Serum levels of VEGF and TNF-α and their association with C-reactive protein in patients with endometriosis

Pedro Xavier, Xavier P, Luı́s Belo, Luís Belo, Beires J, Jorge Beires, Irene Rebelo, José Martinez‐de‐Oliveira, José Martinez-de-Oliveira, Nuno Lunet, Henrique Barros
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2005 · vol. 273(4) , pp. 227–231 · doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0080-4 · PMID:16208475 · W2023851164
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-10 ⓘ

Serum VEGF and TNF-α levels were higher in endometriosis patients, with CRP positively correlating with VEGF, suggesting excessive systemic angiogenic activity.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This study followed 25 women with endometriosis (ASRM stage III–IV) and 13 controls across one menstrual cycle, measuring serum VEGF, TNF-α, and CRP by ELISA in early/late proliferative and early/late secretory phases. The authors reported increased serum VEGF during secretory phases and increased TNF-α across all cycle phases in the endometriosis group. They found a positive correlation between CRP and VEGF in endometriosis patients, but not in controls. A key limitation explicitly reflected by the design is the small sample size and the single-cycle follow-up, which constrains generalizability. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it quantifies cyclic changes in VEGF and TNF-α and their association with CRP in patients with endometriosis.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo 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.MethodsTwenty 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.ResultsIncreased 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.ConclusionsOur results suggest that excessive systemic angiogenic activity is a feature of patients with endometriosis.
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Abstract

Objective: To compare serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), 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-α 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-α 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. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

C-Reactive Protein Endometriosis Menstrual Cycle Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Adult C-Reactive Protein Endometriosis Female Humans Menstrual Cycle Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

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