The Soluble VCAM-1 / Soluble ICAM-1 Ratio as a Non-invasive Biomarker for Diagnosing Endometriosis - a Prospective Multicenter Validation Study

Background: Endometriosis, which is characterized by the growth of endometrial stroma and glands outside of the uterine cavity, is estimated to occur in 6-10% of women of reproductive age. Clinical presentation of endometriosis can vary widely, often significantly reducing quality of life, and the mean interval between the onset of symptoms and obtaining a definitive diagnosis is approximately 10 years. Currently, laparoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis; however, this procedure is invasive, carries surgery-related risks, and contributes to diagnostic delay. Therefore, the field has an urgent need for an efficient, sensitive, non-invasive tool for diagnosing endometriosis.

Recently, it was shown that sVCAM-1/sICAM-1 ratio is a promising serum biomarker, which may lead to the development of a new, efficient, sensitive, non-invasive tool for diagnosing endometriosis, thereby potentially avoiding surgical interventions.

Primary aim: To determine whether the serum sVCAM-1/sICAM-1 ratio can be used todiagnose endometriosis.

Study design: Prospective multicenter validation study