Urinary Leukotriene (LT)- E4 in Adolescents with Dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Background While prostaglandins have been extensively explored in dysmenorrhea, little is known about the leukotriene (LT) pathway in this common gynecologic complaint of adolescents. We measured levels of urinary LT-E 4 as an index of leukotriene production during the menstrual cycle in adolescents. Methods Urine was obtained from adolescents on days 1 and 5 of their menstrual period as well as on day 10 of the cycle. After extraction and HPLC analysis, EIA was used to measure LT-E 4 . Cox Menstrual Scale was used to asses severity of menstrual symptoms. Results Urine samples of six adolescents (mean age 16 ± 1 years, gynecologic age 4 ± 1 years), 3 with dysmenorrhea (Cox score 50 ± 18), and 3 with eumenorrhea (Cox score 6 ± 2) have been evaluated. When compared to urinary LT-E 4 levels in girls with eumenorrhea, urinary LT-E 4 levels in girls with dysmenorrhea were elevated on both day I (412 ± 192 pg/mg creatinine vs 67 ± 10 pg/mg creatinine, p Conclusions Increase in LTs, inflammatory mediators known to cause potent vasoconstriction and uterine contractions, in girls with dysmenorrhea, indicates the possible involvement of these mediators in generating symptoms of dysmenorrhea in adolescents.