title: A comparison between serum levels of interleukin-6 and CA125 in patients with endometriosis and normal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to compare the serum levels of IL6 and CA125 in women with and without endometriosis. They were also compared in mild, moderate and severe cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, CA125 and IL6 levels in 76 women with laparoscopic proven endometriosis were compared with 76 women without evidence of endometriosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were then calculated for each test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups did not show significant difference in their age, BMI, ESR and gravidity. Mean serum levels of IL-6 and CA125 were significantly higher in the case group (30.4±6.43 vs 13.9±3.17 Pg/ml and 62.6±10.69 vs 16.6±1.79 IU/ml respectively). Considering a cutoff point of 30 Pg/ml for IL-6, sensitivity, specifically, PPV and NPV value of 21.1%, 66.6%, 86.8% and 23.37% were obtained, respectively. Considering a cutoff point of 35 IU/ml for CA125, sensitivity, specifically, PPV and NPV were 44.76%, 94.73%, 89.47% and 63.15%, respectively. Area under the ROC curve was 0.69 for CA125 and 0.54 for IL6, which showed a low value for these tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although CA125 and IL-6 were higher than normal controls in endometriosis, area under the ROC curve, did not show significant any diagnostic value for these tests.
authors.affiliation: MD, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. maryamkashanian@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashanian
authors.affiliation: MD, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. drelaheh_sariri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sariri
authors.affiliation: MD, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mansoureh_vahdat@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vahdat
authors.affiliation: MD, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. lili_wantstheworldquiet911@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmari
authors.affiliation: MSc, Department of Epidemiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. yousefmoradi211@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: MSc Student of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. narges_sheikhansari@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheikhansari
keywords: CA125; Cytokines; Endometriosis; Interleukin 6