Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
BACKGROUND
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common form of vasculitis in children. The potential role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in acute immune-mediated vasculitis has not been elucidated.


METHODS
Serum HGF levels were determined in patients with HSP.


RESULTS
In patients with acute-phase HSP, mean (+/- SD) serum HGF levels were 0.32 +/- 0.14 ng/mL and were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.11 +/- 0.10 ng/mL). This elevation of serum HGF levels recovered to control levels in parallel with improvement of the clinical symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that elevation of serum HGF levels in patients with acute-phase HSP may reflect endothelial cell damage or dysfunction in HSP.
Nishida
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. mnishida@ped.kpu-m.ac.jp
Kawakatsu
H
H
Ishiwari
K
K
Tamai
M
M
Sawada
T
T
Nishimura
M
M
Yoshimura
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor