Angiogenesis in pterygium: morphometric and immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of pterygium by comparing the expression of von-Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pterygium, and in normal superior bulbar conjunctiva.


METHODS
23 human samples from pterygium and the superior bulbar conjunctiva were stained using rabbit anti-vWF and anti-VEGF antibodies. The density of vWF and VEGF positive vessels, VEGF staining intensity and the number of VEGF positive stromal, epithelial and vascular endothelial cells were evaluated.


RESULTS
Pterygium specimens had higher average vWF and VEGF positive microvascular counts per high power field (P = 0.0012), higher average VEGF staining intensity scores in epithelial, stromal and endothelial cells (p < 0.0001) and higher VEGF positive cell counts (P < 0.0001) than normal conjuctiva.


CONCLUSIONS
Over-expression of VEGF in pterygium tissue, together with the abundance of vWF-stained new vessels, may support previous suggestions that angiogenesis may play a role in the formation of pterygium.
Marcovich
Arie L
AL
Department of Ophthalmology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel.
Morad
Yair
Y
Sandbank
Judith
J
Huszar
Monica
M
Rosner
Mordechai
M
Pollack
Ayala
A
Herbert
Mehrdad
M
Bar-Dayan
Yaron
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011625:Pterygium / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor