title: Clinical evaluation of CA-125 concentrations as a prognostic factor for pregnancy in infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To extend and confirm earlier observations that serial CA-125 determinations appear to have prognostic value in some infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis using a new automated enzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective consecutive case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based tertiary practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 342 women having a laparoscopy for infertility, 123 (36%) had endometriosis. Fifty-six of 123 (45%) infertile women with endometriosis had preoperative CA-125 values > or = 16 U/mL and were followed for 12 months with serial CA-125 determinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of women achieving a pregnancy within 12 months from surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean preoperative CA-125 concentrations were not statistically different for women conceiving, but mean postoperative CA-125 values were significantly lower for women achieving a pregnancy. Univariate analyses indicated that preoperative CA-125 values between 16-25 U/mL and postoperative CA-125 values < 16 U/mL were associated with significantly higher pregnancy rates. Multivariate analyses of 10 covariables indicated only postoperative CA-125 concentrations to be associated with pregnancy even after controlling for all covariables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a newly developed assay for CA-125, the study confirms and extends earlier observation that CA-125 concentrations have prognostic value for pregnancy in infertile women with surgically treated endometriosis. The findings provide additional support for the clinical use of CA-125 concentrations in selected women with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pittaway
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rondinone
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen