Endometriosis and Complement System

Overview

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition affecting nearly 10% of women of reproductive age. A definitive diagnosis of endometriosis requires laparoscopy. Studies aim to identify novel biomarkers to aid in the development of effective noninvasive diagnostic methods. Despite several theories, the full understanding of the etiopathogenesis remains elusive. A distorted immune response is thought to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. This study aimed to evaluate whether the levels of alternative complement molecules change in the blood serum and peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients compared to healthy subjects.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition affecting nearly 10% of women of reproductive age. It has been reported to contribute to 21-47% of cases of female infertility and 71-87% of cases involving chronic pelvic pain. The definitive diagnosis of endometriosis requires laparoscopy. While CA-125 has diagnostic value, it is not specific to endometriosis. Therefore, studies are focused on identifying novel biomarkers to aid in the development of effective noninvasive diagnostic methods. Despite numerous theories, the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis remains incompletely understood. A distorted immune response is believed to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of the condition. Regarding alterations in the classical and lectin-dependent complement systems, C3a, C3c, C4, and C5b-9 have been suggested to hold potential diagnostic value in endometriosis. Alternative pathway is another way for complement activation. This study aimed to investigate whether there are alterations in the levels of alternative complement molecules in both the blood serum and peritoneal fluid of patients diagnosed with endometriosis, comparing these levels to those found in healthy individuals. The research focused on understanding potential differences that could contribute to the pathophysiology of endometriosis, aiming to provide insights into the role of the alternative complement pathway in this gynecological condition.

Conditions