Identification of a serum marker for endometriosis

摘要

The present invention relates to screening methods for diagnosis and prognosis of endometriosis in a subject by means of detecting increased levels of endometriosis factor (EF) in sera and other biological fluids of the subject. The method of the invention involves the use of subject derived serum samples, or other biological fluid samples, to determine the occurrence and level of EF in the sample. The level of EF in the sample can be assayed using, for example, a lymphocyte/platelet binding assay. The invention is based on the discovery that serum derived from subjects having endometriosis contains elevated levels of a factor that decreases the level of binding of platelets to lymphocytes. The present invention further provides for kits for carrying out the above described screening methods. Such kits will be used to screen subjects for increased levels of EF, as a diagnostic, predictive or prognostic indicator of endometriosis. The invention is demonstrated by way of examples in which increased levels of EF were identified in serum samples derived from subjects with endometriosis.