Clinical Usefulness of CA-125 in Patients with Endometriosis

Study Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical value of the serum CA-125 level for determining the severity of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis and evaluate the relationship between the R-AFS classification & the serum CA-125 level. Design: Retropective analysis. Setting: Pusan National University Hospital, Korea. Patients: 297 women who underwent operative laparoscopy and histologically confirmed endometriosis. Intervention: Operative laparoscopy. Measurements and Main Results: In all of the patients, endometriosis was classified into stages according to the revised American Fertility Society(R-AFS) classification. The CA-125 levels were determined in each patients preoperatively. We also investigated the pelvic pain with questionnaire. There were no significant correlation between the serum CA-125 levels and each R-AFS stages, but comparison of stage I, II, III versus stage IV, there was positive correlation with CA-125 level. The serum CA-125 levels and pelvic pain showed positive correlation. Conclusion: In histologically confirmed endometriosis patient, CA-125 levels were related to pelvic pain. In analysis of stage I, II and III versus stage IV, there were positive correlation between CA-125 & stages.