Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment reduced serum interleukin-6 concentrations in patients with ovarian endometriomas

To determine whether serum interleukin (IL)-6 can be measured in patients with ovarian endometriomas and whether these measurements are useful in managing this disease. A controlled clinical study and an in vitro study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University, Japan. Twenty-two patients with ovarian endometriomas. Laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas was performed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was administered for 3 months in nine patients before laparoscopic surgery. Endometriotic stromal cells obtained from patients with endometriomas with or without GnRH agonist treatment were cultured. IL-6 concentrations in serum or supernatant of the cell culture were measured using ELISA. The serum concentration of IL-6 in patients with endometriomas was higher at the time of diagnosis than in those without endometriomas. Laparoscopic surgery significantly reduced serum levels of IL-6. Serum IL-6 concentrations also decreased after treatment with GnRH agonist. IL-6 production was attenuated in the endometriotic stromal cells obtained from patients with GnRH agonist treatment compared with patients without such treatment. GnRH agonist treatment may decrease IL-6 production in endometriotic cells. Measurement of serum IL-6 concentrations may be of value in managing patients with endometriomas.