Vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 in ovarian cystic pathology

Objective: To determine the levels of the angiogenic factors vascular endot helial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL-8) in ovarian cysts. Design: Prospective descriptive study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): One hundred women, of whom 9 had ovarian carcinomas, 38 had ova rian endometriomata, 43 had serous ovarian cysts, and 10 had follicular ova rian cysts. Intervention(s): Sampling of serum and ovarian cystic fluid before and duri ng surgery. Main Outcome Measure: Levels of VEGF and IL-8 in cystic fluid and serum. Result(s): Levels of both VEGF and IL-8 were found to be significantly high er in the cystic fluid of ovarian carcinomas and endometriomata than in ser ous and follicular cysts. In endometriomata fluid, levels of VEGF and IL-8 were found to be directly correlated (r = 0.68; P = .0074). Serum levels of VEGF were significantly higher in women with ovarian carcinomas and endome triomata than in those with serous and follicular cysts. Ovarian cancers an d endometriomata were similar in terms of cystic concentrations of VEGF and IL-8 and in serum levels of VEGF. Conclusion(s): An increase in angiogenic factors that differentiate ovarian carcinomas and endometriomata from other kinds of ovarian pathology is dem onstrated. (Fertil Steril(R) 2001;75:1218-21. (C) 2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).