الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease, occurring in about 10% of all women and up to 60% of women with infertility problems or pelvic pain. Despite a number of theories concerning the origin of endometriosis the precise pathogenic mechanisms remain enigmatic. Proposed mechanisms include genetic predisposition, involvement of the immune system, changes in the peritoneal fluid, peritoneum and endometrium, and retrograde menstruation. The presence of neovascularization has been well established in endometriotic implants, and larger and more active implants have been observed in well-vascularized areas than in poorly vascularized ones. Moreover, red peritoneal lesions and ovarian endometriosis show higher concentrations of VEGF. There is evidence suggesting a strong correlation between VEGF levels and menstrual cycle phases, with possible implications for the development of endometriosis. Variations in VEGF mRNA throughout the menstrual cycle have been observed in endometrial tissue, with increased expression during the secretory and menstrual phases. In addition, analysis of endometrial tissue and peritoneal fluid samples showed higher mean VEGF levels during the late secretory phase in women with endometriosis than in those without the disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether measuring VEGF serum levels could be useful in the diagnosis of endometriosis in patients with clinical indications of the disease and to evaluate the association between VEGF levels in the serum and the presence of pelvic endometriosis