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Serum Antiendometrial Antibodies and Diagnosis of Endometriosis
Author(s) -
Randall Gary W.,
Gantt Pickens A.,
PoeZeigler Robin L.,
Bergmann Cynthia A.,
Noel Marshall E.,
Strawbridge Wendy R.,
RichardsonCox Barbara,
Hereford John R.,
Reiff Robert H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2007.00523.x
Subject(s) - endometriosis , medicine , pelvic pain , infertility , laparoscopy , predictive value , prospective cohort study , gynecology , antibody , positive predicative value , endometrium , immunofluorescence , gastroenterology , urology , obstetrics , surgery , pregnancy , immunology , biology , genetics
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.