Comparative Plasma Levels of Angiotensin II in Women with orwithout Uterine Fibroid in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Uterine fibroid is the most common tumour in women reproductive age group Recently uterine fibroids have been noticed to be more common in patients with hypertension, another disease with a predilection for the black race. The study compares the serum levels of angiotensin II in women with uterine fibroids and women without uterine fibroids.

Methods/Designs: The study was a prospective case-controlled study involving ninety consecutive women with a confirmed diagnosis of uterine fibroids and ninety consecutive women with intact uterus with no sonological diagnosis of uterine fibroids matched for age, parity and body mass index. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was completed for each subject, who also had their blood pressure checked in the clinic and 5ml of venous blood drawn for angiotensin 2 assay. The uterine size was measured in pregnancy weeks. The data obtained were processed and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, (SPSS) version 20.

Results: The mean serum level of angiotensin II in women with uterine fibroids was significantly higher than that in women without uterine fibroids, (0.71±0.07ng/ml vs. 0.23±0.07ng/ml), p <0.001. The mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in respondents with uterine fibroids (122.99±16.01 vs. 112.92±13.22mmhg), p<0.001. Women with uterine fibroids were about six times more likely to have hypertension than women without fibroids, p= 0.01. Conclusion: Uterine fibroids and hypertension are associated with higher levels of angiotensin II, suggesting a possible important aetiological role in both by angiotensin II.