IL-8 and IL-12p70 are associated with pelvic pain among infertile women with endometriosis

• Published in: Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) Vol. 24; no. 11; pp. 1262 - 1269
• Main Authors: Rahmawati, Nanda Yuli, Ahsan, Fadhil, Santoso, Budi, Mufid, Alfin Firasy, Sa’adi, Ashon, Dwiningsih, Sri Ratna, Tunjungseto, Arif, Widyanugraha, Muhammad Yohanes Ardianta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-11-2023
• Subjects: Causes of; Complications and side effects; Cytokines; Development and progression; Endometriosis; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Health aspects; IL-1β; Infertility; Infertility, Female; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Measurement; Menstruation; Pain; Pelvic pain; Peritoneal fluid; Peritoneum; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Indonesia; endometriosis; cytokines; pelvic pain; infertility
• ISSN: 1526-2375; 1526-4637
• DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad080

Abstract
Objective
To evaluate interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12p70 levels in serum and peritoneal fluid in women related to infertility and pelvic pain.
Methods
Eighty-seven women were diagnosed with endometriosis or cases related to infertility. IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12p70 levels in serum and peritoneal fluid were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pain assessment was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score.
Results
Serum IL-6 and IL-12p70 levels increased in women with endometriosis compared to the control group. Serum and peritoneal IL-8 and IL-12p70 levels correlated with VAS scores in infertile women. A positive correlation was also found between peritoneal IL-1β and IL-6 with VAS score. A significant difference in peritoneal IL-1β levels was associated with menstrual pelvic pain, while peritoneal IL-8 levels were related to dyspareunia, menstrual, and post-menstrual pelvic pain in infertile women.
Conclusions
An association of IL-8 and IL-12p70 levels were related to pain in endometriosis, as well as a relationship between cytokine expression and VAS score. Further studies should be addressed to investigate the precise mechanism of cytokine-related pain in endometriosis.