Effect of ovarian involvement on the frequency of luteinized unruptured follicle in endometriosis

Objective: When we review the current literature on endometriosis and lutei nized unruptured follicle (LUF), we see that most of the studies deal with only the association between LUF frequency and the severity of endometriosi s. Our purpose was to evaluate the effect of ovarian involvement on LUF fre quency in endometriosis and assess the relationship between endometriosis a nd LUF in infertile women. Study Design: This study is a prospective analys is covering a total of 126 infertile women between 22 and 35 years of age w ho underwent diagnostic laparoscopy from September 1995 to August 1997 in t he Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. Endometriosis was diagnosed in 58 of these patients. All h ad received a revised American Fertility Society staging score at the time of the laparoscopic diagnosis. Diagnosis of LUF was made when the following criteria were fulfilled: absence of ultrasonic signs of ovulation, and abs ence of an ovulation ostium on the follicle by laparoscopy, despite increas ed serum progesterone. Statistical evaluation was performed using chi(2) te st and Fisher's exact test where appropriate. Results: The prevalence of LU F in mild, moderate and severe endometriosis cases was 13.3, 41.2 and 72.7% , respectively. The LUF frequencies were 45.9% in 37 endometriosis patients with ovarian involvement, 9.5% in 21 cases without ovarian involvement and 5.9% in 68 cases without endometriosis. A statistically significant differ ence was observed between the LUF rate in the group with ovarian involvemen t and that without involvement (chi(2) = 8.06, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In s ummary, in this study we noted a significant increase in LUF frequency in e ndometriosis patients with ovarian involvement.