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Evaluation of the levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in the cervical mucus of women with unexplained infertility
Author(s) -
Madendag Ilknur Col,
Sahin Mefkure Eraslan,
Madendag Yusuf,
Sahin Erdem,
Karakukcu Cigdem
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.14299
Subject(s) - slpi , medicine , infertility , unexplained infertility , mucus , cervical mucus , percentile , prospective cohort study , immune system , female infertility , obstetrics , gynecology , immunology , gastroenterology , physiology , cervix , inflammation , pregnancy , biology , mathematics , cancer , ecology , statistics , genetics
Abstract Aim Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) has specific effects on the immune system. SLPI is overexpressed in inflammation triggered by immune responses, which could have significant effects on the local immune responses in cervical mucosa. This over expression may be greater in women with unexplained infertility, which would increase the immune reaction in the cervical region against sperm. The aim of our study was to assess the levels of SLPI in cervical mucus in women with unexplained infertility. Methods This prospective cross‐sectional study was conducted using 50 Caucasian volunteers between 20 and 40 years old. The 50 participants were divided into two groups as unexplained infertility ( n = 20) and control ( n = 30). The control group comprised healthy fertile women with demographic characteristics similar to those of the infertility group. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method was used to assess SLPI levels in the cervical mucus of all participants. Results The median SLPI level in cervical mucus was 3767 (3541–4594, 95% CI) pg/mL (25th percentile; 3139 pg/mL, 75th percentile; 5047 pg/mL) in the unexplained‐infertility group and 3204 (2602–3539, 95% CI) pg/mL (the 25th percentile = 2615 pg/mL; 75th percentile = 3990 pg/mL) in the control group, which was a significant difference ( P = 0.013). Conclusion Our results indicated that SLPI levels in cervical mucus were remarkably higher in patients with unexplained infertility than in the control group.