Doppler Blood Flow Studies of the Endometrium and Its Relation with Serum VEGF in Women with Unexplained Infertility

Aim: Angiogenesis is an essential prerequisite for endometrial development and differentiation. Absence of optimum endometrial perfusion can be one of the important reasons behind the patients with unexplained infertility. The present study was undertaken to identify the endometrial vascularity by Doppler and find its relation with serum VEGF in infertile women. Materials And Methods: 60 Patients who qualified the exclusion and inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Patient’s blood was obtained by venepuncture on the day of Doppler examination to be evaluated for serum VEGF. Results: Doppler vascular penetration zones were identified as zone 1, zone 2 and zone 3 i.e. poor, intermediate and good vascularity respectively. A rise in the mean serum VEGF level was observed with the increase in the endometrial vascular penetration zones on Doppler i.e. from 37.67±10.53 pg/ml in Zone 1 to 83.69 ±19.86 pg/ml in Zone 2 to 215.07±25.60pg/ml in Zone3(p<0.05). The Doppler vascular penetration zones were taken as gold standard and cut-off value of serum VEGF was determined that could predict good endometrial receptivity. Conclusion: Serum VEGF levels were found to rise with increasing Doppler vascular penetration zones which implies that serum VEGF concentrations can be used as a marker of endometrial receptivity.