THE DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC VALUES OF THE QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF ENDOMETRIOSIS PROTEIN 1 GENE EXPRESSION IN TISSUE AND LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATION AND CA-125 IN SERUM IN WOMEN WITH PELVIC ENDOMETRIOSIS RECEIVING GNRH AGONISTS (GOSERELIN ACETATE): A COMPARATIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue in ectopic foci• outside the uterus. Despite being arguably the most frequent gynecological indication for either hormonal or surgical therapy, the pathophysiology and the association of endometriosis with pain and infertility remain poorly understood. I With the currently available endoscopic techniques, the diagnosis of endometriosis is based almost exclusively on the visual appearance of peritoneal implants.

CA-125 is a high molecular weight glycoprotein that is expressed on the cell surface of some derivatives of embryonic coelomic-epithelium. Its serum concentrations are elevated in patients with advanced endometriosis, and various investigators have attempted to use this antigen in the preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis.

We as well as numerous previous investigators have shown that although CA-125 is not specific to endometriosis, yet measurement of its serum levels can document the diagnosis of endometriosis, aid in staging of the disease and be helpful in monitoring the response to suppression by GnRH agonists. CA- 125 can also be used to detect the recurrence of