Inaam Faisal Mohammed
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine College, University of Diyala
Enas Jaleel Alobaidy
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine College, University of Diyala
Raakad Kamel Saadi
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicine College, University of Diyala
ABSTRACT
Background: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, leading to pain, infertility, and immune dysregulation. The peritoneal microenvironment, particularly inflammatory cytokines and adipokines, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of peritoneal fluid leptin and interleukin-15 (IL-15) as biomarkers in women with pelvic endometriosis and investigate their association with disease severity and inflammatory response. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 80 women, including 40 patients diagnosed with pelvic endometriosis (confirmed via laparoscopy) and 40 age-matched healthy controls. Peritoneal fluid samples were collected during laparoscopy and analyzed for leptin and IL-15 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlations between leptin, IL-15, and disease severity (based on the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine [r-ASRM] classification) were statistically analyzed. Results: Significantly elevated leptin and IL-15 levels were observed in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). Leptin levels correlated positively with disease severity (r = 0.72, p < 0.001), suggesting its involvement in angiogenesis and endometrial cell survival. IL-15 showed a strong association (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) with immune modulation and chronic inflammation, indicating its potential role in endometriotic lesion persistence. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that both leptin and IL-15 have high diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.85) in distinguishing endometriosis patients from healthy individuals. Conclusion: The findings suggest that leptin and IL-15 may serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosing and assessing the severity of pelvic endometriosis. Their involvement in immune dysregulation and inflammatory pathways highlights the potential for targeted therapeutic strategies. Further research is warranted to explore their role in endometriosis-related infertility and treatment response.
Keywords: Endometriosis, Peritoneal Fluid, Leptin, Interleukin-15, And Biomarkers.
