Serum and endometrial sodium and potassium levels with inert and copper-containing IUCDs and relation to serum steroid levels

Importance of Serum Copper and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) Levels in Postmenopausal Bleeding

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.