Drug therapy in the treatment of endometriosis

Clinical studies of medicine-based and surgical methods for the treatment of endometriosis are described. Although endometriosis was described as early as in the XIX century, the causes for its emergence and spread have not been fully investigated. Also, many questions regarding methods of treatment remain far from being solved. Due to the chronic and often relapsing nature of the disease, Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has concluded the following: "endometriosis should be viewed as a chronic disease that requires a lifelong management plan with the goal of maximizing the use of medical treatment and avoiding repeated surgical procedures." Thus, treatment of endometriosis should not only be comprehensive but also adapted to the specifics of each woman's organism

IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF ENDOMETRIAL DISEASE

Background: Immunological processes involving peritoneal macrophages could play a critical role in pathophysiology of external genital endometriosis.Aim: To assess levels of MCP-1, RANTES, and C-reactive protein and to identify their correlations with endometriosis.Materials and methods: Seventy two patients were evaluated: 26 healthy controls and 46 with endometriosis. Patients were divided into groups as follows: 17 with superficial endometriosis, 18 with endometriomas and 11 with deep infiltrative endometriosis. All patients underwent a laparoscopy during the proliferative phase of the cycle; levels of peritoneal and serum MCP-1, RANTES and C-reactive protein were measured using standard ELISA assays.Results: There were positive correlations between serum MCP-1 (p = 0.03) and C-reactive protein(p = 0.045) and severity of endometriosis, that could indicate malfunctioning of peritoneal macrophages in advanced stages of endometriosis. Conclusion: MCP-1 and C-reactive protein levels in peripheral blood can be used as markers of endometriosis activity