title: Serum markers for the noninvasive diagnosis of endometriosis.
abstract: Endometriosis is a disease that affects millions of women worldwide and its diagnosis is still challenging. Medical history, symptoms together with imaging data may address the correct diagnosis, but the gold standard remains laparoscopic assessment with histological confirmation. The development of serum markers as diagnostic tools for endometriosis may allow a prompt and noninvasive diagnosis. Several serum biomarkers have been investigated over the years, but none of these have shown a clinical utility and nowadays the more realistic diagnostic biomarker consists in a panel of biomarkers. The recent introduction of new technologies such as genomics and proteomics may represent the future perspective of endometriosis diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Molecular & Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico 'Le Scotte' Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Molecular & Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico 'Le Scotte' Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinzauti
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Molecular & Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico 'Le Scotte' Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Regini
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Molecular & Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico 'Le Scotte' Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D038681:Follistatin
keywords: CA-15.3; CA-19.9; activins; combined tests; cytokines; endometrioma; endometriosis; follistatin; serum markers; urocortin