[TNF-alpha serum levels in women with endometriosis: prospective clinical study]

Abstract

Objective: To determine serum levels of TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) as a prediction of endometriosis.

Design: Prospective clinical case control study.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Pathology, Jessenius Faculty Hospital, Kollarova 2, Martin, Slovakia.

Methods: The serum TNF-alpha was determined in women who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy due to pelvic pain, infertility, dysmenorea or pelvic tumor. Endometriosis was confirmed histologically and classified by rAFS.

Results: On the basis of entering criteria 65 women were enrolled in this study. In 61 cases serum level of TNF-alpha was evaluated. The average serum level of TNF-alpha in the endometriotic group was 73.847 pg/ml (n=30) and without endometriosis was 21.089 pg/ml (n=31). We have found a significant statistical difference between the above mentioned groups in the medium levels of TNF-alpha (p<0.0001). We did not find statistical significance between TNF-alpha levels and in the group of women with endometriosis in relation to the stage of the disease (I.-II., III.-IV., adenomyosis). At a cut-off level of TNF-alpha 30 pg/ml there was a 63.33% sensitivity, 77.42% specificity, a positive prediction value 73.07%, and 68.57% of negative predictive value.

Conclusion: TNF-alpha serum levels are good diagnostic markers of endometriosis in the spectrum of noninvasive methods.