UNLABELLED: Changes in the peritoneal fluid (PF) environment have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis as well as in the decrease of fertility. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the concentration of glutathione in PF of women with endometriosis. PATIENTS: Twenty-one patients with endometriosis (I or II rAFS stage, n=11; III or IV rAFS stage, n=10), and 29 patients with follicular or dermoid ovarian cysts (n=17 and n=12, respectively). RESULTS: Mean (+/-S.D.) PF glutathione concentration was 0.22+/-0.01 micromol/ml in patients with minimal or mild endometriosis, 0.21+/-0.05 micromol/ml in women with III or IV stage of the disease, 0.24 +/- 0.03 micromol/ml in women with follicle ovarian cysts, and 0.23+/-0.05 micromol/ml in patients with dermoid tumors of ovaries. No significant difference in the peritoneal glutathione level was found between the groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PF glutathione is not involved in the progression of endometriosis.
UNLABELLED: Changes in the peritoneal fluid (PF) environment have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis as well as in the decrease of fertility. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the concentration of glutathione in PF of women with endometriosis. PATIENTS: Twenty-one patients with endometriosis (I or II rAFS stage, n=11; III or IV rAFS stage, n=10), and 29 patients with follicular or dermoid ovarian cysts (n=17 and n=12, respectively). RESULTS: Mean (+/-S.D.) PF glutathione concentration was 0.22+/-0.01 micromol/ml in patients with minimal or mild endometriosis, 0.21+/-0.05 micromol/ml in women with III or IV stage of the disease, 0.24 +/- 0.03 micromol/ml in women with follicle ovarian cysts, and 0.23+/-0.05 micromol/ml in patients with dermoid tumors of ovaries. No significant difference in the peritoneal glutathione level was found between the groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PF glutathione is not involved in the progression of endometriosis.