INTRODUÇÃO: Aventa-se a hipótese de quepacientes com endometriose poderiam apresentar risco elevado para doenças cardiovasculares. Existe, porém, controvérsia quanto ao perfil lipídico observado nessas pacientes. OBJETIVOS: avaliar os marcadores de risco cardiovascular associados à endometriose, comparando-se o efeito sobre eles de dois diferentes tratamentos para esta doença: Sistema Intra-uterino liberador de levonorgestrel (SIU-LNG) e o análogo do GnRH na forma de depósito (aGnRH). Marcadores inflamatórios, parâmetros clínicos e avaliação lipídica foram utilizados como marcadores de risco cardiovascular. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Quarenta pacientes entre 18 e 40 anos, com diagnóstico laparoscópico de endometriose, foram randomizadas para receber tratamento com SIU-LNG (n=22) e com o aGnRH (n=18), durante 6 meses. Foram avaliados o índice de massa corporal, a freqüência cardíaca, as pressões arteriais sistólica e diastólica, além dos seguintes parâmetros laboratoriais: lipidograma (colesterol total (CT), HDL-colesterol (HDL-C), LDL-colesterol (LDL-C), triglicérides (TGL)), interleucina-6 (IL-6), proteína C reativa (PCR), homocisteína, molécula de adesão decélula vascular (VCAM), fator de necrose tumoral ?(TNF-?) e contagem de leucócitos (LCT), sendo realizados no início e após seis meses de tratamento. RESULTADOS: no grupo do SIU-LNG, houve redução dos níveis do VCAM (92,8 ± 4,2ng/mL para 91,2 ± 2,7ng/mL, p=0,04), PCR (0,38 ± 0,30mg/dL para 0,28 ± 0,21mg/dL, p=0,03), CT (247,0 ± 85,0 mg/dL para 180,0 ± 31,0 mg/dL, p=0,0002), TGL (118,0 ± 76,0 mg/dL para 86,5 ± 41,5 mg/dL,p=0,003), LDL-C (160,5 + 66,0mg/dL para 114,5 + 25,5mg/dL, p=0,0005) e HDL-C (63,0 + 20,5mg/dL para 48,5 + 10,5mg/Dl, p=0,002). No grupo do aGnRH, houve aumento da homocisteína (11,5 + 2,9 µmol/L para 13,0 + 2,7µmol/L, p=0,04) e diminuição dos níveis de IL-6 (4,3 + 3,9pg/mL para 2,3 + 0,8pg/mL, p=0,005), VCAM (94,0 + 3,8ng/mL para 92,0 + 1,6ng/mL, p=0,03) e LCT (7330 + 2554 para 6350 + 1778, p=0,01). Esse estudo mostra que alguns marcadores de risco cardiovascular são influenciados por ambos aGnRH e SIU-LNG, mas esse último reduz mais os níveis lipídicos e pode ter efeitos mais favoráveis em longo prazo.

The aim of this prospective and controlled study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk markers associated with endometriosis and the influence of the levonorgestrel intra-uterine system (LNG-IUS) compared with the GnRH analogue (GnRHa) leuprolide acetate on these risks after six monthsof treatment. Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, open clinical study, with44 patients with laparoscopically and histologically confirmed endometriosis. Patients were randomized into two groups: LNG-IUS group, 22 patients submittedto LNG-IUS insertion, and GnRHa group, 22 patients who received a monthly GnRHa injection for six months. Body mass index, systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure, heart rate and laboratory cardiovascular risk markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine (HMC), lipid profile, total leucocytes, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) were measured before and six months after treatment. Results: in the LNG-IUS group, there was reduction of the levels of VCAM(92.8 +4.2 to 91.2+2.7 ng/mL, p = 0.04), CRP (0.38+0.30 to 0.28+0.21 mg/dL, p = 0.03), total cholesterol (247.0+85.0 to 180.0+31.0 mg/dL, p = 0.0002), triglycerides (118.0+ 76.0 to 86.5+41.5 mg/dL, p = 0.003), LDL (160.5+66.0 to 114.5+25.5 mg/dL, p = 0.0005) and HDL (63.0+20.5 to 48.5+10.5 mg/dL, p = 0.002). The GnRHa group showed an increase of HMC levels (11.5+2.9 to 13.0+2.7 µmol/L, p = 0.04) and a reduction of IL-6 levels (4.3+3.9 to 2.3+0.8 pg/mL, p = 0.005), VCAM (94.0+3.8 to 92.0+1.6 ng/mL, p = 0.03) and total leucocytes (7330+2554 to 6350+1778, p = 0.01). Conclusions: This study shows that some cardiovascular risk markers are influenced by both GnRHa and LNG-IUS,but the latter had a greater positive impact on the lipid profile, which could lead to a favorable effect during long-term treatment.