Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in pulmonary aspergilloma.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine associated with malignant neoplasms, is increased in a number of inflammatory and infectious disorders. But little is known about VEGF in pulmonary aspergilloma (PA). In order to clarify the predictive value of VEGF in PA, we examined serum VEGF levels in PA patients as well as expression of VEGF in the PA lesion. Patients Twenty-one patients with PA (6 with hemoptysis and the rest without hemoptysis) were investigated.


METHODS
In all patients, serum VEGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We examined the statistical correlations of serum VEGF levels with the ratio of affected area to total lung volume and VEGF with PaO2 levels. In patients with hemoptysis, we measured the serum VEGF levels three months after the initiation of therapy. We examined the expression of VEGF in the resected lung tissue of 4 patients with PA using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Serum VEGF levels showed a significant positive correlation with the ratio of affected to total lung area and a significant negative correlation with PaO2 levels. Serum VEGF levels in patients with hemoptysis were significantly higher than in those without hemoptysis. The serum levels of VEGF in patients with hemoptysis decreased significantly in parallel with the alleviation of hemoptysis. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the expression of VEGF in alveolar macrophages in the lesion of PA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that VEGF can be used as a serum marker to determine the extent of the lesion, hypoxia and hemoptysis in PA.
Inoue
K
K
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University.
Matsuyama
W
W
Hashiguchi
T
T
Wakimoto
J
J
Hirotsu
Y
Y
Kawabata
M
M
Arimura
K
K
Osame
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors