title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor as a possible indicator of arterial reactivity in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration is correlated with arterial reactivity in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was conducted on 24 postmenopausal women who did not receive any hormone therapy in the 6 months preceding the study and had no pre-existing cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors. Serum samples were obtained from all participants and analyzed for VEGF concentrations. Arterial reactivity was assessed by the measurement of endothelium-dependent dilatation and endothelium-independent dilatation of the brachial artery, using color duplex Doppler ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population was aged 50.8 years on average, with about 2 years of menopause. Serum VEGF concentration in postmenopausal women was significantly correlated with both endothelium-dependent dilatation (r = -0.66, p < 0.01) and endothelium-independent dilatation (r = -0.65, p < 0.01) of the brachial artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum VEGF level may be a potential indicator of arterial reactivity in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China. lampomui@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Po Mui
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: So Fan
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Tony Kwok Hung
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A