Efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy on endometriosis in an experimental rat model.

Objective: To show the efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy (etanercept) for treating endometriosis in an experimental model.

Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study using rat endometriosis model.

Setting: Experimental research center of Ankara Education and Research Hospital.

Animal(s): Twenty-two Wistar female rats.

Intervention(s): After peritoneal implantation of endometrial tissue, rats were randomized to two equal intervention groups: control and etanercept-treated groups. After measuring implant volume, blood and peritoneal fluid samples were obtained. Vehicle treatments of 2 mL saline to rats in control and 0.4 mg/kg etanercept SC once weekly were administered in treatment group. Four weeks later, a third laparotomy was performed to remeasure implant volumes, blood, and peritoneal fluid samples.

Main Outcome Measure(s): To compare spherical volume, peritoneal fluid and serum levels of VEGF, IL-6, and TNF-α between groups.

Result(s): There was a significant difference in spherical volume between control [131.0 (60.3-501.2)] and treatment groups [72.8 (31.2-149.6)] (p < 0.025). In etanercept-treated group, a significant difference was found between peritoneal fluid and serum levels of VEGF, IL-6, and TNF-α (p < 0.01).

Conclusion(s): These results indicate that etanercept was found to effectively reduce the development of endometriosis.