Vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of children with hydrocephalus.
BACKGROUND
Hypoxia induces transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO) genes. We set up the hypothesis that elevated intracranial pressure in patients with hydrocephalus triggers release of VEGF and EPO into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).


RESULTS
VEGF and EPO concentrations, measured in 57 CSF aliquots obtained from infants and children with hydrocephalus undergoing surgery or therapeutic taps, were significantly elevated compared with those in 41 CSF aliquots of sex- and age-matched children undergoing routine diagnostic lumbar puncture for unrelated reasons ( P<0.001 and P=0.015, respectively). In hydrocephalus samples, median (interquartile range) VEGF concentrations were 135 (35-410) pg/ml, and 4 of 57 hydrocephalus samples had a VEGF concentration below the detection limit (1 pg/ml), compared with 38 of 41 control samples. Erythropoietin was undetectable (<0.1 pg/ml) in 34 of 57 hydrocephalus samples and in 34 of 41 controls.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that conditions necessitating surgical intervention in hydrocephalus patients result in increased CSF concentrations of VEGF and EPO.
Koehne
Petra
P
Klinik für Neonatologie, Charité Virchow-Klinikum, 13344 Berlin, Germany.
Hochhaus
Frederike
F
Felderhoff-Mueser
Ursula
U
Ring-Mrozik
Elfriede
E
Obladen
Michael
M
Bührer
Christoph
C
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D004921:Erythropoietin