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Autoimmune Response in Women with Endometriosis
Author(s) -
IBORRA A.,
PALACIO J.R.,
MARTÍNEZ P.,
ULCOVAGALLOVA Z.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.8755-8920.2000.440408.x
Subject(s) - endometriosis , antibody , andrology , gamete , immune system , antigen , titer , medicine , sperm , immunology
PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral immune response to the female reproductive tissues associated with endometriosis (grades I–III) ( n =52), compared with a group of healthy fertile women ( n =6).
METHOD OF STUDY: An ELISA with cultured endometrial cell lines in monolayer was used to determine the presence of anti‐endometrial antibodies (AEA). For anti‐zona pellucida antibodies (AZPA) assessment a conventional ELISA was employed. The presence of antibodies to human sperm (ASA) was performed by the tray agglutination test (TAT).
RESULTS: Endometriosis grade III was associated with AEA in serum in the 45.4% of patients. The presence of AEA in serum is correlated to endometriosis severity. The 8.7% of women with endometriosis showed ASA, and the 10.9% of them were positive for AZPA. Antibodies specific for endometrial cells do not show reaction to any gamete antigen (sperm or oocyte), suggesting that they are not cross reactive.
CONCLUSIONS: Severity of endometriosis is correlated with high titers of AEA.