Serum dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and endometriosis: a case-control study in Atlanta

Chemosphere. 2009 Feb;74(7):944-9. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.10.005. Epub 2008 Nov 22.

Abstract

Endometriosis among women of reproductive age can result in pain and infertility. The objectives of this study were to test if there is a relation between endometriosis and serum dioxin concentrations as expressed by total toxic equivalence and serum total polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations among women patients at one Atlanta reproductive medicine clinic during 1998-1999; a secondary objective was to provide exposure data for individual congeners of these chemicals and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDE) in women in Atlanta. Laparoscopy including biopsy and visualization of the peritoneal cavity, ovaries, outside of the fallopian tubes and uterus confirmed all endometriosis cases (n=60) and confirmed 30 controls without endometriosis. Other controls had an infertile partner (n=27) or ovulation problems (n=7) with no signs or symptoms of endometriosis. All serum samples were analyzed at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2003. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact chi-square tests and logistic regression. Models were presented for the full study sample and for the subset that included all cases (n=60) and only controls (n=30) with surgical confirmation of disease-free status. Serum concentrations (lipid-adjusted and non lipid-adjusted) of analyzed exposure measures were low and similar for cases and controls and did not explain endometriosis in the study population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Demography
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / blood
  • Dioxins / blood*
  • Endometriosis / chemically induced
  • Endometriosis / epidemiology*
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Environmental Pollutants / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / blood*
  • Risk Factors
  • Women's Health

Substances

  • Dioxins
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls