Interleukin-8 serum levels do not correlate with pelvic pain in patients with ovarian endometriomas

Objective

To determine whether interleukin-8 (IL-8) serum levels are correlated with pelvic pain in patients with ovarian endometriomas.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Tertiary-care university hospital.

Patient(s)

Interleukin-8 serum levels were prospectively analyzed in 51 patients (group A, asymptomatic patients or patients with mild dysmenorrhea; group B, severe dysmenorrhea and/or chronic pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia) who underwent surgery for cystic ovarian endometriosis to asses whether a correlation exists between IL-8 serum levels and pelvic pain.

Intervention(s)

Interleukin-8 serum levels determination.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Interleukin-8 serum levels and pelvic pain.

Result(s)

From 56 patients, five cases were ultimateley excluded because the histologic diagnosis was not cystic ovarian endometriosis (2 teratomas and 3 haemorragic cysts). The mean (±SD) IL-8 serum levels in group A were 6.41 ± 12.17 pg/mL and in group B were 6.52 ± 8.73 pg/mL.

Conclusion(s)

Pain symptoms in ovarian endometriosis is not correlated with IL-8 serum levels.

Key Words: IL-8, ovarian endometriosis, pelvic pain