Increased chemotactic activity of peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the ability of the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to induce chemotaxis of neutrophils and macrophages. STUDY DESIGN: Peritoneal fluid samples of patients with endometriosis (n = 20), normal fertile controls (n = 12), or patients with medical suppression (n = 8) were evaluated for chemotactic activity. Results of chemotactic activity were analyzed by analysis of variance. RESULTS: Peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis demonstrated a significantly higher chemotactic activity than that of patients without endometriosis or with medical suppression. Patients who had received medical treatment had the lowest chemotactic activity. (p < 0.001 for endometriosis vs control or treatment patients, p = 0.005 for control group vs treatment group). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with endometriosis have a higher chemotactic activity in their peritoneal fluid; prior medical treatment significantly reduces this activity. This chemotactic factor has an estimated weight of 20 kd. The nature and source of this chemotactic factor remains to be determined.