CIRCULATING TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR (TNF)-ALPHA IN NORMALLY CYCLING WOMEN AND PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE AND POLYCYSTIC OVARIES

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of tu mor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in sera of infertile patients having p remature ovarian failure (POF) and polycystic ovaries (PCO), and to co mpare the levels with those in age-matched normally cycling women. MET HOD: Levels of TNF-alpha, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulati ng hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) were measured in the sera of infe rtile and normal women by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA ), fluorescent immunoassay and radioimmunoassay (RIA), respectively. M ultiple groups comparisons were performed using Dunnet's test. Post-ho c analysis was performed using a Tukey-Kramer test. P < 0.05 was consi dered statistically significant. RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels were signif icantly (P = 0.003 to < .0001) lower in the sera of patients with POF compared to sera of controls and patients with PCO. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-a lpha may have a role in ovarian function. Derangement in follicular de velopment, luteal function and atresia results in a change of circulat ing TNF-alpha levels.