title: Serum levels of VEGF and TNF-alpha and their association with C-reactive protein in patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and C-reactive protein (CRP) throughout the menstrual cycle in women with and without endometriosis and to quantify the association between these serum markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty five endometriosis patients (ASRM stage III-IV) and 13 controls were followed through one menstrual cycle. VEGF, TNF-alpha and CRP concentrations were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each of the four cycle phases (early and late proliferative and early and late secretory). Non-parametric methods and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased serum levels of VEGF in secretory phases and of TNF-alpha in all cycle phases were observed. A positive correlation between CRP and VEGF was found in endometriosis patients but not in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that excessive systemic angiogenic activity is a feature of patients with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, São João Hospital, University of Porto Medical School, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal. cpxavier@sapo.pt
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belo
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beires
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rebelo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez-de-Oliveira
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lunet
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein