title: Behavior of vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate any correlations between erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the serum and the menstrual fluid of healthy women during the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from 25 healthy female volunteers were obtained for serum VEGF and EPO detection on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 25th days of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual fluid samples for VEGF and EPO detection were obtained on the 1st and 4th days of menstruation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating VEGF levels were found to increase in a stage-dependent cyclic manner. The mean VEGF concentration in menstrual blood on the 1st day of the cycle was significantly higher than the mean plasma value and was reduced to a significant extent on the 4th day of the cycle. We found no significant changes in serum EPO levels. Mean EPO concentration detected in menstrual blood was comparable to those in serum blood either on the 1st or 4th day of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During menstruation, a local production of VEGF occurs independent of systemic production, thus sustaining angiogenic activity in autonomous, independent ways. Our findings demonstrate the presence of an "open compartment" that reflects the systemic pattern of EPO at the uterine level that allows us to speculate on different effects beyond the angiogenic action of EPO.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nostro
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giorgianni
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mondello
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crascì
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frisina
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buemi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004921:Erythropoietin