title: Microvascular density, vascular endothelial growth factor A, and its receptors in endometrial blood vessels in patients with menorrhagia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and receptors (VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2) in endometrial blood vessels, as well as microvascular density (MVD), in endometrial biopsy samples from idiopathic menorrhagia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, unit of gynecology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with idiopathic menorrhagia and 18 healthy fertile women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood sampling for hormone measurement, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy sampling. Endometrial biopsy samples were used for immunohistochemistry assessments and image analysis of stained endothelial structures for VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and CD34.
  
  
  METHODS
  Appearance of the endometrial vascular immunoreactivity for VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2, MVD and computer-assisted stereological analysis of immunoassayed blood vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the MVD did not differ between patients and controls, we observed that vascular expression of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 in capillaries was 1.8-fold, 1.8-fold, and 2.0-fold higher, respectively, in the menorrhagia group when assessed as the number of stained capillaries per unit area. There were also a twofold higher number of arterioles, which were VEGFR-2 positive in the menorrhagia group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up-regulation of VEGF-A and receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in capillaries in menorrhagia could be involved in abnormal endometrial vascular structure and permeability.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. miriam.mints@telia.com
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mints
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blomgren
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: Aino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fianu-Jonasson
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmblad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001160:Arterioles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008595:Menorrhagia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2