Endometriosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Endometriosis, including details on causes, treatment, symptoms, infertility.

Serum antiendometrial antibodies and diagnosis of endometriosis.

Randall GW, Gantt PA, Poe-Zeigler RL, Bergmann CA, Noel ME, Strawbridge WR, Richardson-Cox B, Hereford JR, Reiff RH

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, WVU School of Medicine, Charleston Division, Charleston, WV 23502, USA. realgamete@aol.com

PROBLEM: The purpose of the present prospective multi-center study is to investigate the relationship between laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis and results of a serum antiendometrial antibody (AEA) assay. METHOD OF STUDY: Indirect immunofluorescence detection of AEA was performed on serum specimens from patients presenting with dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain and infertility (n = 2609) utilizing frozen sections of endometrium acquired on cycle days 18-21 from normally cycling women without endometriosis. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed within 1 year of AEA assay on 527 tested women. RESULTS: The relationship between the serum AEA and laparoscopic verification was characterized by a positive predictive value = 88%, negative predictive value = 86%, sensitivity = 87% and specificity = 87%. CONCLUSION: The AEA assay is a very good screening test for patients suspected of having endometriosis and should be utilized prior to laparoscopy in diagnostic categories of dysmenorrhea or chronic pelvic pain and infertility.

Published 11 September 2007 in Am J Reprod Immunol, 58(4): 374-82.
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