SDC1 and cholesteryl ester measurement: When mild CE was defined as <10 CD138(+) ESPCs in 10 HPFs, and severe CE as ≥10 CD138(+) ESPCs in 10 HPFs, the cure rate of the histopathologic CE (<1 CD138(+) ESPC in 10 HPFs) in the antibiotic treatment group was significantly lower in women with severe CE than in those with mild CE (97.7% vs. 68.8%, p < 0.001).