Diagnosis of endometriosis: a second look at the role of biochemical markers

To evaluate the accuracy of 3 markers CA-125, CA 19-9 and CRP in the diagnosis of endometriosis especially in virgins or unmarried women with dysmenorrheal and/or oleic pain. 50 no pregnant female patients in the reproductive age undergoing laparoscopy for infertility and/or chronic pelvic were included. Serum CA-125, CA 19-9 and VRP, were assayed twice; during the 1st 3 days of the menstrual cycle, and 7-10 days later. According to laparoscopic results, the study population was divided into: cases with early endometriosis group [I, 17 cases]; cases with advanced endometriosis included [group II, 19 cases]; cases with non-endometriotic pelvic inflammations/adhesions, [group III, 13 cases]; and cases with normal laparoscopic findings [group IV, II cases]. Serum levels of all markers were higher in endometriosis group compared to non-endometriotic inflammatory lesions and to controls. CA-125 was the most accurate when measured using during menstruation, CA 19-9 was the least accurate, while CRP menstrual/ preovulatory samples ratio was 100% accurate. Measurement of CRP during menstruation and it the revelatory period could provide an accurate marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis especially in airing or unmarried women with early disease

use of interleukin-6 in the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis in cases with intrapartum fever

Chorioamminitis occurs in 1-4% of labors and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both mother and neonate, however, dependence on fever alone foe diagosis of the condition may be insufficient. To evaluate the potential use of measurement of IL-6 levels in maternal serum in the diagnosis of chorioamminotitis in cases with intrapartum fever. Patients and The study population consisted of 79 women with intrapartum fever, for each of them clinical charateristics were noted and recorded, IL-6 was measured using an ELISA technique, and the placenta was examined for histologic evidence of chorioamiontitis. IL-6 was detected in 75/79 cases [94.94%] Histologic evidence of Chorioamniotitis was found in 16/79 cases [20.25%]. IL-6 was detected in the 16 cases with histolgic chorioaminionitis and its level was significantly higher than in the 63 cases without histologic evidence chorioamnitis. The median value of maternal serum IL-6 in cases with histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis was 371 pg/ml [range: 156/667 pg/ml] while the mediam value of maternal serum IL/6 in cases with no histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis was 124 pg/nl [range: 0-289 pg/ml]. measurement of IL-6 in maternal serum of women with intrapartum fever could be a sensitive but not a specific marker for the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis