Open AccessCO 2 ‐laser excision of endometriosis does not improve the decreased natural killer activity
Author(s) -
Oosterlynck Dldier J.,
Meuleman Christel,
Waer Mark,
Koninckx Philippe R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349409015774
Subject(s) - medicine , endometriosis , natural (archaeology) , gynecology , surgery , archaeology , history
Objective. We recently described a decreased lymphocyte‐mediated cytotoxicity to autologous endometrium and to natural killer‐sensitive targets in women with endometriosis. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the defect remained after COylaser excision of the endometriotic lesions. Design. In 15 women with endometriosis the cytotoxicity assays were performed before and three to four months after complete removal of the endometriotic lesions with COylaser excision. CA‐125 serum levels were measured before and after laser laparoscopy, in order to confirm that endometriosis had been treated properly. Results. After removal of the endometriotic lesions the decreased natural killer activity (K562‐assay) and the impaired cytotoxicity of autologous and even heterologous lymphocytes to the endometrium remained unchanged, and those cytotoxicity assays were still significantly decreased compared to the women without endometriosis. CA‐125 serum concentrations, however, were still significantly decreased three to four months after CO,‐laser excision of the endometriosis, (paired Student's t ‐test p < 0.007). Conclusions. These data suggest a primary deficiency in natural killer activity in women with endometriosis and are in accordance with our clinical experience as endometriosis is relapsing frequently after treatment.