Serum cytokine and growth factor levels in patients with endometriosis

OpenAlex İngilizce

The aim of this prospective study is to define markers that can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with endometriosis by determining serum CA 125, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-12 levels. The study group consisted of 14 patients diagnosed to have mild to moderate peritoneal endometriosis, 47 patients with ovarian endometrioma during laparoscopy and 12 healthy patients as a control group. Serum CA 125, TGF-β1, IL-6, and IL-12 levels were evaluated using ELISA kits. Serum CA 125 levels were significantly higher in the endometrioma group when compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and mild to moderate peritoneal endometriosis group (p < 0.001). Mean serum TGF-β1 levels were significantly higher in the endometrioma group when compared to the mild to moderate peritoneal endometriosis group (p < 0.001). In addition, serum TGF-β1 levels were found to be significantly different with regard to the stage of the endometriosis. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the endometrioma group compared to the endometriosis group (p = 0.024) and control group (p = 0.05). Mean serum IL-12 levels were lower in patients with endometriosis. In conclusion; TGF-β1 and IL-6 measurements might be a promising alternative in adjunct to CA 125 for the non-invasive diagnosis of endometrioma. However CA 125, TGF-β1, IL-6 and IL-12 seem not to have the diagnostic value in the diagnosis of early stage endometriosis. Of all the serum markers studied, only TGF-β1 was found to be correlated with the stage of endometriosis.