Distinct peritoneal fluid ghrelin and leptin in infertile women with endometriosis and their correlation with interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor

摘要

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the levels of leptin, ghrelin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis and infertility, and study their correlation. Design and setting: This cross-sectional study included women undergoing diagnostic and/or therapeutic laparoscopy for endometriosis with chief complaint of infertility and/or pain at a tertiary care hospital. Based upon laparoscopic and histopathological findings, patients were categorized as with endometriosis and no endometriosis. Of the 50 patients with infertility (age 23-41 years), 19 had endometriosis while 31 had no endometriosis. The markers were assessed using ELISA kits. Results: The median levels of leptin in patients with endometriosis (10.20ng/mL) were higher (p=0.04) and median levels of ghrelin in patients with endometriosis (150.4pg/mL) were lower (p=0.037) versus patients with no endometriosis (5.07ng/mL and 229.6pg/mL, respectively). The median levels of IL-6 and VEGF in patients with endometriosis were not different between the groups. The correlation analyses showed that leptin levels and IL-6 were positively correlated (p=0.0001). Conclusions: The results suggest that ghrelin and leptin might play a key role in pathophysiology of endometriosis, and leptin is associated with inflammation in endometriosis.