title: Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. mnishida@ped.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawakatsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishiwari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor