Human reproduction
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Multicenter Study
Diagnostic value of serum activin A and follistatin levels in women with peritoneal, ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Activin A is a growth factor, produced by the endometrium, whose actions are modulated by the binding protein follistatin. Both proteins are detectable in the peripheral serum and their concentrations may be increased in women with endometriosis. The present study was designed to evaluate whether serum levels of activin A and follistatin are altered, and therefore have a potential diagnostic value, in women with peritoneal, ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriosis. ⋯ The present study demonstrated that serum activin A and follistatin are not significantly altered in peritoneal or deep infiltrating endometriosis and have limited diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma.