REVIEW   Free access

Minerva Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024 October;76(5):458-69

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-606X.23.05369-1

Copyright © 2023 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

An update on endometriosis biomarkers

Kyle N. LE ¹ ✉, Camran NEZHAT ², Ceana NEZHAT ³, Ariel BENOR ⁴, Alan DECHERNEY ⁴

¹ Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA; ² Camran Nezhat Institute, Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery, Redwood, CA, USA; ³ Atlanta Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery & Reproductive Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; ⁴ Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

Endometriosis is a debilitating gynecologic disorder characterized by chronic pelvic pain, pelvic adhesions and infertility. The gold standard diagnostic modality is histologically by tissue biopsy, although it can be diagnosed empirically if symptoms improve with medical treatment. A delayed diagnosis of endometriosis often leads to a significant impairment in quality of life and work productivity; hence, significant morbidity has been shown to bear a detrimental impact on society and the economy. The ongoing novel investigation into biomarkers for diagnostic or prognostic evaluation of endometriosis may aid in earlier detection, and thereby, improve patient quality-of-life as well as minimize morbidity. Currently, no single biomarker has been validated for endometriosis; however, there are emerging data on the utility of microRNA for diagnosis and prognosis of disease activity. In this brief review, we will identify and categorize the novel biomarkers for endometriosis.

KEY WORDS: Endometriosis; Biomarkers; Infertility