Serum and synovial fluid concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in juvenile idiopathic arthritides.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of local joint inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).


METHODS
Sera from 50 patients affected with JIA and 10 age-matched healthy controls were tested with a commercial ELISA for VEGF. Corresponding synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of VEGF and p75 soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) were evaluated in 20 active JIA patients.


RESULTS
Serum concentrations of VEGF were significantly higher in patients with active polyarticular disease than in patients with active and inactive oligoarticular disease and healthy controls. In JIA patients, serum concentrations of VEGF displayed a significant correlation with a number of clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity. VEGF concentrations in SF were significantly higher than those detected in corresponding sera. Moreover, a clear correlation was found between corresponding SF and serum VEGF concentrations. In SF, VEGF showed a strong positive correlation with p75 sTNFR.


CONCLUSIONS
Concentrations of VEGF in SF in patients with JIA are higher than corresponding serum concentrations, suggesting that this pro-angiogenic factor may have a major role in the outgrowth of hyperplastic pannus and tissue damage at the site of tissue inflammation.
Vignola
S
S
Second Division of Paediatrics (Rheumatology Unit), G. Gaslini Scientific Institute for Children, Genoa, Italy.
Picco
P
P
Falcini
F
F
Sabatini
F
F
Buoncompagni
A
A
Gattorno
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008222:Lymphokines; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000068800:Etanercept