BCL-6 Overexpression as a Predictor for Endometriosis in Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization

To evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of endometrial BCL-6 overexpression as a noninvasive screening test endometriosis in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Retrospective cohort study at a university-affiliated private practice. Inclusion criteria were reproductive age females currently undergoing IVF with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility or unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss. Those with endometrial BCL-6 overexpression underwent laparoscopic surgery with an indication for treatment of suspected endometriosis. The primary outcome was the PPV of endometrial BCL-6 testing to surgically diagnose endometriosis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.25.0.

Seventy-five patients met inclusion criteria for our study. The PPV of BCL-6 testing for endometriosis was 96%. Of those patients without endometriosis, 100% had other inflammatory pelvic pathologies, which were diagnosed and treated at the time of laparoscopy.

Endometrial BCL-6 overexpression has a high PPV for diagnosing endometriosis and can help identify a patient population that may require surgical treatment before embryo transfer.