HYALURONAN AND MYELOPEROXIDASE IN HUMAN PERITONEAL-FLUID DURING GENITAL INFLAMMATION

The changes in concentration of hyaluronan (HYA) and myeloperoxidase in peritoneal fluid (PF) were studied during genital intraperitoneal inflammation. PF were collected from 111 women undergoing laparatomy for adhesiolysis and reconstructive surgery of the fallopian tubes, or laparoscopy in search of causes of infertility or low abdominal pain. When the number of leukocytes in the PF had been counted, the fluid samples were centrifuged and the supernatants analyzed for the concentrations of HYA and of myeloperoxidase. During genital inflammation, whether postoperative or postinfectious, leukocytosis and elevated levels of HYA and myeloperoxidase were found in the PF. Concentrations of these substances in the PF may be usable as clinical markers for genital inflammation.