SERUM AND PERITONEAL CA-125 LEVELS AS DIAGNOSTIC-TEST FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of CA-125 in the diagnosis of endometriosis and to compare the sensitivity of the serum and the peritoneal test as indicator of disease. Study design: Peritoneal flui d was obtained at laparoscopy. The quantitative determination of CA-12 5 in serum and in peritoneal fluid was performed by IRMA-mat CA-125 't wo-step method', a two-site immunoradiometric assay, using 35 and 60 U /ml as cutoff. Setting: Second Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Second University of Naples, Italy. Participants: A total of 26 wome n infertile undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy that exhibited endometri osis in 14 patients, normal pelvis in 12 patients (control group). Int erventions: None. Results: CA-125 levels in peritoneal fluid were high er than those found in serum and were significantly elevated (P < 0.05 ), when compared with the control group, both in women with endometrio sis stage I-II and stage III-IV. In serum, CA-125 levels increased onl y in advanced stage of endometriosis. Conclusions: Levels of CA-125 in peritoneal fluid seem to be a more sensitive indicator of disease tha n serum levels (0.86 vs. 0.36), especially in early stage endometriosi s (0.80 vs. 0.20) which tends to be overlooked by the CA-125 serum tes t.