ANTIENDOMETRIAL ANTIBODIES IN WOMEN MEASURED BY AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure anti-endometrial antibody concentrations in the serum of women with en dometriosis. Pooled cytosolic protein extracts from the endometrial gl and cells of 10 women were used as an antigen source, Serum samples we re obtained from women with endometriosis before (n = 51) and after 6 months treatment with danazol or nafarelin (n = 30). Control sera came from women with a normal pelvis at laparoscopy, performed for sterili zation (n = 23) or the investigation of pain and/or infertility (n = 2 2), 13 women with Rokitansky syndrome, and 10 umbilical cord bloods an d adult males. There were no significant differences in serum anti-end ometrial antibody concentrations before and after treatment, or betwee n women with endometriosis and without endometriosis. Concentrations w ere lower in male and cord blood serum than in female's serum (P < 0.0 001). We conclude that the ELISA is not a useful diagnostic tool for e ndometriosis unless more specific antigens can be isolated.