title: Update on Biomarkers for the Detection of Endometriosis.
abstract: Endometriosis is histologically characterized by the displacement of endometrial tissue to extrauterine locations including the pelvic peritoneum, ovaries, and bowel. An important cause of infertility and pelvic pain, the individual and global socioeconomic burden of endometriosis is significant. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of the condition. However, the invasive nature of surgery, coupled with the lack of a laboratory biomarker for the disease, results in a mean latency of 7-11 years from onset of symptoms to definitive diagnosis. Unfortunately, the delay in diagnosis may have significant consequences in terms of disease progression. The discovery of a sufficiently sensitive and specific biomarker for the nonsurgical detection of endometriosis promises earlier diagnosis and prevention of deleterious sequelae and represents a clear research priority. In this review, we describe and discuss the current status of biomarkers of endometriosis in plasma, urine, and endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leuven University Fertility Centre, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Amelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fassbender
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Clinical Investigation, Madigan Healthcare System, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA.
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Burney
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leuven University Fertility Centre, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dorien F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: O
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Leuven University Fertility Centre, University Hospital Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Nairobi 00 100, Kenya.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94015, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giudice
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers