Purpose

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma in ectopic locations and may be associated with local and systemic inflammatory processes. Copeptin is elevated in acute and chronic inflammation conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine whether serum copeptin levels were altered in women with endometriosis and played a role in the pathophysiology of the disease.

Methods

A total of 86 women were recruited for this case–control study. 50 patients with surgically proven endometriosis were included, while 36 patients without endometriosis comprised the control group. Patients were classified as having minimal, mild, moderate and severe disease in accordance with American Society of Reproductive Medicine revised classification. Two subgroups were formed by combining patients with minimal and mild disease and with moderate and severe disease (Stage 1–2, stage 3–4; respectively). Levels of copeptin, tumor markers (CA-125, CA-19-9, CA-15-3) and C-reactive protein in serum were measured.

Results

Serum copeptin, CA-125, CA-15-3 and CA-19-9 levels were higher in the endometriosis group (p: 0.002; 0.001; 0.017; 0.015; respectively). Copeptin and CA-19-9 levels were significantly higher in stage 3–4 group as compared to stage 1–2 group (p: 0.004; 0.036 respectively). Serum copeptin levels were positively correlated with stage of the disease and size of endometriomas. ROC analysis revealed that CA-125 had the highest AUC for predicting endometriosis (0.938; 95 % confidence interval 0.882–0.993; p: 0.001).

Conclusions

Serum copeptin levels were significantly higher in patients with endometriosis as compared to healthy controls. Moreover, severity of the disease was correlated with serum copeptin levels.