Endometriosis is a pelvic inflammatory process with altered function of immune-related cells and increased number of activated macrophages in the peritoneal environment that secrete various local products, such as growth factors and cytokines. The elevation of cytokines and other factors in the peritoneal fluid is accompanied by the elevation of similar factors, such as CRP, SAA, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8 and CCR1, in the peripheral blood of patients with endometriosis. CD44+ and CD14+ monocytes are significantly increased, while CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD20+ B lymphocytes show modest, but significant decrease in peripheral blood of women with endometriosis. This indicates that endometriosis could be viewed as a local disease with systemic subclinical manifestations. This review provides an overview of data on the changes of various factors in peripheral blood and their potential use as diagnostic tools in patients with endometriosis.

Identification of the inferior hypogastric nerve and plexus was feasible. In comparison with non-nerve-sparing surgical technique, no cases of bladder self-catheterization for a long or even life time was observed, confirming the importance of the nerve-sparing surgical procedure.

Tailoring of GnRH antagonist protocols leads to an optimization of ovarian stimulation with more oocytes retrieved despite less rhFSH used, and the same number of monitoring visits.

Despite the small number of follow-up patients, our 94-month follow-up data demonstrated that endometriosis with bowel involvement and radical resection was associated with significant reductions in painful and dysfunctional symptoms, a low recurrence rate (6.6%) and high pregnancy rate (36.6%).

Objective To determine whether endometriosis-associated endometrioid cancer (EAOC) is a specific entity compared with endometrioid cancer not associated with endometriosis (OC). Design Case-control study. Setting University hospital research laboratory. Patient(s) Seven patients with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer EAOC and five patients each with OC, ovarian endometriosis, and benign ovaries. Intervention(s) Ovarian tissue samples were collected from surgical procedures. Main Outcome Measure(s) We hybridized cRNA samples to the Affymetrix HG-U133A microarray chip. Representative genes were validated by real time polymerase chain reaction. Result(s) We identified two main groups of genes: The first group contained the genes SICA2, CCL14, and TDGF1. These genes were equally regulated in endometriosis and EAOC but not in OC and benign ovaries. The second group contained the genes StAR, SPINT1, Keratin 8, FoxM1B, FOLR1, CRABP1, and Claudin 7. They were equally regulated in EAOC and OC but not in ovarian endometriosis and benign ovaries. Conclusion(s) That the first group is composed of the cytokines SICA2 and CCL14 and the growth factor TDGF1 indicates that the regulation of the autoimmune system and of inflammatory cytokines may be very important in the etiology of endometriosis and EAOC. That the second group is composed of genes that play a central role in cell-cell interaction, differentiation, and cell proliferation indicates that they may be important in the development of ovarian cancer in women with endometriosis.