Serum CA 125 Levels in Patients with Endometriosis

Lee,  Jin-Yong; Yoon,  Byung-Koo; Choi,  Young-Min; Sin,  Chang-Jae; Chang,  Yoon-Seck

Original Article

Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 1990;17(2):101-106.

Jin-Yong Lee, Byung-Koo Yoon, Young-Min Choi, Chang-Jae Sin, Yoon-Seck Chang

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

자궁내막증 환자에서 혈청 CA 125치 동태에 관한 연구

이진용, 윤병구, 최영민, 신창재, 장윤석

서울대학교 의과대학 산부인과학교실

Abstract

Serum CA 125 was measured with immunoradiometric assay in fourty-one patients of endometriosis Serum CA 125 levels (Mean ${\pm}$ SEM, U/ml)in patients with endometriosis were 13.8${\pm}$3.3 in stage I , 17.3${\pm}$3.0 in stage II, 23.4${\pm}$4.9 in stage III, and 64.5${\pm}$13.2 in stage IV, which showed increment according to the stage of endometriosis. Serum levels in stage IV only were significantly elvated than those in control (15.3${\pm}$2.2), and those in advanced stage(III and IV ; 47.1${\pm}$9.5)were significantly higher than those in earlier stages (15.9${\pm}$2.2)and control. The assay revealed a sensitivity of 31.7% and the frequency of elevated levels (> 30.3 U/ml)in stage I, II, III and IV was 9. 1%, 18.8%,33.3%, and 87.5% respectively. Sensitivity in advanced stage was higher than that in earlier stage (64.3% vs. 14.8%). There data suggest that serum CA 125 assay might be a useful diagnostic tool in the advanced stage of endometriosis.