Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor are potent stimulators of angiogenesis. Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease often experience the development of widespread formation of collateral blood vessels, which may represent a form of abnormal angiogenesis. We undertook the present study to determine whether children with cyanotic congenital heart disease have elevated serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.


METHODS
Serum was obtained from 22 children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and 19 children with acyanotic heart disease during cardiac catheterization. Samples were taken from the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and a systemic artery. Vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor levels were measured in the serum from each of these sites by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Vascular endothelial growth factor was significantly elevated in the superior vena cava (P =.04) and systemic artery (P =.02) but not in the inferior vena cava (P =.2) of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease compared to children with acyanotic heart disease. The mean vascular endothelial growth factor level, determined by averaging the means of all 3 sites, was also significantly elevated (P =.03). Basic fibroblast growth factor was only significantly elevated in the systemic artery (P =.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease have elevated systemic levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings suggest that the widespread formation of collateral vessels in these children may be mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor.
Starnes
S L
SL
Divisions of Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Duncan
B W
BW
Kneebone
J M
JM
Rosenthal
G L
GL
Jones
T K
TK
Grifka
R G
RG
Cecchin
F
F
Owens
D J
DJ
Fearneyhough
C
C
Lupinetti
F M
FM
D002648:Child; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000097:blood; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2