The differential diagnostic value and clinical significance of serum HE4 in ovarian disease with elevated CA125.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value and clinical significance of serum HE4 levels in differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian disease in patients with elevated CA125 levels.

METHODS: The levels and positive expression rate of HE4 were compared between 371 patients with elevated CA125 levels and benign ovarian disease, and 132 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer to determine the diagnostic value of HE4.

RESULTS: The level and positive expression rate of HE4 differed significantly between the benign and malignant groups, in that, there was no significant difference in HE4 expression between CA125 low- and high-level groups within the benign ovarian disease group, with levels of HE4 being in the normal range in both groups. However, the positive expression rates and levels of HE4 in the malignant group were significantly different between the serum CA125 low- and high-level groups. ROC curve analysis showed that optimal HE4 cutoff values for increased accuracy in diagnosis were 78.03 pmol/L and 119.70 pmol/L before and after menopause, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum HE4 levels can potentially be used as a marker to differentiate between benign and malignant ovarian disease with elevated serum CA125 levels. The high specificity of HE4 was superior in identifying benign ovarian disease. We recommend increasing the cutoff values of HE4 in premenopausal patients and decreasing the cutoff values in postmenopausal patients for increased accuracy in the differential diagnosis of patients with elevated CA125 levels.