Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42410715›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of endocrinology2026

Steroid hormone profiling reveals altered adrenal androgen production in endometriosis.

Ioannis Simitsidellis, Rebecca J Ainslie, Angela E Taylor, Lorna C Gilligan, Fozia Shaheen, Samira Blanke, Craig Anderson, Dharani Hapangama, Wiebke Arlt, Andrew W Horne and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of endocrinology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Ioannis SimitsidellisCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.
Rebecca J AinslieCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.
Angela E TaylorMetabolism and Systems Science, School of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Lorna C GilliganMetabolism and Systems Science, School of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Fozia ShaheenMetabolism and Systems Science, School of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Samira BlankeCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.
Craig AndersonSchool of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, 132 University Pl, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom.
Dharani HapangamaDepartment of Women's & Children's Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-0270-0150
Wiebke ArltMetabolism and Systems Science, School of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-5106-9719
Andrew W HorneCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.
Philippa T K SaundersCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.
Douglas A GibsonCentre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-9949-1983

Funding

CSOInstitute for Regeneration and Repair Innovators awardMedical Research Council MC_UP_1605/15Medical Research Council MRC/IAA/002Medical Research Council MR/N024524/1MRCNIHRWellbeing of WomenWellcome TrustWellcome Trust 209492/Z/17/ZWellcome Trust 220656/Z/20/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveEndometriosis is a chronic, hormone-dependent condition affecting an estimated 190 million women worldwide. Our understanding of hormonal contributions to endometriosis pathophysiology is incomplete, hindering the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. Although the role of estrogens is well established, research on androgens in endometriosis is limited and the contribution of adrenal-derived 11-oxygenated androgens remains largely unknown.

methodsWe performed steroid androgen profiling to measure androgen concentrations in serum from healthy controls and women with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis. We found that women with endometriosis had a distinct hormone signature characterized by systemic differences in adrenal androgen concentrations and 11-ketotestosterone excess.Using metabolomic data, we generated statistical models that showed robust discrimination between healthy controls and women with endometriosis (AUC = 0.99; positive predictive power = 96.84%, negative predictive power = 92.86%) consistent with an endometriosis-specific signature. Data were partitioned into train and validation groups to assess diagnostic potential and a refined model identified >95% of endometriosis patients in a blinded sample set.

conclusionsCollectively, these data reframe endometriosis as an androgen-dependent disorder and highlight 11-oxygenated androgens as potential diagnostic biomarkers and future therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Adrenal GlandsAndrogensEndometriosisAdultBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansTestosterone11-ketotestosteroneAndrogensBiomarkersTestosterone11-oxygenated androgensadrenalandrogenendometriosis

Identifiers

PMID42410715
PMCPMC13337524

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.