INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING-PROTEINS IN PERITONEAL-FLUID OF WOMEN WITH MINIMAL AND MILD ENDOMETRIOSIS

This prospective cohort study was carried out in a university-based in fertility clinic to determine the profile of insulin-like growth facto r binding proteins (IGFBPs) in patients with mild endometriosis and no obvious mechanical factor contributing to infertility. A total of 26 patients with minimal and mild endometriosis and 10 controls contribut ed peritoneal fluid at surgery. The variety, expression and levels of IGFBPs were determined by radioimmunoassay and Western ligand blots (W LBs) with quantitation by laser densitometer. A 27 kDa species was sig nificantly lower and a 31 kDa species tended to be lower in patients w ith endometriosis as determined by quantitative laser densitometer. Th e levels of IGFBP-3 detected by radioimmunoassay and by WLB were corre lated in the control group and in the patients with endometriosis in t he follicular phase but not in patients with endometriosis in the lute al phase. The level of 27 kDa species seen on WLBs did not appear to c orrespond to IGFBP-1 determined by radioimmunoassay and IGFBP-3 levels in luteal phase endometriosis patients also departed from values dete rmined by radioimmunoassay. These discrepancies suggest a complex syst em to control levels of IGF in the peritoneum involving multiple bindi ng proteins and proteases. The IGFBPs of patients with endometriosis m ay contribute to reproductive dysfunction and be able to serve as mark ers.