Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterized by the presence of endometrial-like
tissue outside the uterine cavity. It affects ~10% of reproductive-aged individuals
and is associated with dysmenorrhea and infertility. Although imaging modalities have
improved diagnosis, laparoscopy is required in many cases, contributing to 4–11 years
of diagnostic delay. Non-invasive biomarkers could improve diagnosis and clinical
decision-making, yet no candidate has achieved sufficient accuracy for routine use.
Galectins, a family of β-galactoside-binding lectins involved in angiogenesis, immune
regulation, and fibrosis, have emerged as promising biomarkers. In this study, we
measured serum Galectin-1 (Gal-1) concentrations in 80 women with endometriosis and
15 controls using ELISA at four time points. Preoperative Gal-1 levels were significantly
higher in endometriosis patients, particularly in Stage III–IV disease. ROC analysis
yielded a modest diagnostic performance (AUC 0.692; p = 0.011) with high sensitivity
(91.3%) and excellent negative predictive value (96.8%) but low specificity (46.7%)
at a study-derived threshold (>14.06 ng/mL). Longitudinally, Gal-1 levels decreased
immediately after surgery and rose above baseline by one year, while no significant
correlations with preoperative pain severity were observed. These findings suggest
that serum Gal-1 alone is insufficient as a diagnostic test but may be useful for
multi-marker strategies to improve early diagnosis.
