English 
Italian CONTRIBUTI SCIENTIFICI – Scientific Papers
Volume:
Biochimica Clinica 2013; 37(3) 190-194
Pubblicato on-line:
DOI:
Antigene carboidratico 125 (CA-125) vs. proteina 4 dell’epididimo umano (HE4) in una popolazione di donne con massa pelvica
AUTORI
1Laboratorio Analisi e 2Anatomia Patologica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona
ABSTRACT
Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) vs. human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in a population of women with pelvic mass
Aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of CA-125 and HE4 for epithelial ovarian carcinoma (OC) in 505 consecutive women referred to our hospital for an adnexal mass. The population consisted of 18 (3.6%) patients with OC (13 in post-menopausal status, 72.2%) and 487 patients with a benign mass (171 in postmenopausal status, 35.1%). Employed diagnostic thresholds were 35 kU/L for CA-125 and 70 or 140 pmol/L for HE4 in pre-menopause and post-menopause, respectively. CA-125 and HE4 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with benign mass in comparison to women with OC. Overall sensitivity and specificity were higher for HE4 than for CA-125: 94.4% vs. 61.1% (P=0.04) and 91.0% vs. 82.8% (P=0.0002). False positive results for CA-125 and HE4 were found in 16.8% and 6.6% of women in pre-menopause and in 18.1% and 13.5% of women in postmenopause, respectively. Our results confirmed a higher specificity for HE4 vs. CA-125. Thus, the additional evaluation of HE4 would enable a more accurate referral of patients at risk for OC to the gynecological oncology services.