β and IL-6 could be used as predictors for endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Andrei M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malutan
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Tudor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drugan
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Nicolae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Costin
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Razvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciortea
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bucuri
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rada
authors.affiliation: "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihu
keywords: cytokine; endometriosis; inflammation; interleukin