title: Serum antiendometrial antibodies and diagnosis of endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present prospective multi-center study is to investigate the relationship between laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis and results of a serum antiendometrial antibody (AEA) assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indirect immunofluorescence detection of AEA was performed on serum specimens from patients presenting with dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain and infertility (n = 2609) utilizing frozen sections of endometrium acquired on cycle days 18-21 from normally cycling women without endometriosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed within 1 year of AEA assay on 527 tested women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relationship between the serum AEA and laparoscopic verification was characterized by a positive predictive value = 88%, negative predictive value = 86%, sensitivity = 87% and specificity = 87%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The AEA assay is a very good screening test for patients suspected of having endometriosis and should be utilized prior to laparoscopy in diagnostic categories of dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain and infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WVU School of Medicine, Charleston Division, Charleston, WV 23502, USA. realgamete@aol.com
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Pickens A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gantt
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Poe-Zeigler
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Marshall E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Noel
authors.forename: Wendy R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Strawbridge
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richardson-Cox
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hereford
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Reiff
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies