title: Vascular endothelial growth factor levels in serum do not increase following HIV type 1 and HHV8 seroconversion and lack correlation with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: The utility of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in serum as a predictive marker for AIDS-KS was studied. Sera were obtained from 40 homosexual men who seroconverted for HIV-1 and HHV8 prior to or during their participation in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (1984-2000). We designed an ELISA to detect VEGF and measured VEGF prior to either infection, at HIV-1 and HHV8 seroconversion, after both infections, at AIDS-KS diagnosis (n = 11), and in the most recently available serum sample. The geometric mean serum VEGF concentration was 81.5 pg/ml in those with AIDS-KS and 80.4 pg/ml in those with AIDS but without KS. Median serum VEGF concentrations did not differ between the time points described above. Higher VEGF concentrations in serum were observed at higher CD4(+) cell counts. Serum concentrations of VEGF were not influenced by HIV-1 or HHV8 infection or by the conditions leading to AIDS-KS. Sequential measurement of VEGF in serum is not expected to contribute to the prediction or therapeutic monitoring of AIDS-KS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Renwick
authors.forename: Gerrit Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Weverling
authors.forename: Joke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: Margreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000276:immunology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors