Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] in serum and peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis

ABSTRACT

Abstract Endometriosis can be defined as a non-neoplastic disease in which an endometrium- like tissue implants itself outside the uterine cavity conserving its histological and functional structure. VEGF concentration elevates in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis which indicate that VEGF is also modulated in the serum of these patients. The aim of this study is to determine the behavior of VEGF in plasma and peritoneal fluids of patients with endometriosis, also correlation between VEGF level and stage of endometriosis. This study was carried out on 60 infertile patients. They were divided after laparoscopy into two groups study group including 40 endometriotic patients and control group including 20 patients without endometriosis. The study group was subdivided into two subgroups according to stage of endometriosis first subgroup [a] including 20 patients with minimal to mild endometriosis and subgroup [b] including 20 patients with moderate to severe endometriosis VEGF levels were measured by enzyme Linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] in serum and Peritoneal fluid of all patients. The mean VEGF levels were significantly increased in serum and peritoneal fluid samples of cases with endometriosis compared with control cases, this increase was statistically significant in patients with moderate to severe stage. Also VEGF levels in peritoneal fluids was greater than that of the serum levels which was also significant in patients with moderate to severe stage