Aromatase P450 messenger RNA expression in eutopic endometrium is not a specific marker for pelvic endometriosis

Dheenadayalu K, Kavitha Dheenadayalu, Ian Mak, Mak I, Stephan Gordts, Gordts S, Rudi Campo, Campo R, Jenny Higham, Higham J, Puttemans P, Patrick Puttemans, White J, John White, J.O. White, Mark Christian, Luca Fusi, Fusi L, Jan J. Brosens, Jan Brosens
Fertility and sterility · 2002 · vol. 78(4) , pp. 825–829 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(02)03324-1 · PMID:12372463 · W2077933487
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This study investigated aromatase P450 mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium and determined it is not a specific marker for pelvic endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine whether expression of aromatase P450 mRNA in eutopic endometrium is predictive of the presence of pelvic endometriosis.DesignA prospective, multicenter, observational study.SettingFour tertiary centers for reproductive medicine.Patient(s)Sixty subjects of reproductive age undergoing laparoscopy for subfertility exploration, pain assessment, or sterilization.Intervention(s)Endometrial biopsy at time of laparoscopy.Main outcome measure(s)The expression of aromatase P450 mRNA in endometrial specimens was determined by single-tube reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA was amplified in parallel to exclude amplification failure.Result(s)The RT-PCR amplification was successful in 56 of the 60 biopsies (93%). Pelvic endometriosis was diagnosed in 34 patients (61%) and was strongly associated with aromatase P450 mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium. As a diagnostic marker for endometriosis, aromatase P450 mRNA expression yielded a sensitivity of 82%, a specificity of 59%, a positive predictive value of 76%, and a negative predictive value of 67%. If additional uterine pathology was taken in account, the sensitivity increased to 84%, the specificity to 72%, the positive predictive value to 87%, but the negative predictive value remained unchanged (67%).Conclusion(s)Although endometrial aromatase P450 gene expression is highly predictive of the presence of pelvic disease, the relative high incidence of false-negative results and lack of specificity is likely to impair clinical application.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Aromatase Biomarkers Endometriosis Endometrium RNA, Messenger Adult Aromatase Biomarkers Biopsy Endometriosis Endometrium False Negative Reactions Female Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases Humans Laparoscopy Middle Aged Prospective Studies Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

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