title: Factors influencing serum CA 125 levels in normal women.
abstract: Serum CA 125 levels were studied in 2544 healthy women. Menopausal status and a history of hysterectomy were both highly significant influences on the CA 125 level (P less than .0001 for both factors). A history of hormone replacement therapy was also highly significant in reducing CA 125 levels (P = .002) in postmenopausal women. Other factors such as parity, history of unilateral oophorectomy or oral contraceptive usage, or family history of ovarian cancer were not significant influences when analysis of covariance was performed. When premenopausal women were assessed separately, age was significant (P = .04). The number of years since menopause did not influence CA 125 levels. Both hysterectomy and menopausal status have a clear effect on serum CA 125 levels and must be considered if serum CA 125 is to be used as a screening test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Melbourne University, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weideman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor