C5a Serum Levels in Patients with Endometriosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Endometriosis (EM) is a gynecological disorder that presents significant immune dysregulation in its pathophysiology. Recent studies indicate that the Complement System may play a significant role in the immune processes involved in peritoneal clearance and inflammation in EM patients. C5a is a potent anaphylatoxin molecule of complement associated with the development of inflammatory disorders, however its possible impact on EM development requires further investigation. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of serum C5a in women with EM and to investigate its possible association with severity, symptoms, age and the timing of infertility. Ninety-four patients with EM (from stage I to IV) and 50 healthy controls were assessed for C5a serum levels. Clinical and demographic data were included in the analysis. C5a serum levels were higher in patients with EM than in controls (39.5 ng/mL vs. 26.0 ng/mL; p < .0001), but not different between the EM stages. No association was observed between C5a serum concentration and the presence of symptoms, age, symptom time or infertility time. The C5a serum levels were higher in patients with EM than in controls but not associated with the severity or clinical findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Autoimmunity
• complement system proteins
• endometriosis
• inflammation
• pathophysiology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

All the authors conceived and carried out the study; FAA and RN organized and analyzed data. All authors were involved in writing the paper and had final approval of the submitted and published versions.

Consent to participate

All participants signed an informed consent.

Ethics approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

This study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research of Faculdade Evangélica Mackenzie de Medicina, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, which can be contacted by the telephone number+55 (41) 3240–5570 or by e-mail [email protected].

Transparency declaration

The authors claim that this manuscript is an honest, accurate and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned (and, if relevant, registered) have been explained.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.