Anti-endometrial antibodies in women measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed tomeasure anti-endometrial antibody concentrations in the serumof women with endometriosis. Pooled cytosolic protein extractsfrom the endometrial gland cells of 10 women were used as anantigen source. Serum samples were obtained from women withendometriosis before (n = 51) and after 6 months treatment withdanazol or nafarelin (n = 30). Control sera came from womenwith a normal pelvis at laparoscopy, performed for sterilization(n = 23) or the investigation of pain and/or infertility (n= 22), 13 women with Rokitansky syndrome, and 10 umbilical cordbloods and adult males. There were no significant differencesin serum anti-endometrial antibody concentrations before andafter treatment, or between women with endometriosis and withoutendometriosis. Concentrations were lower in male and cord bloodserum than in female's serum (P < 0.0001). We conclude thatthe ELISA is not a useful diagnostic tool for endometriosisunless more specific antigens can be isolated.