Is serum-soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 of importance in unexplained infertility?
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its naturally occurring circulating antagonist, soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1), in infertility. VEGF is a key angiogenic factor in the endometrial and ovarian cyclic processes that are crucial for fertility and sVEGFR-1 impairs its function and fertility in animals – less is known as regards human fertility. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University Central Hospital, a tertiary referral center. POPULATION: Women with unexplained infertility (n=15) and fertile controls (n=10) had serial blood samples collected during their natural cycles, and the infertile women during a subsequent in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concentrations of VEGF and sVEGFR-1 in the natural cycles and of sVEGFR-1 during a subsequent IVF cycle. RESULTS: Plasma VEGF concentrations showed no cyclicity in fertile women, but were higher
