Endometriosis affects 10% of premenopausal women and 35%50% of women with infertility, pelvic pain, or both. At present, endometriosis can only be diagnosed with surgery, where laparoscopy is considered a gold standard. Noninvasive biomarkers are thus urgently needed. In 2010, the peripheral biomarkers of endometriosis were systematically reviewed by May et al. However, with the introduction of -omics technologies, we have witnessed immense progress in biomarker discovery, which now calls for an overview of recent studies. This report looks at potential blood and urine biomarkers of endometriosis published in the last 3 years. The current status of noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers of endometriosis is discussed, with the limitations of these studies identified and recommendations for future biomarker discovery provided.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31203545
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease defined as a presence of endometrial like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Estimates show that this disease affects up to 10% of premenopausal women and 35%-50% of women with infertility. At present minimal and mild stages of endometriosis can only be unequivocally diagnosed invasively, using laparoscopy. There is thus an urgent need for discovery of biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis. With the introduction of 'omics' methodologies, we have witnessed immense progress in the field of biomarkers of endometriosis. This manuscript overviews different approached for discovery of biomarkers and presents the biomarkers with the highest diagnostic potential. Current status in the field of endometriosis biomarker discovery and potential for their introduction into clinics are discussed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31754713