Spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis: role of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) are associated with spider angiomas in patients with liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
Eighty-six patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled and the number and size of the spider angiomas were recorded. Fifty-three healthy subjects were selected as controls. Plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF were measured in both the cirrhotics and the controls.


RESULTS
Plasma VEGF and bFGF were increased in cirrhotics compared with controls (122 +/- 13 vs. 71 +/- 11 pg/mL, P=0.003 for VEGF; 5.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.4 +/- 0.5 pg/mL, P=0.022 for bFGF). In cirrhotics, plasma VEGF and bFGF were also higher in patients with spider angiomas compared with patients without spider angiomas (185 +/- 28 vs. 90 +/- 10 pg/mL, P=0.003 for VEGF; 6.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.5 pg/mL, P=0.017 for bFGF). Multivariate logistic regression showed that young age and increased plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF were the most significant predictors for the presence of spider angiomas in cirrhotic patients (odds ratio [OR]=6.64, 95 % confidence interval [CI]=2.02-21.79, P=0.002; OR=4.35, 95% CI=1.35-14.01, P=0.014; OR=5.66, 95% CI=1.72-18.63, P=0.004, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma VEGF and bFGF are elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis. Age as well as plasma levels of VEGF and bFGF are significant predictors for spider angiomas in cirrhotic patients.
Li
Chung-Pin
CP
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. cpli@vghtpe.gov.tw
Lee
Fa-Yauh
FY
Hwang
Shinn-Jang
SJ
Lu
Rei-Hwa
RH
Lee
Wei-Ping
WP
Chao
Yee
Y
Wang
Sung-Sang
SS
Chang
Full-Young
FY
Whang-Peng
Jacqueline
J
Lee
Shou-Dong
SD
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000097:blood*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2