Prostaglandin F2 alpha in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.

The amounts of PGF2 alpha in peritoneal fluid were determined by radioimmunoassay in 21 patients undergoing exploratory laparotomy or diagnostic laparoscopy for infertility during the follicular phase of the cycle. Detectable levels of PGF2 alpha were found only in that group with moderate and severe endometriosis who also had blood-tinged or chocolate material in the peritoneal cavity. A patient with blood-tinged peritoneal fluid and pelvic adhesions without endometriosis also had elevated peritoneal fluid PGF2 alpha. In contrast, peritoneal fluid without evidence of old hemorrhage from patients with endometriosis or pelvic adhesions as well as from a group of normal women did not contain PGF2 alpha. None of the endometriosis patients had evidence of a short luteal phase by standard criteria.