OBJECTIVE:

To establish a novel serum marker for endometriosis, serum autoantibodies (autoAbs) were investigated using a proteomic approach.

DESIGN:

Retrospective study.

SETTING:

Departments of Molecular Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology in Ehime University and University Hospital.

PATIENT(S):

Sixty-nine patients with endometriosis, 38 disease control patients without endometriosis, and 44 healthy volunteers.

INTERVENTION(S):

Autoantibodies in sera of endometriotic patients and healthy controls were investigated using a human fibroblast cell line, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and Western blotting. Proteins in reacted spots were identified using MALDI time of flight mass spectrometry with MASCOT analysis. ELISAs were established using recombinant proteins, and autoAb-titers were estimated in sera of endometriotic patients and controls.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

Identification of serum autoAb useful for diagnosis of endometriosis.

RESULT(S):

Several autoAbs were identified. ELISAs were established and serum autoAb titers were estimated. Among those identified, anti-PDIK1L-autoAb levels were significantly elevated in endometriotic patients. Sensitivity (59.4%) and accuracy (72.8%) of serum anti-PDIK1L-autoAb assay were better than those of serum CA125 levels (36.2% and 62.9%, respectively) in diagnosis of endometriosis. Additionally, anti-PDIK1L-autoAb could detect endometriotic patients in early stages.

CONCLUSION(S):

Serum anti-PDIK1L-autoAb can be a new serum marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis. This study validates further clinical evaluation of this novel marker.

Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.