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Iron May Play Role In Endometriosis

Iron overload has been observed in the cellular and peritoneal fluid compartments of the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis, report Belgian researchers.

These iron deposits seem to be related to the presence of lesions, suggesting iron may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, report Dr A Van Langendonckt and colleagues from the Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels.

Seventy patients undergoing laparoscopy participated in this prospective study in the Department of Gynecology of a university hospital. Researchers collected peritoneal fluid (n = 57), blood samples, and biopsy samples from endometrium (n = 62) and from endometriotic (n = 33) and normal-appearing peritoneum (n = 53).

Primary outcome was measurement of iron and ferritin in serum and peritoneal fluid and staining of iron deposits with Prussian blue in tissues.

The researchers found iron and ferritin concentrations were significantly higher in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis as compared with controls during the secretory phase.

Higher rates of ferritin and hemosiderin deposits were seen in the peritoneum adjacent to red (100 percent), black (57 percent) and white (62 percent) lesions as compared with normal-appearing peritoneum (25 percent).

Although iron deposits were more frequent during the secretory than the proliferative phase in healthy peritoneum from control subjects, they were found throughout the cycle in the vicinity of lesions in endometriosis patients.

Similar rates of iron deposition were observed in the stroma of black and white lesions and in eutopic endometrium from the endometriosis patients with endometriosis.
Fertil Steril 2002 Oct;78(4):712. "Iron overload in the peritoneal cavity of women with pelvic endometriosis."

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