Endometriosis and autoimmunity: Can autoantibodies be used as a non-invasive early diagnostic tool?

Abstract

This review aims to assess the current and past literature for efficacious non-invasive diagnostic markers for earlier detection of endometriosis. We briefly discussed the associations of endometriosis with other autoimmune diseases (AID), as well as the broad changes that occur within the immune system. Specifically, we focused on the usage of various autoantibodies as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool. Autoantibodies have been noted in the literature since the 1980s and their usage could possibly reduce the delay of an endometriosis diagnosis. Our search concluded that various anti endometrial antibodies may offer useful diagnostic tools. Anti-SLP2, anti-TMOD3, anti-TPM3, and anti-PDIK1L are particularly useful for early diagnosis in minimal to mild endometriosis. Anti-alpha enolase could also be used but yields results similar to CA125. Other non anti endometrial antibodies like anti-IMP1, anti-CA, aCL, anti-STX5 may be used as additional non-invasive diagnostic tools. Anti-TPO may be beneficial in patients in endometriosis patients with concurrent polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS). As the pathogenesis of endometriosis continues to reveal itself, more autoantibodies are being discovered and they may offer useful non-invasive tools for the early diagnosis of endometriosis.

Keywords: Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Biomarkers; Endometriosis; Non-invasive diagnosis; Ultrasound.