title: Non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis based on a combined analysis of six plasma biomarkers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lack of a non-invasive diagnostic test contributes to the long delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined performance of six potential plasma biomarkers in the diagnosis of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted in 294 infertile women, consisting of 93 women with a normal pelvis and 201 women with endometriosis. We measured plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and cancer antigens CA-125 and CA-19-9. Analyses were done using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, receiver operator characteristic, stepwise logistic regression and least squares support vector machines (LSSVM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8 and CA-125 were increased in all women with endometriosis and in those with minimal-mild endometriosis, compared with controls. In women with moderate-severe endometriosis, plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8 and CA-125, but also of hsCRP, were significantly higher than in controls. Using stepwise logistic regression, moderate-severe endometriosis was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 100% (specificity 84%) and minimal-mild endometriosis was detected with a sensitivity of 87% (specificity 71%) during the secretory phase. Using LSSVM analysis, minimal-mild endometriosis was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 94% (specificity 61%) during the secretory phase and with a sensitivity of 92% (specificity 63%) during the menstrual phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced statistical analysis of a panel of six selected plasma biomarkers on samples obtained during the secretory phase or during menstruation allows the diagnosis of both minimal-mild and moderate-severe endometriosis with high sensitivity and clinically acceptable specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven University Fertility Centre, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihalyi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kyama
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simsa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pochet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Moor
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blanckaert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vodolazkaia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fulop
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein