Association of sFRP4, a novel serum biomarker, in patients with Endometriosis

Introduction: An inflammation mediator, called secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4), is closely associated with endometrial tissue. The purpose of the study was to test the feasibility of sFRP4 as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in different grades of endometriosis and to study the presence of sFRP4 in the peritoneal fluid of these patients. Aims and objectives: To correlate serum & peritoneal fluid (PF) levels of sFRP4 in women with endometriosis. Materials and methods: A hospital based cross-sectional case control study was carried out on women who were admitted for operative laparoscopy for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Based on their grading according to the revised American Society of Reproductive Medicine (rASRM), 22 patients with endometriosis aged 18– 45 years and 21 age matched healthy controls were included in the study. sFRP4 was estimated by ELISA method. Results: Mean of serum and saline wash of POD levels of sFRP4 in endometriosis patients was found to be 8017.0 ± 2577.8 pg/ml &3718.9 ± 1650.8 pg/ml, respectively & that in serum of controls was 3871.0 ± 2077.8 pg/ml. Serum sFRP4 levels of cases were significantly elevated when compared to controls (p<0.0001). Total serum sFRP4 levels were positively correlated with saline wash of POD sFRP4 (r=0.743, p<0.001). Conclusion: An increase in serum sFRP4, correlates with peritoneal fluid concentrations, and accompanies with increasing grades of endometriosis.