Efficacy of imiquimod, an immunomodulatory agent, on experimental endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of imiquimod on endometriosis.

DESIGN

Randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, experimental study.

SETTING

Experimental surgery laboratory at a university in Turkey.

ANIMAL(S): Thirty Wistar female rats.

INTERVENTION(S): After the peritoneal implantation of endometrial tissue, rats were randomized to two equal intervention groups: [1] the control group and [2] the imiquimod group. Six weeks later, after implant volume was measured (volume 1) by performing a second laparotomy, imiquimod (10 mg intraperitoneally per rat, 2 times per wk) was administered to the imiquimod group, and saline solution (0.1 mL SC, once per wk), to the control group, for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, a third laparotomy was performed to remeasure implant volumes (volume 2), and implants were totally excised for histopathologic examination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): To compare volume 1 and volume 2 within the groups, as well as stromal and glandular tissues between the groups.

RESULT(S): In the imiquimod group, volume 2 was statistically significantly reduced compared with volume 1, whereas there was no significant volume change in the control group. In the imiquimod group, when compared with the control group, both glandular and stromal tissues had statistically significantly lessened.

CONCLUSION(S): Imiquimod was seen to regress significantly both the size and the histological structure of endometriotic implants.