Urinary peptide profiling identifies a panel of putative biomarkers for diagnosing and staging endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify a potential diagnostic endometriosis marker using matrix-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS)-based urinary proteomics.


METHODS
Prospective randomized pilot study.


METHODS
University hospital, tertiary referral center for endometriosis.


METHODS
53 women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for pain and/or infertility comprising 30 women without endometriosis and 23 with endometriosis.


METHODS
Laparoscopy and urine specimens.


METHODS
Urinary peptide profiles.


RESULTS
We observed distinct patterns of peptide profiles in the urine samples of women presenting with typical clinical symptoms of endometriosis. Six statistically significant putative peptide markers were identified (four during the periovulatory phase and two during the luteal phase) by comparing controls with moderate/severe endometriosis patients. The periovulatory peptide mass of 1,767.1 Da and the luteal peptide mass of 1,824.3 Da both showed a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 85% and 71%, respectively. Also detected were seven peptide markers (two during the periovulatory phase and five during the luteal phase) by comparing the urinary peptide profiles of patients with minimal/mild to moderate/severe endometriosis. The periovulatory peptide mass of 3,280.9 Da and the luteal peptide mass of 1,933.8 Da showed a sensitivity of 82% and 75% and a specificity of 88% and 75%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary proteomic analysis may provide a novel method of diagnosing and staging endometriosis.
Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford,Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Muna M
MM
El-Kasti
Cynthia
C
Wright
Haddy K S
HK
Fye
Fenella
F
Roseman
Benedikt M
BM
Kessler
Christian M
CM
Becker
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D018450:Disease Progression; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D010455:Peptides