Molecular biomarkers of endometriosis - options for non-invasive diagnostics?

• Main Author: Tea Lanišnik Rižner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2014-12-01
• Series: Zdravniški Vestnik
• Subjects: proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, biomarkers
• Online Access: http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/1004

<p>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.</p>