Serum antiendometrial antibodies and diagnosis of endometriosis.
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.
Randall
Gary W
GW
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WVU School of Medicine, Charleston Division, Charleston, WV 23502, USA. realgamete@aol.com
Gantt
Pickens A
PA
Poe-Zeigler
Robin L
RL
Bergmann
Cynthia A
CA
Noel
Marshall E
ME
Strawbridge
Wendy R
WR
Richardson-Cox
Barbara
B
Hereford
John R
JR
Reiff
Robert H
RH
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
D001323:Autoantibodies