Thalidomide affects experimental endometriosis: A randomized controlled study in the rat. Issue 8 (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Azimirad, Afshin; Alborzi, Saeed; Kumar, Perikala Vijayananda; Zolghadri, Jaleh; Zarei, Afsoon; Tavana, Zohreh; Azimirad, Mina
• Is Part Of: Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research. Volume 40:Issue 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1989
• Page End: 1997
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.1005
• DOI: 10.1111/jog.12434
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-8076

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jog12434-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>This study aimed to assess the efficacy of thalidomide for treatment of experimental endometriosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12434-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>This study was a parallel‐group, double‐blind, stratified, randomized controlled animal trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Endometriosis was induced experimentally in 23 mature, nulligravid, female Sprague–Dawley rats, weighing approximately 200 g and aged 2 months. A checkpoint surgery was performed 6 weeks later. Then, the rats were randomly allocated into the thalidomide (22 mg/day p.o.) and control (0.5 mL saline 0.9%/day p.o.) groups of nine. After 6 weeks, they were killed. Before each laparotomy, blood for leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and during them, implants for histopathology and peritoneal fluid for interleukin (IL)‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A concentrations (by enzyme‐linked immunoassay) were collected. Allocation and stratified randomization were done using a computer, based on the obtained histopathology scores of the implants of the checkpoint surgery.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12434-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The histopathology scores (the main outcome measure) were 2.00 ± 1.55 versus 0.44 ± 1.01 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.035). The comparisons of after‐treatment counts of leukocytes, lymphocytes, VEGF‐A and IL‐6 between the two groups were statistically significant.</p> </sec> <sec id="jog12434-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The results of this study are in favor of therapeutic implication of thalidomide in experimental endometriosis in rats. This is the first time thalidomide has been evaluated on endometriosis in an animal model.</p> </sec> </abstract>