Autoimmune response in women with endometriosis

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to investigate the humoral immune respon se to the female reproductive tissues associated with endometriosis (grades I-III) (n = 52), compared with a group of healthy fertile women (n = 6). METHOD OF STUDY: An ELISA with cultured endometrial cell lines in monolayer was used to determine the presence of anti-endometrial antibodies (AEA). F or anti-zona pellucida antibodies (AZPA) assessment a conventional ELISA wa s employed. The presence of antibodies to human sperm (ASA) was performed b y the tray agglutination test (TAT). RESULTS: Endometriosis grade III was associated with AEA in serum in the 45 .4% of patients. The presence of AEA in serum is correlated to endometriosi s severity. The 8.7% of women with endometriosis showed ASA, and the 10.9% of them were positive for AZPA. Antibodies specific for endometrial cells d o not show reaction to any gamete antigen (sperm or oocyte), suggesting tha t they are not cross reactive. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of endometriosis is correlated with high titers of AE A.