Serum and peritoneal fluid levels of IGF I and II and insulinlike growth binding protein-3 in endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether insulinlike growth factor I (IGF I), TGF II a nd IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP 3) in serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) corre late with the presence and severity of endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study including 29 patients with endometriosis a nd 15 controls. The revised American Fertility Society classification stage s of I and II were pooled as early-stage (n = 15), and stages III and IV we re taken as late stage (n = 14). Simultaneous sampling of blood and PF n,ns performed during laparoscopy, and IGF I, IGF II and IGFBP 3 levels were de termined by immunoradiometric assay. RESULTS: The serum levels of all three proteins were higher than PF le ids except for a reversed IGF I PF: serum ratio in the early stage. There were no significant differences in IGF II and IGFBP 3 levels among the groups. T he mean serum IGF I levels of controls and early-stage patients were signif icantly lower,er than those iii the late stage. Also, mean PF IGF I levels in controls were significantly lower than in the late stage. CONCLUSION: ICF I may be air important rmediator in the development and/or maintenance of endometriosis or progression to late-stage disease.