The aetiology of EMS is multifactorial and implicated factors include genetic predisposition, prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and alterations in the microbiome, the immune system and sex hormones 4, 6. It has also been associated with increased risks of cancer and autoimmune diseases 1, 2, 4. Affecting 6–10% of women of reproductive age, EMS is a leading cause of female infertility as well as causing significant dysmenorrhoea and pelvic pain 1, 4. A larger validation study is now warranted and such studies should include the follow-up of surgically and pharmacologically treated patients.Įndometriosis (EMS) is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease of unknown aetiology characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In conclusion, this is the first pilot study to identify changes in N-glycans from whole serum glycoproteins associated with endometriosis. The most significantly altered was glycan peak 3 from IgG, containing bisected biantennary glycans, which was decreased in the endometriosis cohorts (p = 0.0000005–0.018). Total serum glycoprotein and IgG glycosylation differed in patients with endometriosis compared to control cases. Clinical data was collected to link glycomic findings with metabolic and hormonal profiles. PNGase F-digested serum samples were fluorescently labelled and N-glycans were profiled by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Using IgG and whole serum glycoproteins, we investigated N-glycosylation in two clinical cohorts of women with and without endometriosis.

Sialylation and galactosylation on serum IgG have previously been found to be altered in endometriosis and serum sialylation changed after Zoladex (Goserelin Acetate) therapy. Glycosylation is the most common posttranslational modification of proteins and altered glycosylation has been found in many diseases, including chronic inflammatory conditions and cancer. There are currently no definitive non-invasive diagnostic tools. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity.

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