Objective: To determine whether serum interleukin (IL)-6 can be measured in patients with ovarian endometriomas and whether these measurements are useful in managing this disease.
Design: A controlled clinical study and an in vitro study.
Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University, Japan.Twenty-two patients with ovarian endometriomas.
Intervention(s): Laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas was performed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was administered for 3 months in nine patients before laparoscopic surgery. Endometriotic stromal cells obtained from patients with endometriomas with or without GnRH agonist treatment were cultured.
Main outcome measures(s): IL-6 concentrations in serum or supernatant of the cell culture were measured using ELISA.
Results: The serum concentration of IL-6 in patients with endometriomas was higher at the time of diagnosis than in those without endometriomas. Laparoscopic surgery significantly reduced serum levels of IL-6. Serum IL-6 concentrations also decreased after treatment with GnRH agonist. IL-6 production was attenuated in the endometriotic stromal cells obtained from patients with GnRH agonist treatment compared with patients without such treatment.
Conclusion(s): GnRH agonist treatment may decrease IL-6 production in endometriotic cells. Measurement of serum IL-6 concentrations may be of value in managing patients with endometriomas.