SERUM LIPOPEROXIDE LEVEL VARIATIONS IN NORMAL AND LUTEAL-PHASE DEFECTCYCLES

A luteal phase defect (LPD) is a clinical problem leading to infertili ty and is characterized by reduced progesterone levels during the lute al phase. Serum lipoperoxidation is an expression of cellular hypoxic damage occurring under all stress-oxidative conditions. Forty-eight co nsecutive infertility patients, according to the infertility class II of the WHO classification, underwent clinical observation. Twenty-five patients ovulated constantly with a normal. luteal phase, while the o ther 23 had a LPD, hormonally and histologically assessed. The luteal phase was monitored biochemically by titration of progesterone, oestra diol, and serum lipid peroxides during the ovulatory period and 6-12 d ays after ovulation. The mean plasmatic concentration of oestradiol wa s not statistically different between the LPD and the normal-cycle gro ups, while a statistically significant difference was found for proges terone plasmatic concentrations between the LPD and the normal-cycle g roups (p < 0.05); a greater statistical difference was also found in t he mean serum lipoperoxide titration (p < 0.001). These findings sugge st that serum lipoperoxidation titration may be a useful tool in the s tudy of the interactions between hormonal milieu and sympathetic activ ity.