TISSUE INHIBITOR OF METALLOPROTEINASE-1 CONCENTRATIONS ARE ATTENUATEDIN PERITONEAL-FLUID AND SERA OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS AND RESTOREDIN SERA BY GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE AGONIST THERAPY

Objective: To establish tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-l (TIMP- 1) concentrations in peritoneal fluid (PF) and sera of women with endo metriosis and compare them to disease-free controls. Design: Prospecti ve randomized study. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): Wom en with laparoscopically documented endometriosis and disease-free wom en of reproductive age. Intervention(s): Peritoneal fluid and sera wer e collected, and some women received gonadotropin-releasing hormone ag onist (GnRH-a) therapy for endometriosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Per itoneal fluid and sera TIMP-1 concentrations were measured with a spec ific RIA. Result(s): The TIMP-1 concentrations were significantly lowe r in PF and sera of women with endometriosis compared with disease-fre e women. The GnRH-a therapy restored serum TIMP-1 concentrations. Conc lusion(s): Aberrant expression and localization of TIMP-1 may derange the proteolytic milieu of the peritoneal cavity and contribute to the etiology and underlying physiologic sequelae associated with endometri osis. Measurement of TIMP-1 in serum may aid in diagnosing endometrios is and assist with monitoring treatment efficacy in women with this di sease. (C)1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.