Objective: To determine the possible role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Design: The lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of autologous endometrial cells was assayed by tritiated thymidine incorporation.
Setting: Patients were recruited from a university outpatient clinic.
Main outcome measure: To determine the lymphocyte proliferative response to endometrium in controls and patients with endometriosis.
Participants: Twenty patients with endometriosis and 26 control women were studied.
Results: The lymphocyte proliferative response in the presence of autologous endometrium was significantly lower in women with endometriosis when compared with controls.
Conclusion: This study indicates that an altered lymphocyte/endometrial cell relationship is operational in women with endometriosis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.