title: Elevated level of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment for leiomyomata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Uterine leiomyomata are the most common gynecological benign tumor and greatly affect reproductive health and well-being. The pathophysiology and epidemiology of fibroids are poorly understood. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) pretreatment is one of the unfavourable factors for leiomyomata treatment with uterine artery embolisation (UAE). In this study, we investigated the plasma level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in uterine leiomyoma patients with or without GnRH-a pretreatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two women who underwent UAE for symptomatic uterine leiomyoma were analysed. The plasma level of VEGF was studied before UAE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of plasma VEGF was significantly higher in the GnRH-a pretreated group compared with the non-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A compensative reaction for vasculature after GnRH-a treatment is speculated. Higher level of VEGF in GnRH-a pretreatment group could be one of the unfavourable factors for the treatment of uterine leiomyomata by UAE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. take@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.forename: Asako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Ken-Ichirou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morishige
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055357:Uterine Artery Embolization / Q000379:methods; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone