Clinical significance of determination of changes of serum EMAb, IL-2, IL-2R and VEGF levels in patients with endometriosis

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the progress of the disease process and changes of serum antiendome-trium antibody (EMAb), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with endometriosis. Methods: Serum EMAb (with ELISA) and VEGF, IL-2, IL-2R (with RIA) levels were measured in 45 patients with endometriosis both before and after treatment as well as in 35 controls. Results: Before treatment with integrated traditional and western medicine, the positive rate of serum EMAb were significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than that in the controls (P<0.01), The serum VEGF, IL-2R levels were also significantly higher in the patients and the serum IL-2 levels were significantly lower in the patients than those in the controls (P all<0.01). After treatment for three parameters were corrected and were not significantly different from those in controls (P>0.05). Conclusion: Determination of changes of serum EMAb, IL-2, IL-2R and VEGF levels in patients with endometriosis were helpful for assessment of the progress of disease process and outcome prediction. (authors)