Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

Results


PMID 19549703
Gene Name FST
Condition Endometriosis (ovarian)
Association Associated
Population size 142
Population details 142 (52 ovarian endometrioma, 52 benign ovarian cysts, 11 non-ovarian endometriosis, 27 controls)
Sex Female
Associated genes FST
Other associated phenotypes Ovarian endometriosis
High serum follistatin levels in women with ovarian endometriosis.

Hum Reprod. 2009 Oct;24(10):2600-6. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep195. Epub 2009 Jun 23.

Florio, P| Reis, F M| Torres, P B| Calonaci, F| Abrao, M S| Nascimento, L L| Franchini, M| Cianferoni, L| Petraglia, F

Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Follistatin is an activin-binding protein produced by several tissues, including endometrium and endometriotic implants. We aimed to quantify follistatin in patients with ovarian endometriosis and investigate its value as a diagnostic marker. METHODS: Women undergoing laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometrioma (n = 52) or other benign ovarian cysts (n = 52) were studied, plus women with non-ovarian endometriosis (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 27). Serum was collected from all subjects, and peritoneal and cystic fluid from a subset with endometrioma. Follistatin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnostic accuracy of follistatin to detect endometrioma was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with cancer antigen (CA)-125. RESULTS: Serum follistatin was increased in women with ovarian endometrioma (2080 +/- 94 pg/ml) compared with controls (545 +/- 49 pg/ml, P < 0.001), other benign ovarian cysts (795 +/- 60 pg/ml, P < 0.001) or non-ovarian endometriosis (1271 +/- 115 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Cystic fluid showed a higher concentration of follistatin (9850 +/- 4461 pg/ml) than peritoneal fluid (1885 +/- 261 pg/ml, P < 0.001) and serum (P < 0.001). Follistatin levels detected 48/52 cases of endometrioma (92% sensitivity) at 1433 pg/ml cut-off, corresponding to 92% specificity. CA-125 detected only 44% of endometriomas with 90% specificity. ROC curve comparison showed follistatin was more accurate than CA-125 to discriminate women with endometrioma either from controls or women with other benign ovarian cysts (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum follistatin is increased in women with endometriosis and allows clear distinction between endometrioma and other benign ovarian cysts. Follistatin has the sensitivity and specificity to become a useful clinical marker of ovarian endometrioma.

Mesh Terms: Adult| Biomarkers| CA-125 Antigen/blood| Diagnosis, Differential| Endometriosis/*blood/diagnosis| Female| Follistatin/*blood| Humans| Ovarian Diseases/*blood/diagnosis|DA 2009/12/16 06:00