title: Plasma VEGF as a marker of therapy in patients with chronic venous disease treated with oral micronised flavonoid fraction - a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to study the effect on plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels of oral purified flavonoid fraction treatment for sixty days in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty patients <<CEAP>> (clinical stage 2-4) with chronic venous disease were included. Duplex ultrasonography was used to assess the venous disease. Patients were treated for 60 days with Daflon(R) 500 mg twice daily. Blood was collected from a foot vein immediately before starting treatment and within one week of stopping treatment. Plasma VEGF levels were determined using a sandwich ELISA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEGF levels decreased in patients with stage C4 CVD after treatment with purified micronised flavonoid fraction treatment (98 pg/ml to 57 pg/ml). The levels of VEGF in patients with skin changes were significantly higher (98 pg/ml) than those with normal skin (9 pg/ml p=<0.001 Wilcoxon).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  plasma VEGF levels were much higher in patients who have skin changes of CVD. Plasma VEGF protein decreases in patients with CVD-induced dermatologic changes following treatment with purified micronised flavonoid fraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College London Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shoab
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Scurr
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Coleridge-Smith
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004145:Diosmin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014690:Venous Pressure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D004145:Diosmin