Quantification of Interleukins in the Serum: A Non-invasive markers of Endometriosis

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease, with many theories on the endometriosis pathogenesis in association with the regulation of cell multiplication and neo-angiogenesis. Objective: The current study is a case control estimation of Interleukin 4 and Interleukin 18 in women with endometriosis, compared with that of a control group of healthy women without endometriosis. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from the study groups: 40 women with endometriosis and 40 women without non-endometriosis. Concentration of cytokines, IL-4 and IL-18 were estimated using ELISA method. Results: Results showed that the concentration of both IL-4 and IL-18 serum were significantly higher in women with endometriosis when compared with women without endometriosis group (p=0.0005). Conclusion: Cytokines play their specific roles in pathogenesis of endometriosis. IL-4 and IL-18 cytokines could be used as a biomarker for non-invasive test for endometriosis. Further studies are needed with more data to determine their role as a biomarker for endometriosis.