Correlation of CA-125 serum level and clinico-pathological characteristic of patients with endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a glycoprotein biomarker that is used in women with pelvic masses such as endometriosis and maybe is useful in practice of patients suspicious to endometriosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative serum CA-125 levels and clinic pathological characteristic in women with endometriosis, and find out the best serum CA-125 levels cut-off in pre and post menopause women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum CA-125 levels in 87 women aged 21-54 years suspected to endometriosis with pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, or dyspareunia were measured preoperatively. Also the association between clinic pathological characteristic and serum CA-125 level were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of women was 32.22±6.91. The mean serum CA-125 level was 49.93±4.30 U/mL. There was a significant correlation between the endometriosis stage, lesion size, adhesion score and preoperative CA-125 plasma concentration. However, we did not found significant differences in age, marital status, patient's complaints, and pelvic pain associated to Ca125 serum level. The suggested preoperative serum cut-off levels in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients were 37 U/ml and 35 U/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the results, preoperative serum CA-125 is an important predictor for patients with endometriosis and it should be taken into consideration when surgical management is suspected, especially if stage of disease, lesion size and adhesion score are undertaken.

Comparing the Recurrence of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Patients Undergoing Prophylactic Treatment with Probiotic and Placebo During the 6 Months.

This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical/comparative trial study, involving the recurrence of vaginal candidiasis (VVC) after initial treatment with oral fluconazole in patients undergoing prophylactic management with a probiotic and placebo for 6 months. Fifty-nine VVC patients who were diagnosed based on their history, physical examination, and culture of vaginal discharge were initially treated by a single dose of 150 mg fluconazole. According to the table of random numbers, the sample was divided into two groups. The patients from one group took probiotics, while those from the other group took a placebo, with all of them being continuously monitored for 6 months. The patients complaining of vaginal candidiasis symptoms, such as burning, pruritus, and a vaginal (curd-like) discharge, were examined and the discharge was cultured for candida. The positive cultures were considered to be recurring for the patients in each group. Thirty-one cases from the placebo group and 28 cases from the probiotic group were carefully observed. In total, the 6-month recurrence in the control group was eleven (35.5 %) and in the research group was two (7.2 %). The results from Fisher's exact test for the value p = 0.01 and OR 0.14 95 % CI (0.028-0.7) showed significant recurrence in the placebo group. The findings demonstrated that taking probiotics withazole antifungal drugs could be highly effective in treating VVC, resulting in a lower recurrence rate as well.