Abstract | BACKGROUND: Animal studies and laboratory experiments have demonstrated that exposure to dioxins may be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. However, recent epidemiological investigations have shown conflicting results. Although peritoneal fluid is a specific microenvironment playing a pivotal role in the development of endometriosis, to our knowledge, there is no published study evaluating the concentrations of dioxins in serum and peritoneal fluid simultaneously. The present study explores the possible correlation between the local peritoneal fluid levels of dioxins and concurrent endometriosis. METHODS: RESULTS: Serum concentrations of itemized components of 29 dioxins were similar in the endometriosis patients compared with the controls. Higher concentrations of PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs were observed in peritoneal fluid than in serum, whereas the reverse was shown for PCDDs. Statistical analysis showed that higher levels of dioxin TEQ (PCDDs and PCDFs) in peritoneal fluid were significantly associated with an increased risk of endometriosis (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.17-5.34; P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report suggesting that higher concentrations of dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) in peritoneal fluid are linked to endometriosis. More detail and epidemiological research is warranted to further explore this link.
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Authors | L Y Cai, S Izumi, T Suzuki, K Goya, E Nakamura, T Sugiyama, H Kobayashi |
Journal | Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
(Hum Reprod)
Vol. 26
Issue 1
Pg. 117-26
(Jan 2011)
ISSN: 1460-2350 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21106495
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Ascites
(etiology)
- Ascitic Fluid
(chemistry)
- Case-Control Studies
- Dioxins
(analysis, blood)
- Endometriosis
(blood, etiology)
- Environmental Exposure
- Female
- Humans
- Pilot Projects
- Risk Factors
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