Abstract
FUKAYA, T., SUGAWARA, J., YOSHIDA, H. and YAJIMA, A. The Role of Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor in the Peritoneal Fluid in Infertile Patients with Endometriosis. Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1994, 172 (3), 221-226-Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of 44 infertile patients were measured. The concentration of M-CSF was significantly higher in the patients with endometriosis than in those without endometriosis. There was no significant difference between the M-CSF concentration and stage of endometriosis classified by revised American Fertility Society (rAFS) classification in the 44 patients. However, in primary infertility patients with endometriosis there was a significant correlation between peritoneal M-CSF levels and rAFS points of endometriosis. We speculate that there is some relationship between the increased levels of M-CSF in the peritoneal cavity and the primary infertility associated with endometriosis especially progression of endometriosis.