Interleukin-19 and interleukin-22 serum levels are decreased in patients with ovarian endometrioma

Objective: To determine the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10 family ILs in women with ovarian endometriosis and investigate the correlation of these levels with disease activity. Design: A case-control laboratory study. Setting: Tertiary-care university hospital. Patient(s): Two hundred nineteen women, with (n=112) and without (n=107) endometriosis. Intervention(s): Complete surgical excision with pathological analysis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Blood samples were obtained during surgical procedures. IL-10, -19, -20, and -22 were assayed by ELISA in sera, and the concentrations correlated with the extent and the severity of the disease. Result(s): IL-19 was detectable in 18.3% and IL-22 in 47.9% of sera samples from all 219 women studied. Serum IL-19 was lower in women with endometriosis (median, 292.7 pg/mL; range, 32.2-1,339.3) than in endometriosis-free women (median, 1,035.8 pg/mL; range, 32.2-2,000.0). In addition, serum IL-22 levels were decreased in women affected by endometriosis (median, 352.0 pg/mL; range, 31.2-1,392.2) as compared with endometriosis-free women (median, 709.2 pg/mL; range, 73.3-2,012.0). We found significant correlations between serum IL-22 concentrations and intensity of deep dyspareunia (r=-0.303) and noncyclic chronic pelvic pain (r=-0.212). IL-19 was correlated with the intensity of deep dyspareunia (r=-0.749). Conclusion(s): Serum IL-19 and IL-22 are decreased in women with ovarian endometrioma. IL-10 family ILs may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. (Fertil Steril (R) 2013;99:219-26. (C) 2013 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)