Angiogenesis

S. K. Smith, Smith SK
Seminars in reproductive endocrinology · 1997 · doi:10.1055/s-2008-1068751 · PMID:9383830
other OA: closed public-domain-us
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-12 ⓘ

This study investigates the role of VEGF produced by endometrial implants and peritoneal macrophages in the vascularization and progression of endometriosis.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-09 · read from full text ⓘ

The paper reviews the role of angiogenesis in endometriosis, focusing on how shed endometrial tissue can attach and implant in the peritoneal cavity by establishing and maintaining an adequate blood supply. It describes evidence of increased angiogenic activity in the peritoneal cavity of patients with endometriosis and reports that the angiogenic growth factor VEGF is increased in endometriosis-associated peritoneal fluid, attributing potential VEGF sources to desquamated endometrium under hypoxic conditions and to activated and infiltrating macrophages. A stated caveat is that the article is a narrative review rather than an original experimental study, and it does not quantify effect sizes within the text provided. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses specifically on angiogenesis and VEGF in the peritoneal cavity as mechanisms supporting implantation and progression.

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Abstract

Endometriosis remains a significant cause of pain and ill health for women and is a significant factor in reducing quality of life for women. The ability of desquamated endometrium to attach and implant within the peritoneal cavity is dependent upon its ability to establish and maintain an adequate blood supply. New vascularization is therefore a key part in the progression of endometriosis. Increased angiogenic activity is present in the peritoneal cavity of patients who suffer from the disease and more recently the potent angiogenic growth factor VEGF has been shown to be increased in the peritoneal fluid in patients with this disease. Whilst the desquamated endometrium itself under the influence of hypoxia further to retrograde menstruation is a likely rich source of VEGF, activated peritoneal fluid macrophages and infiltrating macrophages are also a rich source of this angiogenic growth factor. Surprisingly, steroidal regulation of macrophage expression of VEGF also appears to be a feature of this disease.
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Abstract

Endometriosis remains a significant cause of pain and ill health for women and is a significant factor in reducing quality of life for women. The ability of desquamated endometrium to attach and implant within the peritoneal cavity is dependent upon its ability to establish and maintain an adequate blood supply. New vascularization is therefore a key part in the progression of endometriosis. Increased angiogenic activity is present in the peritoneal cavity of patients who suffer from the disease and more recently the potent angiogenic growth factor VEGF has been shown to be increased in the peritoneal fluid in patients with this disease. Whilst the desquamated endometrium itself under the influence of hypoxia further to retrograde menstruation is a likely rich source of VEGF, activated peritoneal fluid macrophages and infiltrating macrophages are also a rich source of this angiogenic growth factor. Suprisingly, sterodial regulation of macrophage expression of VEGF also appears to be a feature of this disease.

Keywords

Endometriosis - desquamated endometrium - VEGF

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Neovascularization, Pathologic Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endothelial Growth Factors Endothelial Growth Factors Endothelial Growth Factors Female Humans Macrophages Macrophages Menstrual Cycle Menstrual Cycle Neovascularization, Pathologic Steroids Steroids

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Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-09-04T06:17:57.233406+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-13T22:10:52.568893+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-05-14T19:30:52.867331+00:00
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Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine