SERUM TETRANECTIN IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID) - CORRELATION TO CLINICAL AND LABORATORY FINDINGS

Aim of study. To clarify the impact of the presence of pelvic inflamma tory disease (PID) and activation of the acute phase response on the s erum level of tetranectin (Se-TN), a potential new tumor marker for ov arian cancer. Material and methods. The study group consisted of 70 pa tients with a laparoscopically verified PID and 47 healthy female cont rols. Results. Lower Se-TN levels were found for the PID group compare d to the control group (p<0.0001). It was not possible to relate the d ecreases in Se-TN levels to any distinct bacterial strain. Neither was it possible to find any correlation between Se-TN and severity of PID (p=0.5). A significant positive correlation was found between Se-TN a nd ALE (p<0.001). A just significant negative correlation was found be tween Se-TN and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p=0.04), while no correlatio n was found with any of the other acute phase reactants. Highly signif icant correlations were found between all the acute phase reactants an d grade of PID. Conclusions. A slight, but significant reduction in Se -TN was found in PID patients. The decrease was minor compared to the reported findings of very low Se-TN levels for ovarian cancer patients . However, the finding is important in the assessment of TN used as a potential screening marker for ovarian cancer, or as a diagnostic tool for pelvic tumors. Furthermore, Se-TN does not seem to behave as a ne gative acute phase reactant.