Korean J Fertil Steril.  2000 Mar;27(1):83-90.

Changes in Profiles of Humoral Immune Facrors after Treatment of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist in Patients with Endometriosis

• Kim JG
• Moon SY
• Kang SB
• Lee JY
• Kim DH
• Choi DS
• Kim DW

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with proven endometriosis and apparently normal controls, and to evaluate the changes in profiles of humoral immune factors in endometriosis after treatment with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa).
METHODS
Sera of 92 patients with endometriosis, 40 patients without endometriosis and 128 normal male blood doners (normal controls) were tested for the presence of autoantibodies to six phospholipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid) and beta 2-glycoprotein I(GPI)- dependent anticardiolipin antibodies. Also, antiendometrial antibodies (AEA), antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), Immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, complement C3, C4 and CA-125 were measured in 26 endometriosis patients before and after 3 months of GnRHa treatment.
RESULTS
Eighteen (19.6%) patients with endometriosis had at least one of the APA compared with normal controls (8.3%). The prevalence of beta 2-GPI-dependent anticardiolipin antibodies was higher in patients with endometriosis than in normal controls. There were no significant changes in the positivity and levels of AEA and APA after GnRHa Treatment and the levels of immunoglobulins and complement showed similiar pattern. However, the numbers of patients with the level of CA-125 > 35 IU/ml, which is defined as the upper limit of normal level and the levels of CA-125 decreased.
CONCLUSIONS
Around 20% of patients with endometriosis had APA and CA-125 measurement may be better than humoral factor tests in monitoring patients with endometriosis after GnRHa treatment.

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Autoantibodies
Complement C3
Complement System Proteins
Endometriosis*
Female
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone*
Gonadotropins*
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins
Immunologic Factors
Incidence
Male
Phosphatidylinositols
Phospholipids
Prevalence
Antibodies
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Autoantibodies
Complement C3
Complement System Proteins
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Gonadotropins
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulins
Immunologic Factors
Phosphatidylinositols
Phospholipids