Serum copper and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Over the past 20 years there has been an upsurge of interest proper cause of abnormal angiogenesis of DUB. This study particularly focused on the association of serum copper and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in patients with Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB). Blood samples were collected from female patients suffering with DUB (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 two fold 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 0.97. Odd 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 less than one. The abnormal angiogenesis in DUB could be due to increased serum copper levels, which in turn stimulates factors like VEGF-A, thereby causing an increase in endometrial growth.