CA-125 levels in cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle.
Fertil Steril
; 61(5): 843-9, 1994 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8174720
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine CA-125 levels in cervical mucus (CM) during the menstrual cycle and their relationship to gonadal steroids and ovulation.DESIGN:
Prospective study.SETTING:
Two academic tertiary referral centers.PARTICIPANTS:
Thirteen women with a normal fertility work-up.INTERVENTIONS:
CA-125 and protein concentrations were measured in CM aspirated from the endocervical canal on alternate days in the early follicular and luteal phases and on a daily basis during the periovulatory period. Results were correlated with hormonal determinations, serum CA-125 levels, and ultrasound examination.RESULTS:
Twenty ovulatory nonconceptional cycles were analyzed. Although the mean (+/- SD) concentration of CA-125 in CM (173,900 +/- 128,900 arbitrary U/mL) appeared relatively constant along the cycle, a large variation among the different samples was observed, ranging from 9,000 to 830,000 arbitrary U/mL. No clear trend could be detected as related to hormonal changes and ovulation. However, when the mucus CA-125 concentration was multiplied by the total volume of the correspondent sample, a clear periovulatory increase of total CA-125 levels was found. This was further supported by a similar trend showed by the calculated CA-125protein concentration ratio.CONCLUSIONS:
CA-125 is present in CM in high concentrations that vary widely along the cycle. Although no cyclical variation in CA-125 concentration could be determined, there was an apparent increase of total CA-125 levels parallel to the augmented mucus production during the periovulatory period. This further suggests a possible involvement of this glycoprotein in the secretory process of endocervical glands.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate
/
Cervix Uteri
/
Menstrual Cycle
/
Mucus
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Fertil Steril
Year:
1994
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Netherlands