title: Importance of Serum Copper and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) Levels in Postmenopausal Bleeding.
abstract: The main aim of this study is association of serum copper and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) patients. Blood samples were collected from female patients suffering with postmenopausal bleeding (n = 50) as well as healthy females as controls (n = 50). Serum copper levels were estimated by spectrophotometric method and serum VEGF-A by ELISA technique and compared with ultrasonographic measurement of endometrial thickness in both patients and controls. A significant increase in serum copper levels and an almost twofold increase in serum VEGF-A was observed in DUB patients when compared with controls. Correlation (r) between serum VEGF-A levels and endometrial thickness was 0.96. Odds ratio for copper, VEGF-A and combination of copper and VEGF-A was 0.0426, 0.0947 and 0.0313 respectively, in all these cases odds ratio was <1. The abnormal angiogenesis in PMB could be due to increased serum copper levels,which in turn stimulates factors like VEGF-A, thereby causing an increase in endometrial growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Sreepuram, Narkatpally, Nalgonda, 508 254 Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Afshan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Sreepuram, Narkatpally, Nalgonda, 508 254 Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Ramakrishna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Devaki
authors.affiliation: Chalmeda Anandrao Institute of Medical Sciences, Bommakal, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sabitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Sreepuram, Narkatpally, Nalgonda, 508 254 Andhra Pradesh India.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, 576104 Karnataka India.
authors.forename: Pragna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rao
keywords: ELISA; Postmenopausal bleeding; Serum copper; VEGF-A; Vascular endothelial growth factor