SERUM CA 125 LEVELS BEFORE, DURING, AFTER TREATMENT FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS

Authors : G Özakşit, T Çağlar, N Çiçek, E Kuşçu, B Kaleli, S Batıoğlu, O Gökmen

Pages : 140-143

View : 8 | Download : 5

Publication Date : 1995-07-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The levels of CA 125 in the serum was evaluated in 66 patients with endometriosis diagnosed and staged according to the revised American Fertility Society insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AFS); classification via laparoscopy. The patients received a 6 month course of gonadotropin-releasing hormone insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GnRH); agonist. Serum CA 125 levels were measured before, during insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3 months and 6 months after the initiation of therapy); and 6 months after cessation of the medication. Patients with minimal and mild endometriosis had mean pre-treatment values significantly higher than control subjects in the luteal phase of the cycle or postmenopausal women insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05); but the overall mean value was still below 35 U/ml. In contrast 80.7% of patients with moderate or severe endometriosis had levels in excess of 35 U/ml and the mean values for these groups were significantly elevated insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.005);. Levels of CA 125 fell to those found in normal controls, during treatment, but rose again following cessation of the treatment. Nine of 19 subjects whose follow-up values of CA 125 exceeded 35 U/ml had a proven recurrence of endometriosis, while only 3 of 47 patients with values less than 35 U/ml had laparoscopically proven persistance or recurrence. The sensitivity and spesificity of CA 125 were 75% and 83.3% respectively and positive predictive value insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PPV); was 46.36% as a predictor value of the recurrence.  The data suggest that CA 125 levels may be a reliable indicator for monitoring the efficacy of GnRH agonist treatment of endometriosis, but its predictor value of recurrence is low.
Keywords : Serum CA 125, endometriosis, gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists