ABSTRACT
Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the presence and growth of ectopic endometrium outside the endometrial cavity. Laparoscopy is the most effective tool in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and in evaluation of women with chronic pelvic pain. Other diagnostic procedures include ultrasonography, hysterosalpingography, CT scan, Magnetic resonance image and CA-125 level as non invasive methods. Lipoprotein [a] level is elevated in cases with endometriosis. Sex hormones and gonadal steroids have been reported to influence the metabolism of lipoproteins and lipids. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship and diagnostic value of serum lipids in cases of pelvic endometriosis. Forty patients have been chosen from the outpatient clinic of the Shatby Hospital, they were classified into three groups. Al patients were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination and routine investigations, laparoscopic examination were done, blood samples were collected to measure serum lipids and lipoproteins. Serum lipoprotein [a] levels were about one and half fold higher in women with endometriosis than in control group. The accuracy of lipoprotein [a] in diagnosis of endometriosis is 60%. So, we cannot depend on it alone as a non invasive tool in the diagnosis of endometriosis