Evaluation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in comparison with C-reactive protein as biochemical serum markers in women with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with CRP as a soluble serum marker for the diagnosis of women with endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Eighty-two women were laparoscopically evaluated. No endometriosis was diagnosed in 34 women (the non-E group). Endometriosis was confirmed by histology in 48 women (the E group). Eighty-two women did not undergo laparoscopic evaluation (the unknown-E group). Afterward, the women were staged according to the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine criteria (r-ASRM). INTERVENTION(S): CRP and hs-CRP were measured initially before laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The hs-CRP and CRP levels and the correlation of those parameters with the stage of the disease. RESULT(S): There was a trend toward higher CRP levels and higher hs-CRP levels in the E group, while the lowest levels of both markers were found in the non-E group. There was a significantly lower hs-CRP level in the non-E group in comparison with the CRP level in this group. No differences between the different stages of the disease were found with either marker. CONCLUSION(S): Measurement of the two markers did not appear to be advantageous for the diagnosis of endometriosis independent of the stage of the disease. Nevertheless, a very low hs-CRP level might serve as a marker for an absence of endometriosis.