Serum galectin-9 as a noninvasive biomarker for the detection of endometriosis and pelvic pain or infertility-related gynecologic disorders

Brubel R, Réka Brubel, Reka Brubel, Bokor A, Attila Bokor, Akos Pohl, Ákos Pohl, Pohl A, Schilli GK, Gabriella Krisztina Schilli, Gabriella Schilli, László Szereday, Laszlo Szereday, Bacher-Szamuel R, Reka Bacher-Szamuel, János Rigó, Rigo J Jr, Janos Rigo, Polgar B, Beáta Polgár, Beata Polgar
Fertility and sterility · 2017 · vol. 108(6) , pp. 1016–1025.e2 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.09.008 · PMID:29202955 · W2775080747
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This study investigated serum galectin-9 as a potential noninvasive biomarker for detecting endometriosis and gynecologic disorders associated with pelvic pain or infertility.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the usefulness of soluble galectin-9 (Gal-9) in the noninvasive laboratory diagnosis of endometriosis and various gynecologic disorders.DesignProspective case-control study.SettingUniversity medical centers.Patient(s)A total of 135 women of reproductive age were involved in the study, 77 endometriosis patients, 28 gynecologic controls, and 30 healthy women.Intervention(s)Diagnostic laparoscopy and collection of tissue biopsies, peritoneal cells, and native peripheral blood from different case groups of gynecology patients and healthy women.Main outcome measure(s)The expression of mRNA and serum concentration of Gal-9.Result(s)Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and serum soluble Gal-9 ELISA were performed on three different cohorts of patients: those with endometriosis, those with benign gynecologic disorders, and healthy controls. Differences in the Gal-9 concentrations between the investigated groups and the stability of Gal-9 in the serum and diagnostic characteristics of Gal-9 ELISA were determined by statistical evaluation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Significantly elevated Gal-9 levels were found in both minimal-mild (I-II) and moderate-severe (III-IV) stages of endometriosis in comparison with healthy controls. At a cutoff of 132 pg/mL, ROC analysis revealed an excellent diagnostic value of Gal-9 ELISA in endometriosis (area under the curve = 0.973) with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 93.75%, indicating better diagnostic potential than that of other endometriosis biomarkers. Furthermore, various pelvic pain or infertility-associated benign gynecologic conditions were also associated with increased serum Gal-9 levels.Conclusion(s)Our results suggest that Gal-9 could be a promising noninvasive biomarker of endometriosis and a predictor of various infertility or pelvic pain-related gynecologic disorders.

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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_paininfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Galectins Infertility, Female Pelvic Pain Adult Area Under Curve Biomarkers Biomarkers Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Female Galectins Galectins Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female

Funding

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[{'doi': '10.13039/501100011019', 'name': 'Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal', 'awards': ['K119529']}]

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