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.

Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have higher miscarriage rates. It is postulated that this is caused by a lower rate of mature oocytes, and a lower quality of embryos. Retrospectively we analysed 51 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles of 31 PCOS patients. These data were compared to age-matched controls (105 cycles) during the same period. All patients of both groups received gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists prior to gonadotrophin treatment. The rate of metaphase II oocytes (MII) was not different. However, the mean absolute number of normally fertilized oocytes was significantly higher in PCOS patients (5.00 versus 3.56, P < 0.01), due to a higher number of oocytes retrieved. More embryos were transferred by cycle in the PCOS group (2.69 versus 2.17, P < 0.05), with a higher cumulative embryo score. The overall and multiple pregnancy rate showed no differences and the clinical abortion rate was lower (21 versus 41.67%, P < 0.05) in the controls. Our findings demonstrate that negative factors unconnected to oocyte morphology must be present in PCOS patients. It is possible that only cytoplasmic, not nuclear, maturity is influenced in these patients.

An altered inflammatory activity due to functionally relevant polymorphisms of the innate immune system may influence pathways leading to labour and, therefore, impact on the frequency of preterm birth. We examined five polymorphisms of the innate immune system in a large cohort of preterm very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, n = 909) and term-born infants (n = 491) and their mothers (n = 747). The primary outcome was preterm versus term birth. Frequencies of polymorphisms in mothers of term-born infants versus mothers of VLBW infants and term infants versus preterm VLBW infants (singletons) are given. Homozygous CD14-159T: 18.5 versus 21.8% (mothers) and 19.6 versus 21.2% (infants). Homozygous interleukin IL-6-174G: 28.8 versus 38% (P = 0.018, mothers) and 30 versus 32.7% (infants). Homozygous or heterozygous nuclear oligomerization domain NOD2-3020insC: 6.9 versus 6.1% (mothers) and 5.7 versus 5.1% (infants). Heterozygous or homozygous toll-like-receptor TLR2-Arg753Gln: 6.9 versus 6.1% (mothers) and 5.7 versus 5.1% (infants). Homozygous or heterozygous TLR4-896G: 8.1 versus 11.5% (mothers) and 11.6 versus 10.5% (infants). Although the homozygous maternal IL-6-174G genotype was found to be independently associated with preterm delivery in multivariate regression analysis, the incidence of intrauterine infection was not significantly increased in mothers of preterm VLBW-infants, carrying this or other polymorphisms of the innate immune system. The overall influence of the investigated polymorphisms on the development of preterm delivery seems moderate, since only the maternal IL6-174G genotype was associated with preterm birth and none of the polymorphisms were associated with intrauterine infection as the cause of preterm birth.

We propose that L1CAM could promote endometriosis development by increasing enervation and aggravation. L1CAM expression is higher in atypical endometriosis compared with normal endometriosis.

Ziel: Erstellung einer offiziellen, internationalen, interdisziplinären Leitlinie, publiziert und koordiniert von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (DGGG). Die Leitlinie wurde für den deutschsprachigen Raum entwickelt und wird neben der DGGG auch von der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (SGGG) und der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (OEGGG) mitgetragen. Das Ziel dieser Leitlinie, die von der DGGG publiziert und koordiniert wurde, ist es, durch die Evaluation der relevanten Literatur einen evidenzbasierten Überblick über die Diagnostik sowie konservative und operative Therapie des Descensus genitalis der Frau mit oder ohne Belastungsinkontinenz zu geben. Methoden: Es erfolgte ein systematischer Review sowie Synthese von Daten, anteilig mit Metaanalyse (S2e). Es wurde eine umfassende Literatursuche in MEDLINE, Embase, Cinahl, Pedro und im Cochrane-Register, in Referenzlisten und in den Abstracts der Annual Meetings der International Continence Society und der International Urogynecological Association durchgeführt. Abstracts wurden eingeschlossen, wenn es sich um randomisierte Studien handelte, die als Podiumpräsentation vorgestellt und diskutiert wurden. Es wurden Originalarbeiten seit 2008 eingeschlossen, deren Nachkontrollzeitraum bei mindestens 12 Monaten lag. Für die Beschreibung von perioperativen Komplikationen wurden jegliche Daten herangezogen. Empfehlungen: Es werden Empfehlungen zur Diagnostik, konservativen und operativen Therapie des Genitaldeszensus gegeben, wobei die 3 urogynäkologischen Kompartimente, Prävention oder Behandlung von Belastungsinkontinenz, Vor-und Nachteile von Netzaugmentationen sowie uteruserhaltende Optionen, berücksichtigt