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Abstract

Peritoneal fluid (PF) was studied for the presence of endometrial tissue in a consecutive series of 67 women (with documented tubal patency) undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy, tubal lavage, and hysteroscopy. PF was completely aspirated from the cul-de-sac both before and after uterine irrigation. The PF was then analyzed for the presence of endometrial tissue. In native PF no significant difference in the incidence of endometrial tissue between patients with (19%) and without (11%) endometriosis (P = 0.6) was observed. Refluxed PF, obtained after uterine irrigation, showed a significantly higher incidence of endometrial tissue in women with endometriosis (76%) as compared to controls (42%) (P = 0.03). We propose two models to explain the development of endometriosis. These are not mutually exclusive, may be independent of each other, and may represent two distinct pathophysiologic disease processes.

Topics

Endometriosis > Pathophysiology > Retrograde MenstruationEndometriosis > Diagnostics > Peritoneal Fluid AnalysisResearch Methodology > Observational Study > Consecutive Case Series
endometrial tissue peritoneal fluid retrograde menstruation, peritoneal fluid endometrial cells endometriosis pathogenesis, retrograde menstruation endometriosis development model, Bartosik endometrial tissue peritoneal fluid laparoscopy, cul-de-sac peritoneal fluid endometrial tissue incidence, tubal reflux endometrial tissue endometriosis pathophysiology, diagnostic laparoscopy peritoneal fluid analysis endometriosis, Sampson theory retrograde menstruation endometrial implantation, endometriosis two disease process models pathophysiology, uterine irrigation tubal patency endometrial reflux
PMID 3780999 3780999 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)49813-4 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)49813-4

Cite this article

Bartosik, D., Jacobs, S. L., & Kelly, L. J. (1986). Endometrial tissue in peritoneal fluid. *Fertility and sterility*, *46*(5), 796-800. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)49813-4

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Ascitic Fluid/pathology, Endometriosis/pathology, Endometrium/cytology, Female, Humans

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