Diagnostic potential of peritoneal fluid biomarkers of endometriosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus, in different parts of the peritoneal cavity. It affects up to 10% of reproductive-age women and up to 50% of women with infertility. Surgical diagnosis of endometriosis is still the gold standard, with no diagnostic biomarkers available. Medical therapies target the symptoms and not the disease itself, and surgical treatment cannot prevent recurrence. As peritoneal fluid reflects the altered peritoneal microenvironment of endometriosis patients, it can provide a wealth of information on pathophysiological processes and potential biomarkers. This report reviews the molecular biomarkers identified in peritoneal fluid over the last 5 years and discusses their potential applications for diagnosis, prognosis and drug therapy.

Keywords:

• diagnosis
• endometriosis
• omics
• prognosis
• review

Acknowledgements

The writing of this manuscript was supported by grants J3-4135 and J3-6799 from the Slovenian Research Agency, and a DAAD Scholarship to the author.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has a patent WO 2013/178794A1. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that can only be diagnosed surgically at present.

• Peritoneal fluid can provide a wealth of information on the pathophysiology and the potential biomarkers of endometriosis.

• Over the last 5 years, peritoneal fluid biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and other pathophysiological processes of endometriosis have been reported.

• Peritoneal fluid biomarkers of endometriosis have also been identified by proteomic and metabolomic approaches.

• The highest diagnostic potential among peritoneal fluid biomarkers has so far been associated with individual peptides identified by a proteomic approach.

• The peritoneal fluid biomarkers will contribute to a more detailed understanding of the pathophysiology of endometriosis, and have potential applications in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this debilitating disease.

Notes