CA125 levels may also be raised in various benign conditions, such as acute or chronic liver diseases, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, acute urinary retention and chronic renal failure, heart failure, pericarditis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, diseases of the female reproductive system, menstruation, pregnancy, peritoneal inflammation, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, arthritis, and recurrent ischemic strokes in patients with metastatic cancer [48]. This evidence concerns the gene MUC16 and arthritic joint disease.