The value of serum MMP-9 concentration in the diagnosis of recurrence of endometriosis after operation

Objective:To investigate the value of serum matrix metalloproteinases- 9(MMP-9) level in the diagnosis of recurrence of endometriasis(EMs) after operation.Methods:Sixty-nine patients who had a previous operations for endometriosis were recruited in the study from February 2002 to March 2005. All the patient were examined by laparoscopy 6-12 months later after surgery. The serum were collected from the 69 patients and 25 health women for MMP-9 level measurement. ELISA was used to measure the level of serum MMP-9.Results:Twenty-two recurrent patients were diagnosed by Laparoscopy. The level of serum MMP-9 were 252.21±17.90 ng/ml in patients with recurrent endometriosis, 31.26±1.84 ng/ml in patients without recurrent endometriosis, 12.93±0.57 ng/ml in women without endometriosis. There was a clinical significance between the recurrent endometriosis group and non-recurrent endometriosis group and health women. The sensitivity for detection of recurrent endometriosis was 90.9% and the specificity was 85.1% using serum MMP-9 profile.Conclusion:Serum MMP-9 measurement is a sensitive, specific and non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of recurrent endometriosis.