Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 8 (IL-8) and Plasma Cell-Free Nuclear DNA (ccf nDNA) as Biomarker of Pelvic Endometriosis

Abstract

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION E ndometriosis, an estrogen dependent gynecologic disorder, affects 10% to 15% women of reproductive age from all ethnic and social groups. Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. The degree of endometriosis is staged according to the classification system of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine into minimal, mild, moderate, and severe disease (Fassbender et al., 2013). Endometriosis can be associated with infertility and/or pain symptoms, including cyclic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dysuria, and dyschezia (Sinaii et al., 2008). Endometriosis-associated pain can be caused by peritoneal inflammation, adhesion formation, and specific innervations of endometriotic lesions and is correlated with the presence of deep infiltrating disease (Fassbender et al., 2013). Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) is an adequate diagnostic method to detect ovarian endometriotic cysts but does not rule out peritoneal endometriosis, endometriosis-associated adhesions, or some locations of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) (Kennedy et al., 2005). Furthermore, routine vaginal examination alone may be insufficient to detect endometriosis before laparoscopy (Hudelist et al., 2011).