title: Serum YKL-40 levels as a novel marker of inflammation in patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish serum YKL-40 concentrations in patients with endometriosis compared to age-matched healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional clinical study conducted in a tertiary care center. Demographics and serum YKL levels were determined and noted in a total of 63 cases (33 endometriosis patients, 30 healthy controls). Measurement of YKL-40 levels was made using a YKL-40 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit according to the manufacturer's protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum YKL-40 levels of the patient group was 106.0 +/- 15.9 (range 23.44 to 382.55) years, while the mean serum YKL-40 levels of the controls was 52.2 +/- 7.0 (range 22.35 to 160.0) years (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study evaluating serum YKL-40 levels in endometriosis. The present results indicate that YKL-40 levels were increased in patients with endometriosis compared to controls. The authors propose that circulating YKL-40 levels could be a novel biomarker for diagnosis and follow-up of endometriosis.
authors.forename: U Mete
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Ural
authors.forename: Y Bayoğlu
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cüre
authors.forename: F Kir
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Şahin
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D037102:Lectins