Effect of danazol on the immunocompetent cells in the eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis: a multicenter cooperative study.

Ota H; Igarashi S; Hayakawa M; Matsui T; Tanaka H; Tanaka T

Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.

Fertil Steril, 65(3):545-51 1996 Mar

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of danazol on immunocompetent cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression, and adhesion molecules in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis. DESIGN: Antigens were localized immunohistochemically in the endometria, before treatment and during treatment (2 months later). PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients with laparoscopically proven endometriosis who consented to participate in this study were treated with 400 mg/d of danazol for 4 months. Forty-two infertile patients without endometriosis or adenomyosis served as controls. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly increased expression of the T cell subsets, macrophages, adhesion molecules, and HLA antigens in eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis compared with the infertile group. Treatment with danazol reduced the number of cells in T cell subsets, adhesion molecules, or HLA antigen expression, especially of gamma delta T cells, to 39.5% of the pretreatment value in patients with endometriosis. 
CONCLUSIONS: Danazol had an immunomodulatory effect on the autoimmune response in endometrium associated with endometriosis.