Women with endometriosis more likely to experience disrupted iron metabolism

Researchers from the Medical University of Lublin in Poland investigated iron metabolism markers and their influence on oxidative stress parameters in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. Their findings were published in the journal Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine.

• The role of peritoneal fluid free radical-mediated oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of endometriosis is of scientific interest, but data on it remain inconsistent.
• To address this, the researchers recruited 110 women with endometriosis and 119 patients with benign ovarian cysts for their study.
• They collected all visible peritoneal fluid in the anterior and posterior cul-de-sacs of the patients during laparoscopy.
• They then measured hemoglobin, iron, total oxidative status and total antioxidant status using standard colorimetric kits.
• The researchers reported that while hemoglobin, iron levels and total oxidative status values were significantly higher in the peritoneal fluids of patients with endometriosis than in fluids from the reference group, total antioxidant values were lower.
• They observed no differences in peritoneal fluid concentrations of all parameters measured in relation to the phase of menstrual cycle.
• The peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis is characterized by disrupted iron metabolism; the researchers believe it is likely related to an increase in erythrocytes in the peritoneal cavity, which leads to a high concentration of hemoglobin.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that impaired iron homeostasis may have a significant influence on the pathophysiology of peritoneal endometriosis due to the impact of hemoglobin derivatives and the formation of pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative environment.

Journal Reference:

Polak G, Barczynski B, Wertel I, Kwasniewski W, Bednarek W, Derewianka-Polak M, Fraszczak K, Olajossy M, Kotarski J. DISRUPTED IRON METABOLISM IN PERITONEAL FLUID MAY INDUCE OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE PERITONEAL CAVITY OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2018;25(4):587–592. DOI: 10.26444/aaem/75802