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. (Fertil Steril(R) 2010;94:450-2. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)