Serum CA-125 in the diagnosis of acute pelvic inflammatory disease

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficiency of different tumor markers (CA-125, carcinoembrionic antigen, CA-15.3, CA-19.9) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) measurements as a screening procedure for acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained at the time of laparoscopy from three groups of women: (1) 50 women who underwent laparoscopic tubal ligation and had no evidence of PID (control group); (2) 20 women admitted because of suspected PID, but at laparoscopy or laparotomy had no signs of PID; (3) 20 patients who underwent acute PID diagnosed by laparoscopy. Serum levels of: CA-125, carcinoembrionic antigen, CA-15.3 and CA-19.9, and plasma IGF-I, were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: No differences were observed in the levels of CA-15.3, CA-19.9, carcinoembrionic antigen and IGF-I between the three groups studied. Serum levels of CA-125 were significantly higher in patients who had PID. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves showed that only CA-125 was useful in diagnosis of acute PID. The cut-off level was 43.7 U/ml for CA-125. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of serum CA-125 concentrations is recommended as a useful test for acute PID in patients undergoing laparoscopy for pelvic pain.